Mexico weekly ledger., 1897-08-26
Cook S Political Career Reviewed
To the Editor Of the Ledger.

Is
the Intelligencer published an editorial,
as has been his habit for years, mis-
stating the tariff and other policies OF
the late Democratic National Admin
istration. So flagrantly false was the
Misrepresentation of Mr.. Cleveland
and his policies that took it upon
myself to disprove it.
So much false history concerning
the Democratic party has been taught
by such educators ~ as he that un-
dertook to and did disprove his mis-
statements in this case by citations
from Democratic platforms and by re-
calling the votes and actions of the
Democratic parry in opposition to the
cKinley bill in 1890.
AS a complete contradiction Of his
false history 1 produced from his own
pen an editorial written in 1892 exactly
opposite in facts as now stated by
him, as well as in theory to what he
has of late been attempting to palm
off on the public as Democratic doc
trine. The effort in that direction
was met with neither argument nor
facts, but by dodging of the issue,
his side of which he knew he could
not sustain.
In his egotism he undertakes to put
himself in the place of the entire
Democratic party and cries for help
from what he fs pleased to call its
malingers and enemies. He fills the
air with his shrieks of treachery and
treason, never undertaking to main
tain the issue he presented in the edi-
torial to which / refer.
He seems to think that in retorting
that | am in the employ of railroad
corporation passing through the coun-
ty, and that /, with other Of the best
Democrats Of the State, refused to be
led over to the Populists by him, he
makes a complete answer To cover up
his own political infamy by diverting
the fight away from himself, he under
takes to make himself the embodi-
ment of the party and returns such
insolent answers that SIT is none of
his business" etc.
By charging me with being under
corporate influence he brings his own
personal conduct directly into issue,
thereby presenting one from which l
have not the slightest inclination to
shrink. / have said of him, and now
repeat, that he Is a consummate dema-
gogue, a political hypoerite, has de-
ceived and is now deceiving the pub
lie he pretends to serve, and Is now
and ever since his entrance into poll
tics in this State has been unworthy
of the confidence placed In him; Is
politically unsound and corrupt and,
since his advent in State politics, has
done his full share in turning the State
over into the hands of "Filley and his
cohorts" He Is a veritable political
Pecksniff.
He was elected Secretary of the
State Democratic Committee In 1892,
and as such had principal charge of
the campaign of that year. He now
confesses that at that time he was op-
posed to the Democratic National plat
form upon which Mr.. Cleveland was
nominated for President. But, Mr..
Cleveland enjoying the confidence of
the people of the United States in a
lgreater degree than any Democratic
candidate for President since Jackson,
and running upon platform of sound
financial policies, tariff for revenue
only and free raw material, an honest
enforcement of the law regulating the
civil service, there was Democratic
landslide throughout the Union and,
} notwithstanding the State Secretary's
opposition to the doctrine of the party,
a great Democratic victory was
achieved in this State.
Let him confess his perfidy to the
party he was then pretending to serve
in his own words. On August II, 1897,
he said:
"The fact is well known to individ-
ual Democrats in this city that the
editor of the Intelligencer. at that time
personally opposed the policy of put.
t ting high (?) duty on manufactured
woolens and on shoes while wool anc
hides were put on the free list"
Does any person suppose for 9
moment that had he made this con.
fession then that he would have beer
entrusted with the management of the
campaign, the purpose of which was
, the success of the doctrines of the
party, to which he was personally op-
posed? Does any person for moment
suppose that man would undertake
the management of such a campaign
were it not that something was put
, within his reach by it more desirable
than the success of the doctrines oi
the party? This is the first time that
the campaign committee had expens-
i've quarters at a sumptuous hotel in q
; large city; that it's secretary's salary
was so large that man could afford
to leave his home and his business tc
accept 1t, and it was before the law OF
this State required political COM
mittee to keep treasurer and compel
a statement of receipts and disburse-
ments by such treasurer. Time anc
, again he has repudiated every salient
feature of the Democratic platform oi
D 1892, and during the last three years
has engaged in publishing willful, per.
sistent and malicious ISLANDERS on the
Democratic administration going intt
: power upon that platform, and engag'
ed in an effort to administer its poll
cies in the operation of the govern
t ment.
But this is not all. The party a1
B Kansas City in 1894 reaffirmed itl
, faith in and declared its adherence to
the time honored doctrines of the
D party "as set forth in the State ant
National platforms Of the past," !" goine
out to do battle with Filly again OF
, 1.-THE issues of tariff for revenue only
: and free raw materials. This time the
editor, out for what there was in it ant
!. still opposed to the doctrines of the
3 party, accepted the position of chair
4 man of the campaign or executive
0 committee, practically took sole man
~ N Low, fx,y hi h Io