The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-22
ENTHUSIASM
 ON INCREASE Democrats Cheerful as to
 Prospects. SILENT VOTE FOR PARKER Independents Also Flock to
 the Judge. ReoscveIt's RadicaIism ad His Eccen- tricities Make Him ohjectionable to the Conservative Men of
 the Nation.

There has been distinct acceleration of the march of Democrats to the front within the last week. The in- dependent press of New York city has been prodding the Democratic mana gers with some effect, striving to inc duce them to more vigorous action.
 It is undeniable that the work of the administration. with Cortelyou. Chair man of the Republican National Com mittee. acting as middle man. to deal with the great corporate influences in the matter of obtaining from them campaign funds. had for time a de- pressing effect upon Democrats. The amazing fact that many of the heads of corporations had. for purely busl- ness reasons, been persuaded to con- tribute to the Republican campaign coffers caused apprehension that New York's business interests were as . whole indifferent to Democratic suc- cess and that the controlling interests of the financial centers really prefer red not to see change of administra- tions at this time.
 Independents and Silents.
 But big and significant as these things have appeared on the surface they did not represent the strong wide undercurrent which has all the time borne toward the Democratic candi- dates and carried with 1t a decidedly large proportion of two classes of vot- CTS, the independents and the silent vote. This little quiet investigation within the past week has proved to be true. Many men in business here who for one reason and another have been for some years indifferent to political changes have been found who will take pains this year to vote for Parker and Davis.
 It Is interesting to note that no can- didate has in many years appeared in the view of the independent and silent vote more repugnant, and objectionable to them than MT. Roosevelt. The men who think for themselves and vote re- gardless of party dictation resent the methods by which President Roosevelt dragooned Congress and intimidated tho masses of his party through his army of office- holders and the enor- nous leverage of Federal patronage throughout the country and compelled his nomination at Chicago. They re- sent the manner in which, after hav- ing dictated and forced his own nomi- natio, he took from his cabinet the Secretary of the Department of Com merce with its important dealings with corporate interests and used him as Chairman of his National Campaign Committee to hold up these same cor porate interests for contributions to his campaign fund.
 MT. Roosevelt Objectionable.
 TO the silent voters. men proverbial- ly who mind their own business, the cratic. impuisive head of this nation who would use the big stick on other smaller nations that do not behave themselves and pay their debts, MT. Roosevelt Is undoubtedly objection able.
 One of the latter class. n prominent downtown merchant, man notedly ab- sorbed in his business affairs, said the other day to the writer in a kind of tone of confession:
 T have not cast vote for President since 1884, and then I voted for Blaine. I have not been altogether indifferent. but I admit that perhaps l have not been as diligent about politics as have been about some other things that required my immediate attention. Well. I have become interested this time. and I am going to vote for Judge Parker.
 Thinking over my own state of mind as 1t had been for some years with regard to politics, found myself curious to know whether there were others like me. made Inquiry and investigation among many business acouaintances, and I was surprised to find not only that there were many who to all intents had been just as negligent of the exercise of his suf- frnee as 1, but that four out of five of these men were going to vote this year for Judge Parker.
 Parker Regarded as Safe.
 We regard him as safe and -conserv- ative. and we think that the Demo- cratic party is this year on sounoer basis than ever"
 This is a typical representative or what may De taken as the silent and even of the independent vote of New York. and like as not just as well Of thn large cities of the rest of the coun- trv. There was at the Madison Square mass meeting Monday night large proportion of this element of citizens They were brought there by three or the most respectable Democratic organ izations in the country. The happy manner in which Mayor Mcclellan as presiding oficer spoke for himself and introduced the speakers favorably commended the cause to the vast audi ence, and cries of appreciation for the young chief magistrate of the great metropolis of the western world were reinforced with applause from all over the immense crowd.
 The deep earnestness and simplicity and directness of Judge Herrick, the Democratic candidate for Governor. as suredly captivated the crowd and those who had been silent and curious spec tators were to be seen joining with unfelKned zest in the general applause.
 Partisan Democrats Delighted.
 Senator Stone of Missouri and former ConRressman John F. Lamb. of Terre Haute, Ind, who followed were both in excellent form, and their spirited exposition of the issues of the campaign kept up the enthusiasm of the notable meeting so that when 1t dispersed the whole crowd seemed to be complete and animated accord, while the partisan Democrats were more than delighted.
 It was an suspicious beginning of the week for the Democratic ticket, State and national.
 There has been continuous pressure here and from other parts of the coun- try for Judge Parker to make a speech. or some speeches somewhere, Although he has given no word of assurance to that effect importunities for him to spaak continue every day. and it Is be-