The Daily soliphone. (Paragould, Ark.) 1???-1911, 1902-04-02
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Arkansas Senatorial Contest.
Commercial Appeal.


Aside from the personality OF either
Senator James Fl. Jones or ex-Gov. James
p. Clarke there is q significance in the out
come which will be noted nationally.
While Sena tor Jones has served his peo-
pie and his party long and ably, and while
there are as many regrets as there are
rejoicings over his defeatt he was toe
closely identified with the losing national
campaigns to give his followers hope and
encouragement. The Commercial Appeal
has been not inirequently criticised for en-
deavoring to point out the error which the
party made in abandoning its natural al
lies In the north and east and not only af-
filiating with the populistic west, but in
permitting itself to de dominated by the
spectacular western extravaganza. The
Commercial Appeal long ago concluded
that two defeats after two noble and
splendid fights are enough and that
change is necessary If the democratic par
ty expects or desires to return to its
ancient prestige and to it's position as
dominating power. With this western
idea Senator Jones was identified in
manner that made him the incarnation of
it. To his credit and honor it must be said
that he gave no evidence OF any desire OF
breaking away from his environments.
He was not prepared TO admit The error of
1895 and, as an honest man, he concluded
that what was right in that year must be
right in this year., This is question for
academic discussion, but we may, for the
sake OF saving time, admit it, Neverthe-
less. theorizing on politics and engaging
in practical politics are wholly different
things and, with such an enemy to battle
against as the republican party, prudent
party leaders should not hesitate to use
the enemy's own weapons and fight the
deyil with fire.
Before this desire to correct the errors
OF the past, to abandon allies who never
should have been OF our household, and to
return to our old mornings and open the
ldoors of our natural allies, Senator Jones
went down, victim to what he conceived
consistency. His affiliation with certain
corporation said to be seeking monopolis-
tic powers would not have injured him, we
feel sure, had he frankly admitted that he
enterprise in which he was engaged with
Others and sought to defend himself on
business grounds. He weakened his posi-
ton when he began explaining, because
public official who is put under the neces-
sity OF explaining aggravates rather than
mitigates the evil of his environment. But
whatever injury may have resulted from
his connection with the cotton company
was more than compensated for by the
active and earnest support given him by
Mr.. Bryan, whose presidential campaign
he so ably managed. Mr.. Bryan did him
self no good in the eyes of his most ardent
followers by espousing the cause of Sena-
tor Jones; but MIR. Bryan had long been
affiliated with Senator Jones, was under
at least sentimental obligations to him and
ingratitude finds no habitation in MIR.
Bryan's character.
1t must be admitted, also, that the
strange popularity Of Gov. Davis was a
potent factor in the campaign. Whether |
or not Coy. Davis, as Editor Mitchell of |
the Arkansas Democrat, expresses it, |
s'has the people still hoodooed,n May be
LIFT for future speculation; but against
this must be set the very powerful In |
fiuence of Senator Berry, whose eminent |
service TO his party and people have made
him a power in the state OF Arkansas |
equal to that OF anyone. In looking over
the field impartiaily and after casting ac
counts accurately every influence fluids It's
equation save one, and that is, as hereto
fore SEATED, the desire OF the people to
abandon further chase after western popu-
lism and return to tie safe ana ancient /
moorings of democracy and TO exait and |
follow its sane and indestfuctible princi-
pies. No one can doubt the loyalty of the
democrats OF Arkansas TO their party ana
and platform, and when they are induced
TO abandon the leadership Of such a prom
Lnent and popular man as Senator Jones,
bhs democrats Of other states should be
admonished that the time for change has
arrlysd, and that the children Of Israel
shoa u get them to their tents. The Com