The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-06-13


men who ut least challenged admira-
tiOn by reason Of their courage and
their shining talents. Upon the roster
of their worthless were the names of
John NJ. Harlan, Benjamin II. Bristow,
Rumsey Wing. General Eli II. Murray,
Congressman Wadsworth and the
Goodies. Now their leaders are such
small bore politicians as w. S. Taylor,
Senator DebOe, ct id Omne genus. 1t
Is pitiful to think OF such decadence.
The first lcader-the real leader while
he lived-Of the Kentucky Republicans
was Rev. DIR. Robert j. Breckinridge-
"Old Bob" as everybody called him
an intellectual Titan. He presided
over the national convention which
nominated Abraham Lincoln and An
drew Johnson. and mentally he was
fit to sit In the White House. The
present low status Of Kentucky Re-
publicans, viewed from an intellectual
standpoint, justifies the bitter saying
that 1.-THE Republican party Of the pres
ent day much resembles q hill of pota-
toes because the best part Of it is un-
der the ground"
Straws show which way the wind
blows. One curious manifestation of
the tendency Of the public political
mind Of America at the present juno
ture in human affairs is the fact that
up to date only one Democratic con-
gressman standing for reelection has
been defeated for nomination. Very
rev OF them have had any trouble on
that score, while the political mortal
ity among Republican congressman
mas been great. especially in Ohio.
Even such illustrious patriots rs Mr..
Tawney Of Minnesota and Governor
Steele OF Indiana were fit subjects for
congratulation when they pulled under
the string winners. This can be inter-
preted In but one way, and that is that
the people are satisfied with the con-
duct of the Democrats in congress and
dissatisfied with the Republicans. The
defeat of Republican congressman for
denomination, taken in connection with
the results Of the spring elections, must
make many Of them who have secured
denominations take gloomy view of
the future.
Editors, Attention! Q
wish to call the attention of Ameri.
can editors, without regard to age.
sex or previous condition Of servitude"
to Mark Hanna, to the fact that this
Republican congress does not propose
to do anything to relieve them from
the heavy hand Of the wood pulp and
white paper trusts; nothing-absolute-
ly nothing. 1t could be broken up in
30 days by passing my bill introduced
Mt IN early date into this congress to
place white print paper and all the ma
terials and ingredients used in manu-.
featuring the same upon the free list.
SO far as l was able to ascertain nearly
every paper in America indorsed the
proposition, though some of them un-
dertook to steal from me the credit
and to confer 1t upon another congress-
man. who was himself trying to steal
the credit. But they indorsed the prin-
ciple.
Now be 1t remembered that n favor.
able report-at any rate a report of
some kind-fSom committee Is q sine
qua non to the passage Of q bill.
Speaker Henderson promptly referred
my bill to the committee on ways and
means. where 1t has slept the sleep
that knows no waking ever since. I
received so much encouragement as to
the bill from the public press, ire
spective Of party affiliations, that saw
MIR. Serene e. Payne of New York,
chairman Of the committee, and
Messrs. George w. Steele of Indiana
and John Dalzell of Pennsylvania,
leading members Of the committee, and
asked to be heard upon my bill. They
said l could be heard, but Mr.. Chair
man Payne. with a smile that was
childlike and bland, said. "You may be
heard, but it is only fair to tell you
that there Is no prospect whatever that
any action will be taken on that sub
Ject," or words to that effect. So that
editors. while cussing the paper trust
and wood pulp trust, should also pay
their compliments to the party-the
Republican party-which makes trusts
possible. If Republican editors are
honestly opposed to the wood pulp and
white paper trusts, their remedy it
clear. Help us kill the Republican
party. 1t Is the mother Of trusts.
nuRcOmbe Law.
OF course this Republican congress
will pass some buncombe law, resolu.
tiOn or constitutional amendment pur-
porting to be antitrust. and they will
no doubt put an antitrust plank into
the Philadelphia platform. No doubt;
but an editor who expects to purchase
his white paper cheaper On that ac-
count Is bigger fool than Thompson's
colt, which swan the Mississippi river
to get drink. No. messieurs, there is
but one remedy for you. and that Is to
come out from the Republican SodOm
and GOmOrrah and make common
cause with us against the whole brood