Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 May 1907 — JOHN SMITH AND GOV. HANLY. [ARTICLE]

JOHN SMITH AND GOV. HANLY.

Senator Beveridge thinks it will take us one hundred years to fit our island subjects for self-govern-ment, But at the end of that time what does he think we will be fit fori 1

Some of the Republican newspapers have laid aside their troubles long enough to pick out a new chairman for the Democratic national committee. In the meantime, however, they graciously allow Chairman Taggart to hold the reins until they have agreed upon bis successor.

The spring frosts and freezes have doubtless injured the fruit crop. But the sacred tariff was not responsible. If the frosts and freezes had not come, however, and the yield of fruit had been phenomenal-in quantity, quality and market price, then the blessed tariff would have been given the glory by every Republican stump speaker in the state. And these same observations have a bearing son other things, too

Assistant Postmaster General Hitchcock, who has been traveling around some, says that it is only the "discredited and disgruntled men who are organizing against the administration.” All other Republican, he declares, are standing by Roosevelt. If this is so, what show will any candidate have who does not carry the Roosevelt brand unless the "discredited and disgruntled” Republicans outnumber the others?

The steel trust says that if an independent maker of steel rails can sell its output at $29 a ton, it is his good fortune, but if the independent concern sells at $27.75 a ton it “will hear from us,” meaning the trust. The trust has fixed the price at not less than S2B a ton, and as it is the boss, S2B a ton goes in tbe United States, even though it is $lO a ton too much and several dollars more than the trust charges foreigners for its goods. wonder the trust made $155,000,000 net profit last year.

President Roosevelt has not only declared war on all Republi* can reactionaries, mollycoddles and conspirators, but be intends to use all of his power as president of the United States to prevent them from getting control of the next Republican convention. He is using the patronage of bis office to confound his enemies and encourage his friends, and old Civil Service deform is likely to get many blows belo w the belt in tbe next year nr so. Roosevelt is a rough and tumble fighter and is not going to be too particular

about what sort of a brick he picks up.

The Republican newspapers of high and low degree are apparently greatly concerned just now about | “Democratic principles.” They are dreadfully afraid that the next Democratic national convention will make a mistake and nominate a candidate who does not understand the principles of bis party. Of course it is very considerate of the trust and monopoly organs to take such an interest in D< moo ratio affairs, but they should not worry so much. It is quite likely that the delegates to the national convention will know as much about what their party stands for and what it wants as the opposition editors know. At any rate, and in the meantime, the Republicans seem to be in a state of dire confusion over theirowa principles—if, really, they have any to be confused about.

The Fairbanks organs have made much of the statement of Senator Beveridge’s secretary that the senator will not oppose the election of a Fairbanks delegation from this state. It doesn’t take a great deal to satisfy one of the machine organs. There is such a dearth of. enthusiasm for the V. P. that the least crumb of comfort is accepted with thanks. But Beveridge himself has not spoken. Perhaps be cannot speak until the grip of the machine about his throat is loosened. And perhaps he does not want to speak until the Hon. Theodore Roosevelt makes up bis mind whether it is necessary to have two presidential candidates in Indiana in order to defeat the "reactionaries” and "conspirators,” with whom he classes Fairbanks. But whatever is said or not said, there is the bitterest possible feeling between the Republican factions in this state, and the "unity” for Fairbanks is a farcical pretense.

In the spring of 1607 three small wooden vessels, the "Susan Constant,” the "God-Speed” and the "Discovery,” arrived at Old Point Comfort, carrying about 100 colonists and adventurers. Among the passengers was one John Smith, who was described as a planter. Smith was a man of energy. Although he was under a cloud when the party reached the James river, he soon managed to make himself the real bead of the colony. He it was also who established Jamestown 300 years ago. No one who has read his wonderful tales can have the least doubt as to the quality of John Smith's imagination, but even he could not have dreamed that 300 jears from the landing of his party, a governor of Indiana, J. Frank Hanly by name, would slur his own state by denying it Official representation at a Jamestown exposition, participated in by all tbe world beside.

But while we have no official part in the celebration gotten up by Indiana’s old Virginia mother, we know that the scene at the opening of the exposition shows that things havs changed since the days of Captain John Smith. From a hundred English-speaking inhabitants, America has grown to nearly one hundred millions. And those three little wooden ships! How would they look alongside of the great liners, to say nothing of tne 25 or 30 immense U. S. battleships and cruisers now anchored in tbe water where the "Susan Constant,” the "God-speed” and tbe "Discovery” ended their westward journey on that day in May, 1607? Such things as these may interest the school children, but not the present governor of Indiana.