Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-10-21
AZ to the independent Press.

1drpeTS weekly, a hepuDllCuu pa
per, publishes this interesting editorial:
The Press calls us to task for noting
the fact that the leading Independent
newspapers which supported Mr.. MoKin-
ley now advocate the election OF Judge
OF the statement. questions the motives
actuating the journals referred to. Some
Of the very newspapers enumerated by
Harper's Weekly" it says, ARE regarded
by the public as prina facie evidence that
there Is danger to 1t in what those papers
advocate. The Endorsement Of Judge Par
ker by the Standard Oil trust directly, as
well as by it's agents and servants, might
as reasonably be advanced as an indica-
ton that public sentiment favored Judge
Parker. Among the strongest reasons
which the public finds for voting for
President Roosevelt is the kind OF influ-
ence which Is opposing him and the kind
which is giving its aid to Judge Parker.
And one Of the most powerful factors In
warning the public away from Judge Par
ker is a certain brand Of newspaper in
this community which denounces Mr..
Roosevelt as menace to the country
which he has served so loyalty and fear
lessly, though to the bitter hatred Of the
corporate powers"
Let US see about this. The newspapers
to which we referred are the Herald, the
World. the Times. the Evening Post, the
Staats-Zeitung and the Brooklyn Eagle.
Does the Press really believe that the
policies Of these journals are dictated by
corporate inf1uences?" Will 1t seriously
declare sincere conviction that Mr..
Bennett is not the sole director Of the
Herald? Or Mr.. Pulitzer of the World?
Or Mr.. Ochs of the Times? Or Mr. Rid
der OF the Staats-Zeitung? Or Mr.. VII
lard Of the Evening Post7 Or Mr.. Nc
Kelway of the Brooklyn Eagle? What
has any one of these newspapers ever
done to indicate the contrary? We had
leading independent newspapers are lining
up for the judge" We simply noted a
very interesting fact. II. however, in
common with the public, we have mis-
taken their true character and they are
not Independent of outside Influences
which the Press regards as pernicious,
we should like to know It. Unless the
Press can and does substantiate it's Sc
rious charge forthwith it must stand be-
fore the public as a willful and malicious
maligner Of Its contemporaries and I'M
worthy Of consideration In honorable
Journalism. We confess humbly to hav-
ing declared thoughtlessly that 'of all
the big newspapers here in New York
the Tribune alone supports the colonel"
but that was mere inadvertence. We
| should have been glad to mention the
! Press but for the fact that temporarily
we forgot its existence. 49,
While 1t Is about 1t we wonder II the
Press could inform us whether the news
papers outside Of New York which are In
ara also contaminated. So
| Is the trail of the serpent over these
also? Will the Press kindly inform us?
Incidentally. too. will 1t not very particu-
larly oblige by telling us the story Of Its
own life? Was 1t not founded by ultra
| So ~
championing their cause and safeguard
ing their interests. e., the interests Of
moneyed class? And has 1t ever done
or Is 1t now doing anything else?
It is really painful to note that the
entente cordiale betwixt this mighty
republic and the republic of Panama
! is about to be ruptured because the
Panama statesmen claim that Presi-
dent Roosevelt does not consult their
wishes about proceedings and doings
in the canal zone 1t would be dread.
! full IL about the time Colonel Roosevelt
calls for that Hague peace conference
just to demonstrate to all the world
that he is a peaceable man, these dis
gruntled isthmians should declare war
| against him.
Republicans are shedding barrels of
crocodile tears on account Of the woe
full plight In which free SILVER Demo
Gratis now find themselves. There
hasn't been anything quite so pathetic
since that illustrious Missourian wept
at the tomb Of Father Adam. Wonder
II the Republican weepers ever consid-
cred the proposition that If William J.
Bryan can support Parker and the plat
form-as he is doing-the rest Of the
free silver Democrats can do 80 with
clear condolences and straight faces2
One by one the roses fall. One by
one eminent Republicans are declaring
against the newfangled lingo policy
The latest one to give expression to the
idea that 1t is time to call halt In
our extravaganza in martial affairs Is
Hon. John w. Foster, who was secre-
tary Of state under President Benja-
min Harrison. He says, without any
beating about the bush, that our army
and navy are already too big, which ia
leze majesty, If not high treason. To
the lions with Foster!