Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-02
LOOKING FOR ISSUES
Criticism of Social Functions
During Maneuvers.
ABUSE OF PRESIDENT
DEMOCRATS THINK THAT HILL Is
GOING TOO FAR.
Action Taken in Regard to Tillman-
Dalzell's Speech on "Hoodlums'
and Williams Reply.

ana Williams neply.
IF Dave fIn is going to get out of poll
tics | wish he would get out right away,
declared a democrat OF national reputation
to a Star reporter today
This sentiment was called forth by feel
ing that the sage of Wolferts Roost is
overplaying his part. Mr.. Hill's course thus
far in carrying out his idea of abusing the
President is proving to be "A serious matter
with a good many democrats who have been
foremost In advocating campaign against
President Roosevelt based on personal
characteristics.
My idea has always 6een," continued the
leader, that we should compare Parker
with Roosevelt to show that Parker is
the conservative advocate of law and the
Constitution, and on the other hand that
Roosevelt is the impetuous man of action.
given to military aggrandizement. and with
a lack of respect for the law and Constitu-
ton whenever they are IN opposition to his
VIII. We should preach his lack of safe
qualities and the danger that might come to
the country from some rash act. BY such a
course have always thought that we could
so undermine his standing all over this
country that we could snow him under next
November.
Excessive Abuse a Mistake
| But it is a very different thing to call
| him fraud. 1t is different thing to even
! intimate that he falsiies or connives at
| anything that is not honorable By going
| so far as that the result is sure to be to
call people out in his defense They will
| feel that the President is not being given
| fair show they will cry for fair play Ex-
cessive abuse of the President VIII merely
act as a boomerang. 1t VIII hurt us more
| than ii hurts him. Dave Hill is sure to
| have a lot of followers in the course he has
begun. and ! fear for the result. 1t is
| great mistake. If Dave Hill had only gone
out of politics instead of saying he would
get out next January the outlook would
| be brighter for us. in my opinion
| The feeling that Mr.. Hill is making a
| mistake in his abuse of the President is
| general among prominent democrats here.
| 1t is said the same feeling exists among
| many of the members of the national demo-
| cratic committee, The danger of excessive
/ personal abuse was appreciated by mem-
| hers of the committee early in the cam
! paign when general policies We're talked
| over. 1t was then decided that in advocat-
| ing the election of Judge Parker as a con-
| servative man they should not have prom
inent speakers indulge I'm excessive abuse of
Mr.. Roosevelt In the states of the east and
the central west. where it was supposed a
comparison of the candidates would be ef-
fective.
Action Regarding Tillman.
1t was largely because of the feeling that
the campaign should be waged on conserva-
tive grounds that the committee long ago
I came to quiet understanding that Sena-
tor Tillman and men of his class should be
kept out of the doubtful states especially
New York They remembered the course
pursued by Mr.. Tillman in 1896 and 1900,
when he went through the north and the
eastern states talking about "niggers' In
a way to give strength to stories of south
ern intolerance for the colored people
The national committee at the same time
was opposed to bringing the race question
into this campaign. which another
reason for keeping Mr. Tilman in the back
ground. so far the northern and eastern
states are concerned. After that precaution
regarding Tilman the committee has been
amazed that Mr.. Hill should break out in 4
campaign of personal abuse so extreme
that, in the judgment of many of them, 1t
will have but one result and that Is to
cause a revulsion against such methods and
to call out support for the President.
Democrats who have been hunting indus
triously for an issue and who have con-
soled themselves with finding one in per-
sonal criticism of the President are par
tcuarly discouraged to think that now that
one issue is being overdone to an extent
that will make it ineffective.
Gen. Corbin's Dinners.
But the search for an issue to be pressed
in this campaign against the election OF
Mr.. Roosevelt has not been ended by any
means. The reports that Gen. Corbin will
hold series of big dinners during the ma
neuvers now under way will be investigated
to see how those dinners are to be paid for.
1t is declared to be the intention of Cor
bin to have these events of the highest pos
sible social class, to exact the most minute
compliance with a standard of dress that
has never before been prescribed on such
occasions, and to provide for the elaborate
entertainment of ladies accompanying the
officers who are to take part I'm the ma
neuvers.
when Congress last winter appropriated
for the expenses of these maneuvers" said
Representative Livingston today, "it was
not contemplated that the money to be
spent on social functions that cannot have
anything to do with maneuvers that were
supposed to be for the purpose of giving
practice to the troops as to what they
would be required to do in actual warfare.
/ think Congress should look into this mat
ter next winter. and in the meantime 1
carnot understand why the President
should permit such course to be pursued
he is responsible for the expenditure of
the money" =a
Appeal to the Immigrants.
Another issue that is to be pressed
among newly made Americans is the
speech of Representative Dalzel of Penn
sylvania in which he referred to certain
classes of citizens who become overactive
in politics and do questionable things as
"hcodlums." This was the speech that
was replied to by Representative John
Sharp williams of Mississippi. The speech
was made on the 26th of last April in the
House of Representatives. Mr.. DalZeu had
nc thought of re1ecting the immigrant
classes of this country a whole, and
that fact was made clear at the time, Dut
the speech will be widely circulated in this
country.
1t is to be sent out printed with Mr.. VIII.
Eams' reply on the back of immense
postal card. which will be sent under
frank 1t will be translated in German,
Italian and Polaclk. 1t has already been
translated into German. and the Italian and
Polack versions will soon be ready. Hun
Greds of thousands of these postal cards
will be sent in those parts of the country
in which it is supposed they will do the
most good for the cause of the democracy.