The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-03-26
1t Took Williams Five Days to Organize an
Army Better Disciplined Than
the Republicans.
John Lind, His Ablest Lieutenant in the
House,r-is Arousing the People on
Reciprocity Issue.

To have transformed bucking
stampeding mob into disciplined and
soldierly army-to have transformed
that which for six years was the Demo
cratic minority in the House into that
which is the Democratic minority to-
day-is a feat Of political generalship
which must excite interest in the man
who performed it, says the New York
Times. To have done that in the space
of five days suggests the return of the
age of miracles. That the man who
did it was man who never before had
been suspected of talents for leadership,
and whose selection for Captaincy was
the signal for head-shaking among the
wiseacres, makes the event stand out
boldly from all party reorganizations
of the past. Hence is it that John
Sharp Williams of Mississippi is one
of the most interesting men in the coun.
try to-day.
The condition of the Democratic
minority in the House from the time of
Charles r. Crisps death and the defeat
of Bryan is matter of National
notoriety. Chaos is it's best word of
description. A. plowing snorting herd of
Texas steers, suddenly released from
all restraint, is its nearest analogue.
Bailey's nominal leadership was fouted
and shattered by the men he attempted
to lead. Under him it was every man
for himself. Richardson was recog-
nized as leader, but under him the
minority was a nerveless, wrangling,
disorgantzed, undisciplined mob, which
could not by any possibility be united
for anything except the River and Har-
Dor bill.
This condition grew worse and
worse as the years went on, until the
country had lost all respect for the
minority and it had none for itself. On
the Democratic side there was no long
er party; there was only horde
Even the Republicans, who at first ha6
rejoiced at the plight, Of their enemies
began to wish for a respectable anG
worthy body of opposition. There were
perils for the majority in having nj
opposition worth the name.
When Richardson retired from tn,
leadership the only names mentioned
for his place were those Of Williams
De Almond, and Champ Clark. Their
was little interest in the fight on tn,
part of the country, for it was assumed
that whoever was elected the Demo
cratic party was past redemption. Will
liams was chosen. He had never hat
a chance to do any leading, and no on
knew whether he could do it or not
He was known as brilliant and mag
netic speaker, and. that was all
<'Simply an orator." was the genera
comment, and it was predicted freel,
that he would be second Richardson
The only hope for the party scenes
to be in the simultaneous appearance
of German as the head Of the party il
AAC oCAolC. 4ACAC was SuSh AuAIA y
the senator's executive ability and pow
er Of leadership as amounted almost t
fetch worship. He was to be the part
Moses, and there was nothing he coul
not do.
1t took Williams five days to turn til
mob into the army it now is-an arm
better drilled and disciplined than til
Republican majority. His policies ma
be dissented from, but of the fact tn:
the democrats will follow him for thot
policies with the coolness and indom
tableness Of veterans, and that the
cannot be shaken or ratified for M
ment there is nowhere any doub
Nor is there any doubt that they al
pressing those policies home with
sleepless vigilance and a tactical ski
worthy of the best Republican days
Reed.
The five days spoken Of were IL
days Of the only fight Williams had
wage within his party. The Cuba
reciprocity problem confronted him, a
issue on which his party had been ,
hopelessly irreconcilable as crowd ,
street arabs disputing over a era
game Williams had already dete
a. d K % A