New-York tribune., 1904-09-04
As 4 HOOSIER SEES IT.

The Hon John W. Kern the Democratic can
didate for Governor of Indiana, takes serious
exception TO the campaign methods followed
by the Eastern Parker managers. Mr.. Kern
seems to think that political arguments suited
to the longitude of New-York are wholly un-
suited to the longitude of Indiana. Nor does he
care to have new tangled Eastern ideas tried
out on the unterrifed and loyal HOosier voter
On two points Mr.. Kern is especially emphatic
He gives fair warning that the safe and
sane" spelbinder invading Indiana had better
sing low on the ''heroism" of Judge Parkers S
post nomination declaration for the gold stand
ard: and outraged ''vindicators of the Consti-
tuition" had better play the soft pedal when
attacking the "lawless personality of President
Roosevelt.
Mr.. Kern says that the great heart of the
Indiana Democracy still beats true to free sill
yer coinage and TO the peerless leader OF 1896
and 1900. Every attack on Bryan" he re-
ports, "and every sur on him cast by the
Eastern Democratic press is bitterly resented
throughout this State, and does incalculable
harm" Why this is so the Democratic candi-
date frankly explains:
Some of people have a greater affection
for him Bryant than for any public man since
Hendrickss time. OF the three hundred and
fifteen thousand men who voted for him for
President more than fve-sixths so voted because
and a very large majority still think as ne does
Indiana did not become a free coinage state uh-
der Bryan's leadership in 1896 That doctrine
has been preached by leaders like Henorlcks'
Mcdonald, Voorhees, and Turpte since was a
boy and it is deeply rooted in the minds ana
conscieDceS of our people.
If a large majority of the Democrats Of Ind
lana still hold TO the fiat" teachings of Hen
bricks, Mcdonald. Turpie and Bryan. efforts to
inspire them by telling them the story of Judge
orl-o, iap ha an1n nf
issue will hardly prove effective. What they
need now is not safe and sane OratOry from
the East, but coincidence and encouragement
from the outvoted but still unconverted Com
moner of the West. Colonel Bryan, according
to Mr. Kern's estimate and that OF The Indian
apolis Sentinel" the Hon. Tom" Taggsrts
official organ" is the Democrat who, under
present conditions can do his party the greatest
possible service in the Hoosier State.
Indiana leaders are also impressed with the
dangers of conducting, after the Eastern model,
q Roosevelt personality" campaign. They do
not relish the kind of warfare made on the
President in this State by THE New-York
World" or by ex-senator d. b. Hill. Mr., Kern
says, with an intelligent politicians insight, that
such campaigning is more than likely to de-
feat its own ends. AS he well puts 1t:
Roosevelt himself will be an issue in the minds
of the voters but II Is the kind of issue that
must be handled most cautiously in the press
and on the stump The boundary line between
legitimate criticism Of public official ana Vitu-
perative abuse is not very well defined, and there
is danger that attempted criticism will degener,
ate into mere abuse. Our people will not stand
for vituperation, and the discussion OF Roosevelt
ISM as it is called. the stump ought to be
intrusted only to discreet, conservative men,
who know legitimate criticism when they see II.
Politicians around the Taggart headquarters
who think that all they have TO do is to stand
pat'' on Judge Parkers ST. Louis telegram ana
TO organize a few Constitution clubs IN East
ern cities will find much food for reflection In
this Hoosier statesmans blunt remarks.