The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-10-03

The presidents orator has come
and gone Mr.. Webster Davis, the ae-
credited hambeau OF the administra
tion has shot across Oklahoma like a
meteor and left behiud him trail Of
disappointment and criticism and dis
cussiou This much heralded, and
big red postered representative of
HAnnaism in peace and Algerism ia
war has told his story, performed his
mission and took his departure.
The men who brought MIN here paid
dearly for the pleasure OF basking be
meath the soft refulgence Of his official
smile and groaning beneath the pom
dcroasness Of his awkward gestures
As an orator Davis is a sickening fail
ure aud as political economist, logi
clan and historian rank fraud and a
brazen distorter OF facts. TO follow
him through all the devious and
crooked paths OF distortion and per
varicaton would be impossible as well
Rs useless but the whole story can be
boiled down into the one expressive
word " fraud" After all the adver
tising with posters, messengers, brass
bands and newspapers the crowd 10
hear him was small and the enthusi-
asm meagre. To call his efforts 10
hoodwink the ignorant and cajole the
negroes into supporting the Republi-
can candidate for congress a great
speech, as did the Capital of yester
day morning, is TO presume that news.
paper readers OF Guthrie are such fools
that they are incapable Of knowing
thS difference between a eonglomera-
tion Of ancient jokes and an intelli-
gent discussion Of current issues.
In discussing this disgusting syco-
phant the Chicago Chronicle Of last
Friday has this to say OF his western
tour or oratory
Some two or three weeks ago we ia
dulged ia some comment upon the fact
that the Hon: Webster Davis, assistant
secretary OF the interior, was about 10
desert his post at Washington and
make tour OF the Western states for
the purpose OF defending the national
administration in genera! and Russell
A. Alger in particular, We ventu red
20 point out that .ir. Davis was not
employed to make political speeches
least OF all TO act as the advocate aud
apologist for d discredited cabinet
minister. We also suggested that II
he did go forth on a stumping tour he
was by no means entitled 10 draw sal
airy from the government while he was
30 employed. We did not expect, OF
course, that any such considerations
would influence Mr. Davis conduct,
aud the event proves that we were not
mistaken.
Mr. Davis Is fairly embarked upon
his career Of apologistle oratory, and
the reports OF his speeches show that
ne Is laboring at his Eelf-appointed
task with an enthusiasm which would
be laudable Ia a worthy cause. In the
present instance IL Is merely nause
Aiing,
Mr. Davis attempts no exposition oI
political Issues lie says nothing about
the currency question or the Dingley
tariff bill. He does not even claim fol
the Republican party the credit Of ad
ysneiuR the price Of grain or winning
the war with Spain. The party. in
deed. he ignores altogether. He con
fines himself exclusively 10 fulsoms
adulafion Of the president aad ths
snembers Of his cabinet.
According 70 Mr. Davis, William
Mckinley IL the greatest Statesman
known 10 history, aud his advisers ar,
the next greatest Tslleyranc, Richie
snere tyros in stateeraft compared viii