The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-05-09

uicT' Dut, WuuteNer particular Sp 'CleS
Of general Hon. Charles Dick now is,
suggest to General Grosvenor, the
great keynoter. that he go into this
campaign with the thrilling battlecry
of "Dick and liberty fOreverw
McKinley's Fugleman.
I have one poignant regret touching
the Philadelphia convention, and that
Is that for one brief, halcyOn moment
I cannot control the divers and sundry
brass bands which will make the vel.
kin ring on that occasion. III were in
charge. just as General Grosvenor, the
real leader Of the Ohio Big Four an.
peared. followed by Senator Foraker.
once fOndly called Little Breeches"
by his admirers and denominated "Fire
Alarm" by those who loved him not,
would have all the bands strike up
"I'o. the Conquering Hero Comesw
General GrosvenOr's going to Phila.
delphia rs chief fugleman is in keeping
with the eternal fitness of things. He
helped to rock the cradle of the Repub.
lican party, and no one is better en-.
titled to follow its hearse. BY long and
distinguished service in the cause of
McKinleyism he has achieved "the bad
eminence" of being chief mourner at
its funeral.
The Ohio platform Is as remarkable
for what 1t Omits as for what It con.
tains-that Is, it would be remarkable
II 1t had been made Ey any other set
of men on top Of ground except Ohio
Republican platform makers. put
In this saving statement because 1t
will be remembered that in 1896 the
Ohio Republicans put such an amaz.
Ing and enigmatical financial plank in
their platform that it remains an In.
soluble marvel to this day.
This time they practically ignore the
Porto Rican tariff bill and the priuci.
pie, 1.-The less said the sooner mended."
but II they suppose that by playing the
role OF ostrich and, hiding their head
In the sand, they have shifted discus.
sion as to that question, they are reck.
oning without their host They will
have to debate that question. never fear.
and to explain the presidents change of
mind and heart and Mr.. Chairman
Serene E. Payne's lofty somersault and
the mental acrobatic feats of certain
other Republican statesmen.
Great Acrobatics.
1t was. however, when they struck
the trust question that the Ohio plat.
form builders achieved their greatest
success In acrobatics. don't know
whether to give General Grosyencr
credit for this, as the press reports say
1t was added to the platform brought
from Washington" However that may
be. regard 1t as gem. Here it is:
The Republican party Of Ohio stands committed
to legislative and executive opposition to the
threatening combinations OF capital that seek to
restrict competition and stiae independent pro.
ducers. We invite within our borders the capital.
istic investments that are material to the indus.
trial development OF the state and the largest EN-.
ploymcnt OF labor. but we insist that Injurious
combinations shall be forbidden and 10 called
trusts shall be regulated from time to time and
be 30 restricted to guarantee immunity from hurt.
tnl monopoly and assure fair treatment and pro.
lection to all competing industries.
l defy any mortal man to tell what
1t meanA 1t appears to be an attempt
to be all things to all men. thereby
hoping to win some. 1t makes one diz-
~ to try to fathom 1t. People not i'm
mune to the vertigo and apoplexy will
leave 1t severely alone.
Self Nominated Boss.
There Is one thing about the recent
Ohio Republican convention to which
l wish to particularly call the pro-
found, prolonged and prayerful atten-
tiOn Of Hon. William Eaton Chandler,
senior senator from New Hampshire,
as we'll as adviser in general to the
universe anu to the Republican party
In particular. 1t Is the miraculous
manner In which Hon. Marcus A. Han.
ma "effaced" himself. 1t will be re.
membered that some months ago Sen
ator Chandler informed Senator Han
ma by an open letter. public interview
or some such document that the best
way to insure success for the Republic
an party was for the former to "efrace
himself" At that time I pointed out
to the Granite Mountain statesman
and philosopher that he was seeking
the unattainable" after the manner Of
Boston ranscendentalists: that invent.
Ing perpetual motion, extracting moon
beams from green cucumbers, binding
Its OdOr to the lily or the sea to slum.
ber stilly-all this was dead easy
easy as falling of !og, and a slippery
log at that-compared to the job he
had undertaken of inducing Senator
Hanna to "efface himself" The task
Of Sisyphus and the labors Of Hercules
were holiday performances when
brought into competition with the
work Of effacing Mark or Of inducing
that illustrious patriot to "efface him.
SELF" Now, am in position to say to
Senator Chandler. II tod you so."
Mark did some ''effacing" Mt COlum-
bus. but by what must appear a strange
process to Senator Chandler it was the
other fellow Mark "effaced" and not