Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-18
Rep. Cowherd Talks From
Democratic Standpoint.
EVIDENCES HARMONY
A BANKERS VIEWS OF FARMERS
FEELINGS.
He Thinks a Farmer in the Furrow
Would Talk Very Diff
ferently.

Il happened to be out Of the city when
Mr.. Babcock's interview was published so
did not see 1t until a day or two ago. sad
Representative Cowherd, chairman of the
democratic congressional committee, to a
Star reporter today. 1T is natural for
those connected with the campaign to take
a rosy view of the situation, and that Mr..
Babcock can do so at this time testities
both to his experience and his hopeful dis
position.
1.-The newspapers tell US that the repub-
lican primaries in West Virginia were so
harmonious that only seventeen people were
killed; that the Dick and Foraker factions
in Ohio have bandoned the ballot and are
relying for success upon the thickness of
their skulls and weight Of their clubs Illi-
nois is in the throes Of the bitterest con-
ventional fight the republican party ever
experienced in that state. I see by the
morning paper that there is probability of
riot at the state convention in Wisconsin,
and that noted priZe-fighters and athletes
are being selected as deputy sergeants-as-
arms. SentOr Spooner says: The cond1-
tions are deplorable. l have not seen one
similar to it before. 10 do not think there
is worse situation in any state
The Vice Presidential Nomination.
ITO give added proof of the confidence
prevailing in republican ranks every men,
ber of that party of national prominence
is hiding out for fear he may be caught by
the vice presidential nomination, which Is
roaming around seeking whom it may de-
YOUR. The craftsmanship of the national
committee having been offered and refused
by various gentlemen, 1t seems, Is to find
permanent Judgement in the Presidents
cabinet. In fact, it appears probable, and
surely would be fitting in the course of re-
cent events, If both a running mate and
campaign manager were chosen by execu-
tive order from the helpless members Of
the Presidents household.
Il know 1t must have been a review OF
these cheering conditions that inspired Mr..
Babcock with SO much confidence. He
seems to place his main reliance on the
farmer, and tells us he gained his knowl-
edge of the farmers views from conversa-
ton with a prominent banker of his dis
trict. Had Mr.. Babcock talked with the
farmer who runs a plow instead of the
farmer who runs bank he might have
come to different conclusion. The field
farmer probably would have said that,
though he could get but half as much for
his cattle as he received twelve months
ago, he had to pay the same price for his
beef, and he was wondering whether the
beef trust, which puts the price of the
farmers cattle down and the poor mans
meat up, was one of those good trusts
among which the Attorney General is not
| going to run amuck.'
He might also have called Mr.. Bab-
| cocks attention to somewhat similar con-
| ditions in regard to the price of hogs and
| pork. He would surely have mentioned the
| fact that, although there had been a de-
| cline in these products of the farm he had
| noted no decline in the price of the tools
| with which he cultivates his fields, but on
| the contrary had discovered that the man
| ufacturer was selling agricultural imple-
| ments in South America and Australia to
| the competitors of the American farmer
| cheaper than he could buy them at the
| door of the factory. This farmer might
| have told Mr.. Babcock that he discovered
| two years ago that the steel trust had
| added 81 to the price of every plow; that
the wire trust had put the price of barbed
| wire so high he could hardly afford to
! fence his field; that the lumber trust had
! increased by % per cent the cost of the
| last barn he built; that the twine trust
was taking Its toll from his wheat crop.
| and so on through all the list of articles he
| had to buy.
A Farmer in the Burrows.
| II am sure that If Mr. Babcock would
| talk to farmer In the furrow instead OF
| the banker he would not find so much con-
| ISOLATION in the fact that the farmers house
| was equipped with a telephone and he was
| subscribing to a daily paper. 1t has been
| for years the surprise of all men in politics
| that the farmer. who suffers most and
| profits least by a high protective tariff,
| should so long have supported that policy,
| and the growth of the Iowa idea shows
| that the increased circulation of the daily
| paper and the extension of the telephone is
| beginning to bring results.
| Mr.. Babcock is eminently correct when
! he indicates his fear of the city vote. Here
| the increased cost of living is telling with
| effect on the republican party. He might
| also find food for thought in the fact that
| this year, for the first time since 1892 he
has to face united democracy. We can
| elect a majority of the House, even If we
| lose the presidency, but If present condi-
| tions continue the nominee of the st. Louis
| convention will carry every doubtful state
east of the Mississippi river, and carry with
him large majority of the House of Rep
| resentatives."