The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-10-22
Indifference to Leaders As
signed as Cause
VIEWS OF TWO CAMPAIGNERS
Representative Williams of Mississippi
and Delegate Flynn of Oklahoma
Tell of Rebuffs Received.

same story of lethargy and apparent
disinterestedness throughout the coun-
try in the contest for the House, now
swiftly drawing 10 close.
Representative John Sharp Williams
of Mississippi. who. if the Democrats
carry the House, will be leading can
didate for Speaker. has swept the field
from his State to New Jersey within
the past month in his campaign work
Delegate Dennis Flynn, of Oklahoma,
who will be the first Senator from that
new State. if the Republicans retain con-
troll urstr the new conditions. has de-
livered speeches from the Texas border
to Connecticut under the auspices of the
Republican Congress campaign commit
tee since the opening of the fight.
Although these two experienced politi-
clans were not together when they were
met by representative of The. Times,
and had not seen each other since they
arrived in Washington for brief rest
ing spell from their arduous labors in
the field, they both spoke in the same
vein about the remarkable apathy en-
v.
Each claims in earnest that his party
will win the House. though both refuse
TO commit themselves on details Neith-
er processes to know what the cause Of
the widespread and discouraging apathy
is, though each seems deeply impressed
trouble is the impatience of the people
with the politicians.
Indifferent to Public Men.
Il have campaigned all over the coun-
try for many years, but have never
seen such Indifference on the part of the
people toward the great questions that
divide the parties said the MISSISSIPPI
plan. Nobody, as far as / can learn,
has been able to arouse them from their
lethargy. The best campaigners and
the most famous leaders of both par
ties have been in the field nearly a
month. but the people refuse to mani
fest their usual interest in the discus
sions of the important issues of the day
i can assign no other reason for their
Indifference than their loss of respect
foI and confidence in the public men
of their day. / realize that this is
hard thing to say, but $1ave studied the
subject closely. and what 1 have said is
my deliberate judgment.
What has prodiced this apparent in
difference to the opinions and pleas of
public men do not know, but if I am
t,J e., ~,
wholly for the apathy that exists in all
parts of the country. The people turn
out to rallies and meetings in sufficient
number, but for the first time in my
experience they don't seem to be moved
by what is said 10 them. They listen in
half-hearted sort of way. ask few Il
any questions and then go away from
the meetings without appearing to have
understood or cared to understand what
had been said to them.
What ] am telling you will be told
you by other men who have been work
ing in this campaign in various parts
OF the country" Mr.. Williams went on
to say. Republican and Democratic
speakers alike are meeting the same
frost. The most favorable sign for the
Democrats is that the Republicans show
they are less concerned about what is
going on, because the Democratic meet
ings are larger nearly everywhere than
those of the Republicans. This means
that the Democrats will cast heavy
vote, and as there are many thousands
more Democrats in the country than
Republicans anyway, do not see why. |
under such circumstances as those that |
prevail, We should not carry the
House.
Frosty in Connecticut.
Mr. Flynn had just returned from |
Connecticut. where he had been speak |
two weeks.
Il think they must have curfew law
in Connecticut" he said which drives
The people TO bed with the chickens.
They positively refuse to become excited
Up there over this campaign, and ii
seems that when they go home at night
from work they stay there until the
next morning. My meetings were as
we'll attended as anybody's else. but /
iont remember ever having seen as
small crowds in any part of the coun-
-ry as | have been addressing In Con-
iecticut. ] am confident that the State
S still safely Republican, and | feel
certain that the people viii turn out 10
fote on election day, but they seem
thoroughly surfeited with politics and
don't care to hear much from
he politicians. i know II will be graft
ying 10 everybody in Washington to | ,
earn that Connecticut will return her ,
'reat statesman. Orville II. Platt. to the .
senate FOR another term without oppo-
ition in his party. The town elections
lready held show that Senator PIatt is
ven stronger than his party in Con-
ecticut'
Mr.. FLYNN is not candidate for re- n
lection 10 Congress this year He vol y
ntarily retired from the race. with the Y
lew, 1t is understood, Of giving his en- p
ire attention TO the race for the Sem 7
te as soon as Oklahoma is admitted 10 s
The omnibus statehood bill. {
'hich passed the House at the last ses- d
lon. will come up for consideration in II
ne Senate early in the next session. n