Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-10-13
BEWARE OF INACTION
THE CONSERVATIVE VOTE NEEDS
SHAKING UP.
Taking Campaign Methods of the
Democrats Must he Couateracted.
[sneclal New York Letter. ]


The result in Maine is satisfactory to
Republicans here for the same reason
that the result in Vermont was, only
it is more So That is because the
proportion of Republican apathy is
manifestly smaller. Many Republic
ans staid at home, however, and for
that reason those best qualified to
Judge of the exact situation feel even
more certain than before that there is
not a Republican or expansionist or
sound money man or loyal supporter
Of prosperity, of law and order, but
needs to do his utmost to win over TO
the side of the right cause as many vot-
ers as he can. The uncertain element is
the really independent vote-the class
Of thinking, quiet, conservative bust
ness men, who are very busy making
money now and have little time for
politics, but who usually decide con-
test, in n close state at least.
This kind of thinking, quiet, CON
servative business men-and this class
includes all of the clerks, wage earn
ers, etc, who depend upon business for
their occupation-would reflect that
present conditions of prosperity are
good enough for them; that Mckinley
is tried and has been found true; that
Roosevelt represents the aggressive
American sentiment which, whatever
they may say, is exactly what they
like; that In state as well as national
affairs they had better place control
in the hands of those who from ex-
perience and wisdom, not to say from
superior stock of patriotism, have
proved all right.
Yet work needs to be done among all
such voters.
1t Is expected that this work will be
done. 1t has not been done thus far
The Democrats are not inactive. They
are neglecting no opportunity. 1t is
even more evident than before Senator
Jones came here this time that his
campaign chest is well filled, partly be-
cause his own turn for business since
becoming a millionaire within year
has put him on" to certain new meth
DDS, partly because he is undoubtedly
getting the financial support of certain
gold Democrats who want to crawl
back into their party and who are will
ing to pay for it, and who consider that
n business panic, which they admit to
be entirely possible, is "small price to
pay"
There is another interesting thing
that every antagonist of Organism
ought to know. 1t is that the most So
cialistic and incendiary utterances of
the Populists are now being repeated
in hundreds of places and are likely TO
be repeated in thousands Of places be-
fore this campaign is over, not merely
in the socialist and incendiary newspa-
pers and on the stump of the Bryan
orators in the usual way, but in hun
dreds of unusual ways and in thou
sands of unusual places 1t has been
Mr.. Bryan's plan, which he is taking
pains himself to execute. that his wild
| charge that the labOrcr is not receiv-
| ing his share" and where do you
come in, my poor workingmanE" and
| all that sort of thing, shall be taken
| from person to person in the work
| shops, mills, offices, barber shops, sa-
! looms, in short, everywhere that there
! is listener.
What is going to be done to meet
this kind of taking? Shall the Repub-
! leans try TO send around their insinu-
ating takers with every kind of argu-
ment. and right ones, so that they may
be effective? ManifeStly this ought to
| be done.
This new method of Bryanite cam-
paigning Cfor which it is known Mr.
Croker is going to furnish the money
in New York; is of piece with the
! now admitted successful efforts of GER
| tain Democratic leaders to incite a
strike among the coal miners. No one
can tell what will come out of that sit
uation except that untold misery viii
come ont of it, with a chance against
the success of the strike. Why notE
Parenthetically what shall be said Of
Of thousands Of their deluded followers
into this thing when according to the
figures not - per cent of the coal min
ers of the country belong to the union
II would seem unless our whole theory
of government Is wrong, unless the
whole sentiment of our people is So
cialistic and inceudiary, that such reck-
less aud desperate efforts to uclte
class prejudice ought to fail not merely
} among those who do not sympathize
with such procedures, but among the
very ones who have been led by false
prophets into the general misery.