The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-10-01
The Slime Of the Campaign.

T
Information has been gathered through
various but reliable sources touching the
plan OF campaign of those who are con-
spring for the defeat of the Republican
ticket in this State. The campaign IS TO
be an extraordinary one, and on the part
Of the opposition j. Is to be made per-
sonal, bitter and dirty one- The re-
sponsibility for this state Of affairs begins
with Pattison himself, for in his letter Of
acceptance he begged his party TO press
only personal issues, knowing that If
higher ones dominate the public thought
he will have no chance Of election. Be
yond this invitation he viii not act per
sonally save as Democratic candidate,
nor viii his State Committee take any
direct responsibility for the flood of mas
ty literature which is to be launched
upon the State. The Democratic State
Committee will eonine its work within
the Democratic lines, but plan has been
matured, after frequent conferences,
which places the work of distributing the
most offensive literature upon those who
have personal injuries or lost opportuni-
ties TO revenge. This part of the work is
left to several Barkerite committees
which are now in process Of formation.
Several are necessary, in order that the
responsibility may be shifted, the move
ment given the appearance Of grand pro-
portions, and the leaders hidden from
direct responsibility.
II has already been shown that exten-
sive photo-lithographs are being prepar-
ed outside of the State, all of them de-
signed to injure Senator Delsmater, the
Republican candidate, and Senator Quay,
the Chairman of the National Republi-
can Committee. The leaders ofthis plan
of attack are William L. Scott, who de-
sires to be U. S. Senator; Wharton Bark
er, who having failed to get Cabinet
position from Republican Presidents, is
now apparently ready to take his chances
with Cleveland and Senator Emery.
who has been defeated for Congression-
al nomination in his own distric., and
who is largely actuated by personal
hatreds. The Democratic hand, and
possibly the wealth of Scott, will guide
the guerilla forces, for he expects, through
deGections worked up against the State
ticket, to capture the Legislature-know-
ing full well, crafty politician as he is,
that, whatever injuries the head Of the
ticket, Injuries ali of it. Indeed, one
might as well strike an enemy's head,
and exclaim Il mean no injury to your
feet" as to cut of the head of a political
ticket with the expectation that the in
jury stops there. 1t permeates the entire
body, and Injuries not alone all Of the
ticket represented, but all of the measure
and principle advocated. Scott knows
this and Barker and Emery both know
it. He is novice in politics who does
not, and it is the knowledge of the
amount of injury within the compass of
men who desire TO promote it, that makes
them work with a common purpose All
Of these leaders are wealthy, and money
counts as little against their hatreds and
ambitions. If the Republicans were less
generous, or less confident of ultimate
triumph over every personal attack, they
would Eight the devil with fire." but it
will probably be enough for them to ex
pose the general plan and its details as
they appear, to excite the resentment if
not the contempt Of all fair-minded men.
The first shape given to the battle cry
Of the opposition is that "Delamater
is Quay's man." Pattison was Cassidy's
man, and is now singerly's, but the Re-
publicans are not as yet playing the
baby act and shouting the chorus. Dela-
mater has carved his own fortunes, won
| high recognition in his own county, and
distinction in the State Senate before
Quay befri'nded him, while Pattison was
Cassidys P:o.ege from the first. 1t is
easy to say that any candidate is some
leaders man, but such talk is only in
tended for gudgeons. Those whom it in
auences happily live long enough to re-
gret it, and in time see the world as it
always has and always will be, subject
more or less to the direction of leaders.
But after all, these leaders, where the
primaries are free, as they are in the Re-
publican party, can only exercise modi
fed influence. They have to follow
where the party lead in all cases where
voting is permitted. This is mot true of
the Democratic party, for its primaries
are mere shams, with little semblance of
| liberty. A Republican candidate reflects
with some degree OF certainty the voice
of his party Democratic candidate re-
fleets only the policy of the hour and
the wishes of certain leaders. Pattison
reflects simply the wishes of Scott and
Cleveland, aud a vote for him means the
desire to promote the power Of these
men. To glin their ends they are willing
to invite and promote, without being d.
rectly responsible for campaign Of per-
soma SANDER and mud singing. The
dirtier part Of the work is 10 be done By
committees, all of them selfconstituted,
who with one hand will distribute dirt
and with the other invite the NEST re-
spectacle elements to associate in the
movement. II we mistake not the slime
will slip from one hand 10 the other and
in this way snirch all who lend them
selves to such a movement