The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-03-20


The hoodoo of the Presidential
campaign is still making itself man
ifest in the ranks Of public men
throughout the country, many Of
whom have died and a large number
of whom are sick as result of the
arduous labors they underwent be-
tween the time of the conventions
and the election, The campaign
made stupendous draft upon the
energies OF the politicians.
Bryan set the pace in stamping
and speaking soon after the Chicago
convention adjourned. From that
time on until election day there was
no rest for the sound money orators.
Ex-Governor William E. Russell,
of Massachusetts, was the first to
die. He returned to Boston from the
Chicago convention utterly exhaust
ed by the prolonged fight he had
made there against the silver ele-
ment
After a few days in the Massa-
chusetts capital he started into Can
ada to find rest and recreation on
fishing trip. He had hardly got rid
of the dust of travel when he ex-
pired from heart disease in his tent.
Elk Speaker Crisp was the only
man of national reputation on the
silver side whose death was attribu-
table to his campaign labors. He
stumped Georgia against Hoke
Smith, but his labors compelled him
to retire early in the fight, and he
died before the election.
The death of Congressman
Roswell G. Horn, of Michigan, was
directly attributable to his labors
in the campaign. He travelled H.
600 miles for the success of the Re
publican ticket, making seventy five
speeches in nine of the Western
States.
District Attorney John r. Fellows
was one of the most active speakers
during the campaign. He travelled
extensively throughout the South
and West. His eloquence and wit
made him everywhere in request,
and his services were for several
months at the disposal of the sound
money Democrats. His labors on
the stump wore him out, and he
took to his bed shortly after his re-
turn to New York, and died while
congratulations were still pouring in
upon Major Mckinley.
Editor Joseph b. Mccullough, of
the st. Louis Globe Democrat was
another victim of the campaign. He
did yoeman work on the sound mon
ey side. Every day and night saw
him at his desk in the st. Louis
newspaper office, and the time not
devoted to sleeping and eating was
given wholly to political affairs.
These are only some of the men
of national reputation who have died
from the work they undertook in the
campaign of 1896. In almost every
State politicians Of local reputation
have died from exposure or over
work undertaken ON behalf of their
party.
The list of those who are still sick
is a long one.
Mark Hanna has had to take
complete rest because of the vast la
bors he assumed in electing Nick in
ley.
Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll was
taken sick before the election and is
still suffering.
Tom Watson became i'll from ex-
ertion and exposure.
General Daniel +. Sickles is also
still suffering from his labors on the
stump.
William J. Bryan broke all previ-
Gus records in public speaking,
which was largely attributable to
his comparative youth and his mag
nificent physical health. He was
badly in need of rest and recupera-
ton at the end of the campaign. He
quickly recovered, but the older pol
iticians were not so fortunate.
The deaths and illness are largely
confined to the ranks of the sound
money orators. The silver speakers
seem to have escaped the campaign
hoodoo, and this may be because
they were in the main younger men
than their sound-money antagonists.