Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-06-15
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b. POLITICS = s. = 4
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A Party Of spoi1,
OF THE DAY

A Party of spoils.
The Reorganization Of the Repub-
lican party in many states has all oc-
Cured since the unfortunate event
that made Mr.. Roosevelt President.
From the moment that death closed
the eyes of President Mckinley fac
tlonal fights began to develop, and
have now eliminated in the extraordi-
nary dissensions in Wisconsin. ILL
nois and other states. What has
brought about the antipathy of these
rival factions to each other Is ques-
ton Of Importance to political stu
dents. 1t will be noticed that only in
those states that are strongly Repub-
lican are the partisans of each faction
at each others throats and in nearly
every case the spoils of Office is the
chief cause Of disruption. 1t shows
that President Roosevelt, the man at
the helm. is either incapable Of dis
tributing the federal patronage fair
ly, or has been 80 intent upon secur-
ing the control Of the party machine
for his own purposes that he has an
tagonized the leaders Of one or the
other faction to the point of rebellion.
When President of the United
States enters into the details of party
management for his own aggrandize-
ment 1t surely leads to weakness and
division and disgusts many voters who
regard politics from higher plane
than to secure Office for themselves or
their friends. President Roosevelt
has attempted to manage too much.
He Is ambitious to be the whole party,
and instead Of healing divisions he
has disgusted many important leaders
with his interference. He is attempt
ing to dictate candidates and platform
and even to supervise the speeches to
be delivered at the national conven-
tion, and the feeling Of distrust of his
has been increased by his
ostentatious meddling. Party leaders
have declined the vice-presidentia
nomination and the craftsmanship Of
the National Committee goes begging.
The party leaders long ago determined
to allow him free rein, although many
Of them were entirely opposed to his
or nomination. but there
was nothing else to do, as to defeat.
him would have been to acknowledge
that his administration had been a
failure. That would have put the
party on a defensive attitude on many
important matters and would have
been difficult to explain to the voters.
Ex-senator Thurston, referring to
the Roosevelt presidential boom, said
that Mr.. Roosevelt was "a man whom
everybody il for, but whom nobody
wants."
The old gray wolves" Of the Senate
are intent on saving their own scalps
from the ruin they see impending and
Senator Quay is stated to have said
that the Republican party is prepar-
ing for good licking and deserves 1t.
1t is given out from the White House
that the party platform has been
agreed upon, except the phraseology
Of the tariff and trust planks, which
10 troubling the mind of the President.
Not the question of revising the tariff
or curbing the trusts. but how to COM
pose the plank SO that the tariff bene-
hciaries and the trust magnates will
not be alarmed and the voters lulled
Into the belief that the Republican
party is for vigorous measures In the
peoples interests.
Craftsmanship is a lost art with the
Republican leaders, and chicanery and
wire pulling has succeeded in its place.
With the traditions Of the party
thrown to the winds and all ethical
responsibility left for an organization,
there is no element powerful enough
to Withstand the fight for spoils. No
wonder the worst elements have come
to the front and are fighting amongst
themselves for mastery and that per-
sonal ambition Is their sole motive OF
action. 1t is disheartening to those
who believe in righteous party govern
ment to see a great party descend to
opportunism and spoils.
Troubles Of the Tariff League.
The Intelligent farmer" is asking
uncomfortable questions about the
low price of hogs and cattle and the
increased cost Of living. The textile
world is at standstill and the manu-
facturers are demanding tariff re-
vision.
The Protective Tariff League IL be-
Ing uncomfortably overworked this
warm weather and there seems but
little prospect Of any let-up In its
strenuous existence. Those Of the
league who have influence with the
administrat ton, and most of them
have, are helping President Roosevelt
and his kitchen cabinet to phrase
the tariff and trust plank that is being
prepared for the National Republican
platform, 20 that while 1t will with
certainty stand pat" yet will blun
the other players. the Republican yot-
ers, into believing that they hold the
winning hand. The actual result will
tollow-the stakes will 60 to the trusts
and tariff benefciarles and the voters
will be fooled as usual. The $1,000
business men of Massachusetts have 20
stirred the political atmosphere with
their demand for Canadian reciprocity.
tree hides. free wool and other I'M
looked-for desires that 1t takes all the
pressure the trusts. the monopolists
and the league can bring to bear to
keep the weakened politicians in the
narrow path of standpatism. Then.
although the Protective League was
able to eliminate Governor Cummins
In Iowa as the ruling power. the per-
verse Republican voters there are not
satisfied. Like Chairman Babcock's
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