Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 September 1906 — POLITICAL COMMENT [ARTICLE]

POLITICAL COMMENT

— -v-Ts»e In the past two or three days the contrast between the conditions in the Democratic and the Republican parties has been brought out in a clear light. The country sees Illinois giving a double setback to the principal presidential aspirant of tile" Rational democracy. The same aspirant, Mr. Bryan, has just met a defeat in the Democratic convention in Ohio. Tom L. Johnson, who stands close to Bryan, and who, it is believed, was working not only in Bryan’s interest but at his instigation, tried to depose Harvey C. Garber, chairman of the Ohio Democratic State Committee. Garber, for some reason, has become obnoxious to Bryan and Johnson, and Johnson failed as badly in attempting to turn him down as -Bryan did when he tried to get "the Illinois Democrats to force Roger C. Sullivail off the national committee. In Indiana a fight is impending when Bryan lands, for he will be compelled to declare for or against Tom Taggart as chairman of tbe national committee.. Just as some exuberant seers-were predicting that a Democrat would be the next Governor of New York, and that the next Governor of New York would be tlie next President of the United States, comes a fight which has torn the New York democracy wide open,- and has. insured the continuance of Republican sway in that State. Charles F.. Murphy, the Tammany chief, has declared for William R. Hearst for Governor of New York. District Attorney Jerome has announced that he (Jeromg) will accept the Democratic nomination for Governor if It is offered to him without conditions, and Incidentally he remarks that the political situation in that State is “shameful.” This epithet is directed again .stHearst, who responds Immediately by saying that he repudiates Murphy and despises Jerome. Jerome assails Hearst, calling him “intellectually sterile, socially vulgar and morally obtuse,” and says he Is not surprised that Murphy favors Hearst. Probably Murphy will support Hearst, notwithstanding Hearst’s claim that he does not want and will not accept any votes from Murphy or his element of the Democracy. Tammany is pretty sure to support Hearst in the State convention, and if the nomination goes to him, even through Tammany votes, Hearst will accept it. Incidentally Hearst intimates that if he should be elected Governor he would find some way to remove Jerome and Mayor McClellan. Compared with the Bryan-Sullivan and the Bryan-Garber feuds In the West and the Jerome-Hearst-Murphy vendettas In the East, tho Odell-Hig-gins jar is only a childs’ quarrel. An adjustment can easily be reached between the wrangling Republicans. In fact, Higgins sees that the Democratic split has simplified matters so much for the Republicans that he announces himself as a candidate for a second term. There are indications, however, that the Republicans will nominate Hughes, the insurance inquisitor, for Governor of New York. He would get thousands of Democratic votes, even if tbe Democracy were united, as it is not, and as it cannot be until at the earliest, after the close ot the canvass of 1006. Tn the national field there is not a cloud on the Republican sky. All the leaders’arepulttngtogether. The Democrats hoped that Cummins of lowa would start a row in the party which would extend through the nation. Nothing of the kind took place. Cummins’ platform turned out to be an orthodox Republican deliverance, on which every true Republican, from President Roosevelt and Speaker Cannon down to the privates in the ranks can stand. Roosevelt, Cannon, Sherman and the rest of the Republican chieftains are working harmoniously and enthusiastically for the success of the Congressional ticket. Nobody doubts that the Republicans will retftin their control of Congrese. The new Congress will continue the good work begun by the present body, but which cannot be finished in the three months’ session beginning in December of tills year. This work will strengthen the hold of the Republican party on tbe affections of the American people. There Is not thte- faintest chance for a Democratic victory this year. The stock market and the general business conditions show that the solid, sane elements of tbe American jieople are confident that tlie Republican party will continue for many years longer to dispense Republican prosperity to tbe counter.—St. Louis Globe-Demoerat. Revision Sentiment. The sentiment for tariff revision Is growing in the Republican party. The triumph of Cuminlna, in lowa, a pronounced revisionist, whs followed by the declaration of Senator Cullom, of Illinois, In favor of a change In the Dingley schedules. Yesterday Illinois Republicans, in State convention, endorsed Cullom for another term In the Senate and In their platform boldly declared for tariff revision whenever the change Is advantageous to the country* To-day Nebraska Republicans went on record as revisionists nnd even in Massachusetts the party Is turning its face to the front under a revisionist candidate for Governor. Even President Roosevelt Is not the hard and fast standpatter the extreme protectionists would hare tbe country

-believe -4n the- Wa t son le *»r-It- will - boremembered he sgid : “Whenever ’’ ft given rate oT schedule becomes evidently disadvantagcotis to thenation,because of the changes which go on from year to y?ar in our conditions, that rate or Schedule will be changed, while a general revision of the rates and schedules will bo under-taken--whenever it shall appear to the sober business sense of our people that the revision will do more good than Im rm.” The sentiment is making itself felt throughout the country.. Republicans realize certain changes are hecessary and that these changes should be made by the Republican party rather than endanger the system of protection by turning the work over to its enemies. The Country’s Prosperity. Statistics recently published by the Bureau, of Labor, at. Washington.s>pcak eloquently of the widespread prosperity of the country. The “slack” in the labor market is all taken up and the supply of laborers is not equal to the demand. If men are idle it Is from choice and not because of lack of ..employment. Two years ago the people of the country were busy and yet more than 6 per cent more men are employed now than at that time and the average wages are more than 2 per cent higher than twen-ty-four months ago. Wages per hour last year Tvere 19 per cent higher than they were ten years ago. Of course, food supplies cost more, for the tendency is always for an advance in foods during eras of great prosperity. Last year- than a mlllion European laborers came to this country, and another million are-coming this year. They ary quickly assimilated, and the cry is for more laborers. Employment agencies all over the country are asking for more and there is a sliortage in every section. Even Canada is trying to divert the emigrants to the Northwest and every man willing and able to work has no difficulty in finding it. This year the farmers again have bumper crops. Perhaps never before in the history of the country have the agriculturists been blessed with such a degree of material wealth. This gives a substantial foundation to the country’s prosperity, and unless there should come a period of wild speculation there is hot a cloud in the financial skies. The “Square deal” policy’ of the national administration gives a feeling of security; there are no internal or international complications, and from whatever standpoint the situation is viewed, it gives promise of a peaceful and fruitful future. Tlie Democratic Keynote. Mr Bryan’s address in New York was not very impressive. Its importance lies, of course, in the fact that Mr. Bryan, as the probable choice of his party for the presidency two years hence, took occasion to formulate, or to restate, his political creed, which expresses the floating and not very logically related opinions and purposes, convictions and prejudices finally becoming coherent as -his party’s policy. Tbe address was not free from the taint of petty partisanship, as where he ascribed to the Republican party solely—and under tlie eyes of Tammany at that! —all the evils of that corrupt alliance of bossism and business which Republicans are fighting as slncerely and more effectually to-day than Democrats. This reminds US that Mr. Bryan is a politician at all times. So far as his political proposals are concerned, the most ralleal is his reference to government ownership of railroads, a problem so enormous, so complicated, and so far from critical that Mr. Bryan’s views upon it may well be deemed as academic ns Mr. Bryan’s sentimental friendliness for theoretic Socialism. The tariff passage was expected, and all the generalizations on liberty, plutocracy and democracy. The address was protestant through-, out, but it was singularly Iqcklng in practical assurance and definiteness. Its ideas are familiar, some of them worn witli much use, and. spread before the reader in columns of print, they must seem innutritions and disappointing, even to his sympathetic followers. No wonder those who were standing during its delivery wandered away long before Its close. —Chicago Post. Wbut Did They Expect f The present lamentable plight of conservative Democrats who up to a short while ago were shontlng for Bryan would melt a heart of stone. They had deluded themselves into thinking that this Bryan who was sailing home from his tour around’tlie world was some other Bryan InsJteiHl of tlie man who had advocated |n the past government ownership of railroads, an income tax and other policies which they detest. So they eagerly awaited his return In order that be might sound tbe keynote for the party. The returiu-d Bryan, welcomed so gladly, by tbe conservatives as one of themselves, arose before the throng in Madison Square Garden and spoke his views. ToTTlie aiiiazement anll Horror of those who were looking fur a great Conservative force to tie to, he proved the same Bryan whom they bad known iu other years! Now they are groping helplessly and hopelessly amid the ruins of the air castles which they had built.—Chicago Record-Herald.