New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-20
DODGING.

| the Democrats with such dsmay as his meet
| ing frankly every issue they raise and turn
| ing upon them with National and State ques-
| lions which the dare not answer. Answers
| were not what they counted on. They wanted
| him TO he silent. like their own candidate,
! trusting TO their superior ability in denuncia-
! ton and the chance which the party In opposi-
| tion has 10 cliticise the mistakes OF the party
| i'm power for making the best Of that method
| of campaigning But there is nothing they can
saw against Colonel ROoscvelt's candidacy which
is effective as against his own strong and
honest personality and his fearless treatment
of the topics on which they hoped he would
| give them an excuse to say he lodged while
| their own lodging has been such that they
| have not even the courage TO deny that they
dodge
The Democrats started out by denouncing
| Colonel Roosevelt as Il ''taX-dodger' They are
answered by his instructions to his attorney
before he went to the war 10 pay the tax, in
n letter saying. Il don't want 10 seem to sneak
out of anything" and by the fact that he paid
the tax when he came home from the war and
found the matter still unsettled.
They saw he was an lDSubordinate soldier.
He can answer that his courageous cutting OF
red tape brought back from Santiago the sol
diers over whose sufferings they pretend to
weep.
They say he insultcd the National Guard.
He can answer that he only told the truth
about their inadequate arms, an inadequacy
made the basis Of much Democratic buster
They say he is n Puritan He can answer
that he only enforced the Excise law made by
Democrats. and put an end to the Infamous
system OF police blackmal which Tamnany
protected.
They say he is tho creature Of political
macbjnc-thcse immaculate antl-machinsts Of
Crokers He cal answer that his whole pO-
litical career has shown that no machin, could
control him.
They say the canals were mlSmaDaged He
can answer that he had nothing TO do With
that and he says he will punish those who did
wrong.
They saw the Ellsworth bill was had one
He can answer that he knows II. that II was
not his bill and that it was Cookers bill as
much as anybody's.
They find fault with the RaineS law. He can
answer that II has reduced the taxes on every
reputahle business in this State. decreased
drunkenness taken the saloon out Of politics
and made the traffic pay more 10 the state and
10 the local communities than it ever did be-
fore.
They say the apportionment Is unjust. He
can answer that the people of this State adopted
that apportionment by their own votes mt
popular referendum.
They say he should he defeated to rehnke
the War Department He can quote their own
assertion that National issues have nothing TO
do with this election and then. throwing such
excuse aside. can show that he of all Army
officers is least to be blamed for what they
complain Of
But let him turn to Mr.. Van Wyck and ask
few counter-Questions and see how much
the Democrats wish TO discuss issues.
Let him ask Mr. Van Wyck if he thinks the
United States should adopt free silver coinage.
Mr.. Van Wyck dares not answer a word.
Let him ask Mr. Van Wyck if he believed
in free silver when he voted for it in 1896. Mr..
Van Wyck dares not answer word.
Let him ask # Mr.. Van Wyck thinks man
who voted for free silver and the packing OF
the Supreme Court of the United States is
man of fit character to be Governor. Mr.. Van
Wyck dares not answer word.
Let him ask if Mr. Van Wyck approves Of
Maynardism and thinks that Maynards part
ner in stealing an election ought to be made
Lieutenant Governor. Mr.. Van Wyck dares
not answer q WORD.
Let him ask If Mr.. Van Wyck thinks the
Justices of the Supreme Court should be made
the creatures of a political boss Mr.. Van
Wyck dares not answer word.
Let him ask Mr.. Van Wyck If the farmers
and shopkeepers of New-York should pay larger
taxes. so that brewers may reimburse them
selves for their contribution to the Tammany
campaign fund Mr.. Van Wyck dares not an
swer n word
Let him ask If Mr.. Van Wyck thinks Ma
tional questions have nothing TO do with the
election Of United States Senator. Mr. Van
Wvck dares not answer n word.
Let him ask Mr. Van Wyck If he thinks that
n victory of the Anti Administration party In
the chief state Of the Union In an election
where congressman are TO be chosen would not
hurt the prestige Of the United States in its
negotiations with Spain. Mr. Van Wyck dares
not answer a word.
Let him ask Mr.. Van Wyck any question on
anv subject about which Mr.. Croker has not
given him instructions. Mr. Van Wyck dares
word