The state herald., 1904-09-09
Election Of Parker 10 the Presl.
dency Would Unsettls
Business.
PEOPLE PREFER ROOSEVELT
Observations OF a Travelling Salesman
10 the Middle Wcst-Attitude Of
the Farmer and the First
Voter.

Following out the custom of most large
business houses. one of the big jobbing
concerns in Chicago instructed its travel
Ing men on their return from extensive
trips to present u report Oh the general
political conditions in the territory over
which they had gone.
I'VE do this" said one of the members
Of the firm, mot because we expect our
travelling men to interest themselves In
political matters or because we expect
them to influence any votes. Our motive
is entirely different. 1t concerns our own
business wholly. 1t Is not political
proposition to say that II the Democrats
win at tho next election it means drop
in prices. That is n thing every bust.
ness man understands. As Judge Par.
ker himself said. Bepuvncan Senate
will in any event stand in the way OF
Democratic attempts to brenk down the
protective tariff Nevertheless, IL they
elect Judge Parker, they will! stand
chance Of electing House OF Represent
nuves of the same kind. That House
Will certainly pass n new tariff bill. Even
II this was beaten in the Senate. the
effect would he to unsettle business to
nn extraordinary degree There would
always be the threat of lower tariff du.
ties. and the same thing would happen
in 1905 which happened in 1893. Prices
would go down, production would be cur.
tailed, lnborers would be thrown out OF
employment, the home market would bn
nt least partially destroyed, and local
business conditions would Immediately
suffer. This was true before the Wilson
tariff bill was passed ten years ago, and
II would be true next year IL Parker were
elected In November. What we want Of
our travelling men, therefore, is to post
us as to political conditions, so that we
may make our contracts and adjust our
prices to the conditions OF the business
world which are likely to obtain during
the next season."
This same fnr-seeing business man had
In his hand Rt that time. however, a re-
port from travelling man just In, who
had covered large territory in the mid.
die West.
The "Drum Letter.
81 fnd," said the drummer, in report.
ing TO his employer, that the conditions
in the middle West seem to favor an ex.
trnordinnrily large vote for Roosevelt.
His popularity is growing rather than
hAhAAhAshAARg Alh NhF hNAillliAAbu ol
ker seems to arouse not only no cnthu.
sinsm, but actual suspicion. Mr.. Bryan
has officially declared that he will sup.
port Parker, but everyone knows that
he Is not sincere, and every time he
makes speech for Parker he will keep
his fingers crossed. This attitude is not
peculiar to Mr.. Bryan. In any way. On
the contrary, II is common among tho
n. Al. L.
! party. and thousands OF them are openly
declaring they will vote for Roosevelt In
November. The Presidents manly nttl.
tude on the trust question has attracted
the farmers. They are perfectly well
aware OF the fact that Mr. Roosevelt
would never attack any legitimate cor.
porntiOn, and they recognize that be IL
not In any way opposed TO the legitimate
use OF combined capital for any proper
commercial purpose. The farmers are all
capitalists In a small way. and they have
no sympathy with populistic attacks on
capital ms such. They do believe, how.
ever, that the President performed a
great service In settling the coal strike,
and they think he showed his bravery
aud his honesty In directing the prosecu.
tion OF the suits against the combination
Of railroads In the Northwest. On the
other hand, the idea has gained ground
among the farming classes that Judge
Pnrker's nomination was largely brough,
about and In fact was directly promoted
by certain inscriptions corporate lhhu.
cnces which were nutngonistic 10 Presl.
dent Roosevelt because he had honestly
attempted 10 execute the laws as he
found them. Added TO these element,
nre the first voters, and they ar. for
Roosevelt almost 10 a man. His physical
prowess his consistent manlincss, tho
promp,ness with which he resigned nn
importan, civil office 10 endure the hard.
ships Of n military campaign, the hearti.
ness and the frnnkne-s Of his manners,
the honesty aud the dircctness OF his po.
liticnl methods. aud the Intense Amerl.
canism Of the man. have captured the
hearts aud affections of the young men.
These first voters win generally disre.
gard the Aflintion of their fathers aud
their older brothers. and they will vot.
for Roosevelt M n personal compliment
TO tho man, entirely outside Of party
considerations"