Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-09-26


mi made at him by the plutocrat-
ic press Tom T.. Johnson, may
4 or of Cleveland, probable gov
ernor of Ohio and possible
president of the United States, contin-
ues to hold the center of the stage and
to stand in the full glare of the lime
light. Tom is irrepressible, and he has
more winning ways than almost any
statesman now OH the boards. His
method Of campaigning is unique and
successful. He does not depend on
courthouses and opera houses to shell
ter his audiences. He has provided
himself with huge circus tent fitted
up with opera chairs and all other
modern improvements. He pitches his
tent on some convenient lot, sets his
brass band, one Of the finest in the
land, to discoursing sweet music and
then invites any gentleman disposed
to discuss public issues to walk in and
debate with him. He does not divide
time, as is usual in such cases, but in
sists that the debaters alternate in ten
minute speeches. Wherefore this ar
rangement as to time? Because Tom
does not particularly excel in long
speeches, but is probably the best short
/ speech maker in America. He is de-
batter rather than an orator, and he
knows his forte, most rare and eS-
cellent thing in statesman or in any
body else. 1t is brave, not to say
rash, man that tackles Tom in his own
tent OH his own terms. "Will you walk
into my tent?" when put by Tom to
i competing statesmen is as ominous
question as the ancient one put by the
spider to the fly, "Will you walk into
my parlor?" Many Buckeye Repub-
lican orator can date his downfall from
his acceptance of that seductive invita-
ton. Keep your eye on Tom Johnson
( It will repay you very largely.
General Franz Sigel.
The death of the veteran soldier, Gen
eral Franz Sigel. in New York has at
tracted general attention. He was one
i of the popular favorites during the
/ civil war and has been prominent
figure ever since. He took an active
part in the German revolution of 1913
and then came to America in the very
flower Of his years. Twelve thou
sand people attended his funeral in the
great city where he died and hundreds
of thousands attended it in spirit. In
a long editorial on General Sigel the
Globe Democrat mentions as among
the Union leaders in Missouri at the
beginning of the war Francis P. Blair,
James @. Breadhe.al&l, Samuel I. Glow
er, Franz Sigel, B. Gratz Brown, Oil
yer D. Filley, John Howe and Julius
| Witzig. All of these men We're Repub-
licans or semi-Republicans in 1861. 1t
is strange historic fact that Blair,
Broadhead, Sigel and Brown all died
within the Democratic fold. Blair and
Sigel were major generals in the
Union army; Broadhead and Brown
were colonies. Brown served in the
United States senate as Republican
and was afterward Democratic gov
ernor Of Missouri lie was elected as
a Liberal Republican, and was nomi-
mated for vice president rs such, bit
was regarded as Democratic governor
and died a Democrat. Frank Blair
served in congress as a Republican,
subsequently in the senate as a Demo
GRAFT and was nominated for vice presi-
dent as q Democrat. Glover became a
Democrat and was George G. Vests
chief competitor for the senate Ylen
Vest was first nominated. General ST.
gel became Democrat when Hancock
was nominated in 1880 and was APP
pointed pension agent at New York by
Grover Cleveland. All of these men
except Sigel were driven out Of the
Republican party by the outrageous
measures inaugurated by Missouri Re-
publicans at the close Of the civil war.
The recollection of Republican pro-
scrjption in that state will hold her in
the Democratic column for years to
come.
1t is also notable fact that the two
most eminent men living who ever had
anything to do with Republican poll
tics in Missouri are now entirely op-
posed to Republican policies # not in
entire accord with the Democratic par
ty. These two men are General John
b. Henderson, now of Washington, and
Carl Schurz. now of New York. Hen
dersen served eight years in the senate
as Republican from Missouri and
Schurz six years. They were uniyer-
sally recognized as great senators.
Henderson was the author Of the thir-
teenth amendment, voted for the ac-
quittal Of Andrew johnson and pre-
sided over the national Republican con-
ventiou that nominated James G.
Blaine. After leaving the senate Schurz
was secretary of the interior under
Hayes. has since been editor of Har
pelFs Weekly and is universally re-
jgarded as ono Of the first citizens of
the republic. Yet neither NJ them
can stomach latter day Republicanisfa.
There must be something essentially
wrong with party that drives such
men as these out of it's ranks. Schurz
and Henderson always obeyed their
consciences. The same process seems
to be going on all over the country.
Up i4 Massachusetts, George S. Bout.
well, who has been governor, congress
man, senator and secretary of the
treasury as Republican, has openly
departed from the ranks, while the
connection of George Frisbie Hoar with
that party is merely nominal inasmuch
as ne is in open revolt against imperi-
alism, the principal policy for which it
DOW stands.
Secretary MooGy's Task.