Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1902-08-21
NUMBER 3
tics by other Republican papers. The

tics by other Republican papers. The
Courant says:
The rank and file Of the Republican
party are with the president in this Gu
ban matter and against the unholy alli-
ance of selfish greed and stealthy politi-
cal intrigue that, for the moment. has
thwarted him. In state after state, just
as fast as they get the opportunity, they
are making the fact known Among the
professional politicians of Missouri, as
among the professional politicians else
where. there is plenty of i'll will toward
Theodore Rooseyelt-mostly cowardly and
covert. The leading party newspaper in
the state, the st. Louis Globe-Democrat,
has surprised us by its seeming indiffer-
ence to a plain obligation of humanity
and national honor. This week the Mis-
souri, Republicans have met in state con-
vention. Look at their platform. I'VE
approve, they say ''the policy of Presi-
dent Roosevelt respecting our trade rela-
tions with Cuba
Split-Up-the Back Solidity.
Item.-If the CD. wants any fur
ther proof that the Republican party is
split up the back, let it read the follow
ing editorial from that stanch Repub-
lican organ, the Chicago Tribune:
The autocratic rule of the Republican
leaders in the house is threatened Last
month the beet sugar Republicans united
with the Democrats to overrule the lead
ers in the matter of Cuban reciprocity.
Day before yesterday the leaders met
with another rebuff. The committee ON
naval affairs had reluctantly agreed to
provide for the building in a government
navy yard of one of the six vessels the
construction oe which is to be authorized.
An amendment to direct the building OF
three ships instead of one in government
yards was carried by the votes of DEM
ocrats and rebellious Republicans. The
chairman of the committee of the whole
ruled that the amendment was not ger
name, but the house reversed his ruling,
as ii did the ruling that the amendment
offered by the beet sugar men to the Gu
ban reciprocity bill was not germane.
Party discipline is in danger. and the
''ruling power in the house is alarmed
by repeated and successful instructions.
The example may be contagious and the
baton of command be wrested from the
hands that have held it so long. To
maintain authority mutineers in the army
or navy, in congress or in a political Or
ganization must be disciplined, but the
mutineers in the house have not been
punished and it may be impossible to
punish them.
The Republican legislative autocrats are
themselves largely to blame for the two
successful revo1ts which have SO shaken
their authority. They have ruled with
too heavy a hand. They have never fla
vored their dictat ton with a spice of con-
ciliation. They have provoked mutiny by
their too rigid discipline and by their as
sumption that wisdom dwelt with them
alone. The Republican party in the house
should have discipline. but not the dis
cipline of the drillmaster. 1t should have
leaders, but not bosses.
If anything was ever proved by hui
man evidence, l have in this letter and
the preceding one proved the truth of
the assertion made in Maine that the
Republican party is divided against
itself and for which the CD. jumped
on me. l could cite more, but this is
enough.
Tom johnson.
Evidently Hon. Tom L. Johnson,
old doggerel-
If at first you don't succeed.
Try, try again.
For that is precisely what that bril-
liant and aggressive statesman does.
He has urged three cent street car
fare. That was one of the principal
planks in the platform on which he
won the mayoralty and became chief
magistrate of Senator Marcus A. Han
mas town. The street railway mag
mates appealed to the courts and un-
dertook to restrain the city council
from carrying out Toms scheme, but
the courts have decided in favor of
Tom, which places him a long step
farther on the road to the governor
ship of Ohio-perhaps to the White
Housewife knows? Stranger-much
stranger-things have happened than
that Tom Johnson would succeed The
0dore Roosevelt March 4. 1905. In the
very best sense, he is the friend of the
people. He works for the people, and
he accomplishes things for them. This
fat, chubby, handsome, happy. indus
trious young mayor of Cleveland is a
sharp thorn in the side of your Uncle
Mark. Wouldn't it be curious if Mark
and Tom were both nominated for
president in 1904? Cleveland would be
IL hot town sure enough