Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-09-10
Election of Parker 10 the Presl-
dency Would Unsettle
Business.
PEOPLE PREFER ROOSEVELT
Observations of Travelling Salesmas
In the Middle West-Attitude of
the Farmer and the First
Voter.

Following out the custom of most large
business houses. one OF the big johbinY
concerns in Chicago instructed its travel
ing men on their return from extensive
trips TO present report on the general
political conditions in the territory over
which they had gone.
We do this" said one of the members
OF the firm. not because we expect our
travelling men to interest themselves in
political matters or because we expect
them to influence any votes. Oar motive
is entirely different. 1t concerns our own
business wholly. Ii is not political
proposition to say that if the Democrats
win at the next election il means a drop
in prices. That is n thing every busi-
ness man understands. As Judge Par
ker himself said. a Repuolican Senate
will in any event stand in the way of
Democratic attempts to break down the
protective tariff. Nevertheless, If they
elect Judge Parker they will stand
chance of electing a House OF Represent
atves OF the same kind. That House
Will certainly pass new tariff bill. Even
IL this was beaten In the Senate. tho
effect would be to unsettle business to
an extraordinary degree. There would
always be the threat OF lower tariff du-
ties, and the same thing would happen
in 1905 which happened in 1898. Prices
would go down. production would be cur
tailed, 1aborers would be thrown out OF
employment, the home market would be
at least partially destroyed, and local
business conditions would Immediately
suffer. This was true before the Wilson
tariff bill was passed ten years ago. and
it would be true next year II 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 aud adjust our
prices to the conditions OF the business
world which are likely to obtain during
the next season."
This same far-seeing business man had
in his hand at that time, however, a re-
port from travelling man just in. who
had covered a large territory in the mid
die West.
The "Drummer's" Letter.
81 find" said the drummer. in report
ing TO bis employer. that the conditions
In the middle West seem to favor an ex-
traordinafly large vote for Roosevelt.
His popularity is growing rather than
diminishing, and the nomination OF Par
ker seems to arouse not only no enthu-
siasm, but actual suspicion. MIR. Bryan
has officially declared that he will sup
port Parker, but everyone knows that
he is not sincere. and every time he
makes n 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 the
Populistic element OF the Democratic
party, and thousands OF them are openly
declaring they will vote for Roosevelt in
November. The Presidents manly atti-
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
poration. and they recognize that he is
not in any way opposed to the legitimate
use of combined capital for any proper
commercial purpose. The farmers are all
capitalists in n small way, and they have
no sympathy with Populistic attacks on
capital as 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
and his honesty in directing the proseeu-
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
Parker's nomination was largely brought
about and in fact was directly promoted
by certain unscrupulous corporate influ-
ences which were tagonistic to Presi-
dent Roosevelt because he had honestly
attempted to execute the laws as he
found them. Added to these elements
are the first voters, and they are for
Roosevelt almost to man. His physical
prowess. his consistent manliness, the
promptness with which he resigned an
important civil Office to endure the hard
ships of military campaign. the hearth
ness and the frankness of his manners,
the honesty and the drectness OF his po-
litical methods, and the intense Ameri-
cansm of the man, have captured the
hearts and affections OF the young men.
These first voters will generally disre-
gard the aiIiliation of their fathers and
their older brothers, and they will vote
for Roosevelt as a personal compliment
to the man, entirely outside of party
considerations"