Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 April 1907 — NOW AND LAST FALL. [ARTICLE]

NOW AND LAST FALL.

The fellows who cuss the newspapers are those who fear the limelight of newspaper publicity. The man who cusses the newspapers is a man to be watched.

And still, how strange it is that the Hon. Theodore Roosevelt never thought about getting mad at Harriman until told that the railroad gambler had refused to make another boodle-fund donation.

It possible that Harriman told the truth about Roosevelt’s anxiety concerning a campaign fund, but all of the truth has clearly not been told yet about Harriman. A thorough investigation of the sources of the Republican boodle fund of 1904 is desirable and so is a deeper digging into the railroad and public land operations of Harriman and bis pals.

Governor Hanly "reformed” the state auditor’s office so effectually that it now costs $50,000 more to tun it than it did when be became governor. He "reformed” his own office at a cost to the people of >6,000 extra, and in a manner to greatly lessen his own official work and give him time for outside employments (for pay). Every Hanly "reform” that received the approval of the late legislature amounted to nothing except to transfer taxes paid by the people to the pockets of Republican office-holders.

Harriman wants the country to understand that Mr. Roosevelt once was not above associating with him on very friendly terms. And Mr. Roosevelt admits it, for in a letter to Harriman in 1904, when he was-a candidate, he declared gushingly that "it has been a real pleasure to see you this year.” In another letter Mr. Roosevelt begged his good friend, the great Harriman, to come and see him after the election and talk over bis message. And now, according to the president, Harriman is a liar and corruptionist and a lot more besides. Dear, dear these Republicans are the limit.

K If the full truth could be known ah to the amount of the tremendous corruption funds raised by the Republican party in past presidential campaigns, and the uses to which the money was put and the . price paid to the contributors, the Republican party, as now organized and led, would be tri ped out of existence. The scandals revealed by the New York insurance investigations and by the Harriman squabble are mere indications of the nauseous mess still under cover, There needs to be a house-

cleaning st Washington, even ■if the country does have to hold its nose while it la going on.

Fred Landis, late congressman from the Eleventh district, is going to lecture at the Obautauquas this summer. Perhaps he means to tell exactly what be thinks of the said Eleventh district.

11 comes from Washington that President Roosevelt’s “ire” is particularly aroused because Alton B. Parker, the Democratic candidate in 1904, has quietly remarked “I told you so." Parker did tell the co no try so and it was so, though Roosevelt denied it. The insurance revelations and Harriman’s revelations all prove that Parker’s charge that the big corporations and special interests had contributed an enormous fund to buy the election for Roosevelt was true. Roosevelt does not now deny that the money was given, but be says that lie did not ask that it be given. The fact remains, however, that be is enjoying the usufruct.

Just how much the Republican papers and politicians fear the candidacy of Mr. Bryan is shown by the frantic effort that is being made by them to “bring out” other candidates. If Mr. Bryan wants or will take the nomination for president the Democratic national convention will give it to him with such enthusiasm as no national convention in this country has seen. Mr. Bryan is not now posing as a candidate and has not posed as a candidate, but he is a Democrat through and through and will, without question, yield to the voice of bis party. The Democratic party is full of able men. It has many who would make good presidents. But Mr. Bryan is the recognized leader who has the heart of the people with him. Indiana has declared for him. Dozens of other states have declared for him. All be has to do is to say the word and the thing is done.

When the Hon. Samuel M. Ralston made his speech at Greenfield, opening the last campaign, he took occasion to strip the mask from the face of Governor Hanly. He did it decently, but be did it most effectively. And then the Republican papers cf the state set up a great howl and began abusing Mr. Ralston for showing that the holy Hanly was not as holy as the Republicans wanted the public to believe he was. Well, what has happened since the election? Only this, that a majority of the Republican papers are now saying meaner things about Hanly than any Democrat ever said. Now, jere is the Portland Commercial Review (Rep.) saying that the governor has “taken leave of his senses,” and speaking of "his conceit, his intolerance, his attempted domineering rule.” The same paper says that "His arrogance in assuming an incarnation in himself of all the virtues, and his unworthy suspicion and distrust of honest men, who happen to differ from him in matters of public policy, are rapidly earning for him the dislike of all classes of people,” and much more to the same effect. Most of the Republican papers go even farther in their criticism. A book could be filled with their red-hot articles about their governor. But then, just now, it is a Republican fight.