Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 May 1908 — DEMOCRATIC COUNTY TICKET. [ARTICLE]

DEMOCRATIC COUNTY TICKET.

For Treasurer ALFRED PETERS of Marion tp. For Recorder CHARLES W. HARNER of Carpenter tp. For Sheriff WILLIAM I. HOOVER of Marion tp. For Surveyor FRANK GARRIOTT of Union tp. For Coroner DR. A. J. MILLER of Rensselaer. For Commissioner, Ist Dist. THOMAS F. MALONEY of Kankakee tp. For Commissioner 3rd Dist. GEORGE B. FOX of Carpenter tp. Speaker Cannon, assisted by Jim Watson and other standpatters, have headed off the proposed reduction of the tariff on white paper. When the Republican editors recall this fact during the campaign while they look over their paper bills they ought to become exceedingly en-

th uelastic for Watson. A "leading financier" testified at a grand jury investigation that the Metropolitan Street Railway of New York (now "busted”) contributed >500,000 to the Republican campaign fund when Bryan was a candidate. A single corporation did this, but it was only a part of the millions used in 1896 and 1900 to "beat Bryan." If President Roosevelt had been really in earnest about the passage of reform legislation by the present congress he should have been able to induce enough Republican congressmen to vote with the Democrats to put the reform bills through. The Democrats stood ready to do their part, but Mr. Roosevelt'flunked. Surely he is, as he has said, "a Republican before he is a reformer.”

James E. Watson, with the nomination for governor in his pocket, says that he has no outstanding promises of offices to fulfil. This will come as disagreeable news to the men who thought they had Watson’s ante-conventon promises and who have told their friends about their expectations. But after all they will lose nothing, as Mr. Watson will have no offices. Thomas R. Marshall will make all gubernatorial appointments. As a private citizen Mr. Watson will be able to treat all of his supporters alike. When the taxpayer looks over his tax receipts this' spring he will see proof of the extravagance In public expenditures that the Democratic platform charges against the Republican state administration. The Republicans had either to quit spending so much money or to borrow money on bonds or to get more from the taxpayers. The farmer is hit pretty hard, as the state tax board increased the already high assessment of lands in most of the counties of the state. Some of these

increases were as high as 15 per cent. Republican State Chairman Good-, rich, who is busy with his railroad receivership, says that he will not have a desk at Republican headquarters this year. The work of the chairman is to be done by Secretary of State Sims. Mr. Sims is paid a salary of $7,500 a year by the people for his services as secretary of state. This will suffice to pay his butcher’s and grocer’s bills while he is looking after party matters. Besides, he is a candidate for re-election and ,1s interested in the way things are going at the party headquarters.

Accordlng to the present program congress will adjourn the middle of May without doing a thing to relieve the country from the ills brought on by Republican misgovernment. In the face of one of the worst—in many respects the worst —panic that the American people ever experienced, the Republican party shows itself both incompetent and indifferent to the welfare of the people. President Roosevelt seems to be bending all of his energies to name his successor in office. He has lost interest in other things and is daily furnishing additional proof that he is “a Republican before he is a reformer.” as he once declared.

In 1896 the Atlas Engine Works at Indianapolis was a solvent and prosperous concern, with an unblemished business reputation. Hugh H. Hanna, who was then, as now, the head of the company, was one of the most bitter opponents of the election of Bryan. He talked about the “national honor,” “sound money" and the “prosperity” that could only. come through the Republican party. And now, after eleven years of Republican rule, the. great Atlas company and Mr. Hanna are not only struggling for their financial lives, but one officer and two employes of the' company have been indicted for alleged bribery in the sale of boilers to the Marion county commissioners.

Although a two-thirds vote is required to nominate a candidate for president in the Democratic national convention, it is already apparent that Mr. Bryan will be chosen on the first ballot, without regard to the complimentary votes cast for “favorite sons.” Illinois is among the latest states to instruct tor him, and many other states will do the same thing as fast as they hold their conventions. Many uninstructed delegates are just as certain to vote for Mr. Bryan’s nomination as are the instructed delegates. The hysterical efforts of a few "special interest” organs like the New York World to arouse antagonist in various quarters to Mr. Bryan have produced no material result except to solidify the masses of the party in his support. Opposition to Mr. Bryan directed from a private yacht coursing in European waters cannot make headway with the people when they understand the fact.

The condition of the unemployed has become so distressing In Indianapolis that it has been found necessary to undertake public improvements In order to give the men work. Among the unemployed are hundreds of foreigners, commonly called "Hunyaks,” who have been bordering on starvation for months. These men and tens of thousands of others like them, were induced to come to this country by the transportation companies, and by large corporations who were interested in reducing the wages of American workingmen. Republican speakers and writers have been telling workingmen for years that the tariff was made to "protect” them. The camfor the American workingman," but for the American workingman, but It was a false cry. The trusts saw to It that there was free trade in labor all the time, And now that hard times have come the deluded Hunyaks are turned adrift by their employers and have to be taken care of by the communities In which they are stranded.