The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-10-06

Gratis and Even Those Tending To.
ward Socialism, All Going Against
johnson.
What connection can there be be-
tween the Unexpectedly early return
from his European journey of John X.
Mclean and the increasing number
and yigor OF the Democratic protests
against Tom Johnsonism? II is barely
possible that Mr.. Mclean and his
friends. and the Zimmerman and Brice
Democrats. and the various other ele-
ments offended. and with their entire
party future imperiled by the johnson
ascendency. may be making common
cause against the Cleveland Mogul.
but people on the ouside can only look
on and wonder just what Is going on.
One thing is sure to all outward ap-
pearance. and that is that the discon-
tent grows deeper daily and more
widespread. Moreover. II affects sim
eere silver supporters. as well as
Grover Cleveland sympathizers and
"reorganizers." Johnson is trying TO
ride too many horses going in too
many different directions. and his
short. thick body is not calculated for
so wide spread.
The silver men are mad at the
Clarke candidacy. II is not merely
that Clarke was a gold Democrat In
1896. nor even that he boasts of hold
ing the same opinion still. but the
offensive way in which he was nomi-
mated, that hurts him. When Thur
man had been thrust out and Lentz
thrown down and Bookwalter brought
out and then backed down again, il
was pretty tough for the silverites
when practically al the last minute
| Clarke. the goldbug. was thrust down
| their throats. without any chance for
lubrieating the dose to make it pal
| atable or even so that they could
| swallow 1t easily. After Lentz had
done all manner of service for John
| son. John ]. was told by Tom l.. s
order bearers that Lentz was no good
and couldn't be nominated. because he
was in such bad repute, even If John
| son helped him. And yet 1t took all
| of the stolen hundred delegates. of
whom Zimmerman had been deprived
by main force and the full power of
the Johnson unit rule in Cuyahoga and
other counties. and a division of the
silver forces ever Salzgaber's useless
| candidacy. 10 save Clarke from defeat
by Lentz.
| Such things make bad blood in pol
itics. The leaders may smile and
shake hands together. but their fol-
lowers are not so amiable. Conse-
quently the silver men are not at all
solid Tor Clarke. in spite of Bryan's
o. X. upon him. In fact. they resent
Bryan's interference in Ohio affairs az
little of his business. The way in
which Bryan argues and pleads In the
current issue Of the "Commoner" is a
pretty good gauge that the storm is
getting too big for both Bryan and
johnson.
The anti-Bryan Democrats could not
be expected to be pleased at what has
happened In Ohio. Johnson has been
playing cahoots with Bryan. not foi
Bryan's benefit little bit. but because
he needs Bryan in his business, thai
of being boosted into the Democratic
nomination for president in 1904 b,
Bryan's help. As Johnson has never
been a silver man ana always a gold
man. he fanctes that that fact vii
favor him. on the other hand. wher,
the anu-Bryanites are the most mum
erous. In this way Mogul Johnson
spreading his short legs wide apa-
from the Mississippi to the Atlantic
would with one hand grasp the silver
ties. with the other grasp the anti
silyerites. appealing to the solid Soutl
by his Kentucky birth. looking upoI
himself as the one irresistible attrac
ton, the center around which nigh
gather all the divergent elements o
distracted Democracy. His weall
would be expected to win the soliC
business people. while his socialists
vagaries would pull in those people b,
the millions.
This dazzling calculation strike
several snags. however. Que IS tha
, the solid business element can hav
: no confidence In the schemer so full
. of dreams and visions. sc utterly reck
1 less and selfish as TO be willing to risl
every possible interest by even as
sumed support of theories so full o
! probable peril. Another is that tn
I sincere socialists and the multitud
who might see in socialistio tendencie
possible relief for presumed evils. in
stinetiyely, intuitively. recognize tina
4 Johnson is not one of themselves afte
I all. but merely 4 rich man grow
\ wealthy through monopolies. no.
+ playing with their thories sor his ow
purposes.
Genuine gold Democrats can have n
confidence I'm the man. who. pretendin
q to think with them. refused them HI
g support in the crisis of their faitl
+ That Clarke was once a gold man. c
: even claims TO be one now. does nc
Y help much. when they see him give u
his principles in that respect fc
Bryan's appro al and the empty homo
of a nomination that may not mean
nomination after all. because II all d.
pends upon johnson. In northwester
Nhio. where the Democratic party hs
!, IT'S strongholds. the memory OF Calvi
d S. Brice is revered, and his hosts
-. friends do not forget that about Il
only claim Il state recognition in Il
:, party that John II. Clarke has. asit