The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-08-29
Republicans Desert the
, Sinking Old Hulk.
CAN'T STAND IMPERIALISM.
0minous Facts Confront the
g. O. p. File Leaders.
KRusr VOTE CATCHING METHODS.

fhey Meaitste at Nothing % Fool
ouAgeens - Making . Desperate
IisAs rer the Next House-A sug-
sestiea 60 the National Democratic
Committee Werk For Southern
! Cssssessaea-A Wolf In Sleeps
c1sthisg-cernans Fer Bryan.
Especial Washington Letter.l
SAnd still they como. Nothing short
ef lightning calculator in good run
ninS order can keep up with the Re.
0uhllcans Of all degrees who are de.
esrting the sinking old hulk. The most
distinguished recruit to the Democratic
eanks since my last writing is the Hon.
Henry U. Johnson Of Richmond. Ind.
He served ten years In congress, with
constantly growing prestige. I state
Aow q fact which everybody stated
Ahen. that he was one Of the ablest
members Of the house. Nobody doubt
I'd his courage. his capacity or his In
tegrity. He was an able congressman
IN every way. He was strong In COM
0ittee work and especially strong on
the floor Of the house. Withal he was
. man of conscience. He placed right
above party, and when his party began
this imperialistlc crusade Johnson was
the first man In the house to make n
speech against II. He had then. as I
have reason to know, hopes Of in
ducing his party to refrain from this
un-American and ruinous policy, and
no made a heroic fight. Finding the
Republicans, like Ephraim of old,
Joined to their idols, there was but
one thing left for him to do as an hon
est man-to leave the Republican
party. which he has done. He will be
welcomed generally as an auxiliary of
great power.
Not All "Hss Beens.o
The Republicans have been claiming
that all the Republicans who had de-
: serted them were "ex's" and had no
future. This theory Is completely
xnocked I'm the head by the action of
Hon. George l.. Wellington, senior Re-
publican senator from Maryland. who
has Just announced his intention OF
taking the stump for Bryan. Senator
George +. Uoar and Senator William
II. Mason went to the jumping of
place. but wouldn't jump. Wellington
went the whole hog. What they will
say about Wellington l don't know.
They Will get up some plausible lie, no
doubt. for that Is their long suit: but
nobody cares what sort OF lie they tell,
for nobody believes them.
Another sample OF an actual Re-
publican ofiiceholder OF high degree
jumping the fence Is that Of Mr.. Tai
bot OF Omaha. president OF the state
senate Of Nebraska. Perhaps no man
In Nebraska had brighter future In
the Republican party than Mr.. Talbot.
but he couldn't stand the corruption
OF the Republican party and he has
quit II lncontinently.
Another ominous fact for the Repub-
lican spellbinders and fle leaders to
consider Is that Arthur Pue German Is
going to take an active personal In
terest In the conduct Of the campaign
In the east First and last have diff
fered with him on many propositions
and ] may do so hereafter, but I have
never departed from the belief that he
10 the greatest parliamentary leader Of
this generation. and that rs political
manager he has perhaps but one equal
In tho United States. and that Is Mat.
thew Stanley Quay. In 1906 he took
no part whatever In the campaign.
This year he Is 10 be actively associat.
ed with Senator Jones In the manage
ment OF the campaign. fact which
will set Marcus A. Hanna to rubbing
his bald pate mt q furious rate.
=. Contasious Enthusiasm.
The monster meeting at indianapolis
at which Bryan and Stevenson ac-
cepted their nominations probably en-.
gendered enough enthusiasm OF itself
60 carry the state OF Indiana for the
Democrats. for enthusiasm Is the most
contagious disease known among men.
being more contagious than the mea.
sles. the black plague or smallpox.
1t made little difference whether any
one heard the speeches or not. though
.
1t was the event itself which engen.
dered the enthusiasm. have always
believed. and do now believe. that had
Bryan accepted the nomination I'm In
diana instead Of New York he would
now be president.
Everybody who takes any interest In
the workings Of the lower house Of con-
gress will be glad TO know that the
Hon. Henry ID. Clayton Of Alabama
has been renominated. He Is young
man OF extraordinary force OF char.
acter. handsome. courageous. capable
and honest as the day Is long. He has
been I'm congress some years. Is a mem
Der OF the national committee. and rs
be seems 10 have long lease on his
seat In the house he bids fair to be.