The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-08-05
Friday August 5. 1904.
MIR. UNEASY.

1t is evident that Mr.. Roosevelt does
net think that he is going 20 have such
an ea4y time with his election as did
Mr.. Mckinley four and eight years
ago. He is evidently uneasy over the
outlook. Present conditions do not
suit him at all. h nomination OF
Judge Parker and h turn affairs
took at the st. Louis convention have
greatly disturbed him and the repub-
lican leaders.
There are other conditions in the
country which worry him. This is
evident from the frequency with
which he summons to conferences
leading republicans from The various
sections Of the country.
One of the matters now causing
him anxiety is the strike in the cities
of The west. The situation in Illinois
is not at all to his liking. This Is
shown by the fact that he has had the
two senators from that state to go
all he way to Washington in order
that he might consult with them and
secure their views on the situation
in their state and on what is likely
to be the effect of the strike on the
republican vote.
They told the president that the
republicans were sure of carrying
Illinois, but that there was some
chance for democratic victory. They
said that some republicans were
afraid Yates and Lorrimer would not
give support TO the republican state
ticket. They declared that the most
serious danger to republican success
was the strike. They stated that
there was danger of the strike giving
serious trouble to the republicans
They charged that the democrats
were encouraging the strikers and
supplying them with money and were
trying 10 make the strike an issue in
the state and national campaigns.
Whether this charge be true Or not,
and We do not believe it is true, the
strike is recognized by the repubH-
ans as a dangerous political factor
in Illinois,. This strike, together with
those in New York and the New Eng
land states, together with the whole
sale discharges Of workmen by rail-
roads and Industrial plants. is an un-
answerable argument against the re-
publican cry of prosperity of the
working men h result of eight
years of republican administration of
the national government.
Men who are out of work and liV-
ing from hand to mouth are not going
10 endorse enthusiastically the decar-
alton that the laboring class is more
prosperous now than ever before in
The history of the country: for it Is
not true. and they know it. There IS
n spirit of unrest and discomfort
among the employed.
When a large class of men are dis
satisfied with their condition. they
are ready for a change OF govern
ment on the theory that nothing can
make those conditions worse and q
change of the party in power might
improve them. When n whole
country is really prosperous. there is
little danger to the party In power.
1t is when conditions are such as
they are now that the people are
most anxious for a change.
Inc OdnSer TO the repuDICdn party
in Illinois from the strike. which the
senators from that state admit exists.
IS not confined to that state nor be-
cause only of that strike.
The republican leaders will find
the labor question a menace to their
party's success in many other of the
doubtful states.
The admission of Senators Cullom
and Hopkins That there was some
chance for democratic victory in
Illinois places that state in the doubt
full column. Had lot the democrats
bright prospects for success there,
these two republican senators never
would have made such an admission.
The republicans know the demo-
Gratis have &C candidate for president
who will draw from their party hun
dreds of thousands of those voters
who supported Mr.. Mckinley. Add
to these the floating vote that they
know Judge Parker will receive. and
they have good cause to be uneasy
over their prospects of victory.
The editor of The Durham Herak