Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-09-27
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NOT MUCH OF A FIGHT.
Tho National Campaign the DulIest
Ever Known,

Tho National Campaign the Dulles.
Ever Known.
Walter Wellman writes from New
York to the Chicago Record Herald:
This Is the most extraordinary politi-
cal campaign we ever have had. Such
is the story one gets at both the Re-
publican and Democratic national
headquarters. The managers at these
rival camps agree in few things. But
there is no difference Of opinion among
them as to the predominant feature OF
the campaign, and this predominant
feature Is lack of interest on the part
Of the people as a whole. Some call
it apathy, but it does not appear to
be exactly that. The people are not
Indifferent, but they are not curious
There Is nothing they seem to be In
doubt about. Apparently they have
made up their minds, and need neith-
er spellbinders nor documents to en-
tighten them.
One of the Republican campaign
managers, a man Of long experience
explained the situation from his view
point. In 1895, he said, the country
was suddenly confronted with ques-
ton about which It knew nothing and
about which it wanted to know every
thing. That was the money question
The result was the greatest educa-
tional campaign ever seen in this or
any other country. The people were
eager to listen and to read. On both
sides the speakers had big audiences.
The printing presses Of the country
were busy turning out documents, and
this literature" was carefully read
and studied by millions upon millions
Of voters.
In 1900 there was another new ques-
ton. The Spanish American war had
caused our country to drift into over
sea expansion and colonialism. Colo
nialism was a new thing and the peo-
pie wanted to know about It, They
were only to a degree less eager than
they had been in 1896.
But in 1904 there is no new question
before the American people. 1t can
hardly be said with truth there Is any
real issue between the two parties.
There is nothing to be studied, nothing
to be inquired into, nothing the peo-
pie care to discuss. Four years ago
and eight years ago, If you Travelled on
| hotel
went into a store or cafe. you were
sure to hear people arguing about the
questions of the day, often with heat,
always with interest. 1t is not so
now. You rarely or never hear such
talk. The people have not lost inter-
est in public affairs, you may be sure,
but there is nothing that stirs them
up: nothing that starts them to argu-
ing. What Is there in the political
campaign that group Of men In the
smoking compartment could get up
discussion about? Occasionally you
may hear men offering their individ-
ual opinions as to the character Of the
candidates for president, but there IS
not enough in that to produce much
excitement. Such talks usually run
like this-I have heard several OF
them: The Republican says Teddy
is thoroughbred and "all right" The
Democrat remarks that he admires
Teddy, too, but thinks he may be just
little too strenuous and that Parker
would be a safer president. The Re-
publican asks what the president has
done that the Democrat objects to-
and his friend replies: Nothing; but
we don't know what he is going to do
next" Then they both laugh and fall
to talking about wheat or the "Japs''
or the st. Louis fair.
The effect of this attitude Of the
public mind is that this year there is
so far actually no campaign for the
presidency. What little Of campaign
there is may be found in newspapers
especially the eastern newspapers
Here in New York the papers devote
many columns to national politics, out
from reading the Western papers you
would scarcely learn that there was
presidential campaign on in the coun-
try. Both Republican and Democratic
managers tell me they do not know
what to do with their speakers. Both
have long lists Of orators on their
books and arrangements made for
sending the men out. They offer their
attractions to the state committees
but the state committees almost In
variably reply: 1.-THE campaign has not
orened yet with us, and we have no
need for speakers" 1t is about all the
Republicans can do to make a good
showing with such stars as Senator
Fairbanks, Speaker Cannon and men,
bers Of the cabinet Their meetings
are neither large nor enthusiastic, and
attempts to get the people to turn
out to listen to men Of less note have
for the most part resulted in disap-
pointment.
AS with the spellbinders. so 1t is
with the LITERATURE" Both campaign
committees have printed tons and tons
of documents and organized elaborate
bureaus to ship them, but for the most
part they have had their labor for their
pains. From hundreds Of state and
county and local chairmen have come
the report: Don't send any more doc
uments. The people won't read EN-
And what are documents good for
without readers? 1t Is not enough to
lead the horse to water. you must
make him drink, and this year the
voter simply refuses to swallow the
copious libations so carefully prepared