The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-04-27
CAMPAIGN ISSUES OUTLINED.
Leaders of Democrats and Repub-
licans in Congress Drawing the
Line of Battle.

expressions giving the cue to the two
parties for the campaign, one by the
Democratic leader, John Sharpe
Williams, and the other by the bounc-
ing and somewhat grandiloqueut ora
tor, Senator Dolliyer of Iowa. The
gist of Delivers speech was that
Trusts may be trusted; that there are
good trusts and bad trusts; that the
beneicentt trusts produce prosperity and
that naughty trusts die of their own
wickedness like angry scorpions. He
gave list of trusts, which, he de-
clared, had gone bankrupt merely be-
cause they tried to defraud the people.
The corollary Of these conclusions was
that trusts could not possibly be an
issue in the approaching campaign.
At this the Republicans applauded
Historically, and the Democrats
laughed tumultuously. Several clerks
will be employed for the next six
months to furnish to voters the smooth
Dolliverian conclusions. OF course
the trusts will directly or indirectly
pay the scribes.
Mr. Willims, the leader OF the House
Democrats, charged the Republicans
with Sinking and not daring to face
the real issues of the campaign.
This, he declared, accounted for their
running home so early. They cannot
face an investigation of the obvious
abuses and corruption in the depart
ments, executive usurpation Of legisla-
tive functions, violations of the Con-
stitutiop, and failure to pass necessa-
~ laws, unless those Investigations
are made by the offenders themselves.
He asked why the conspirators were
not punished who had been declared
by the Supreme Court to be guilty of
combining in the Northern Securities
case; why the anthracite coal trust
had not been prosecuted, the coal-car-
rying railways had not been compelled
to reform their methods, and the
frauds in the Post Office Department
and Interior Department relentlessly
exposed For the first time, he said,
the president had been indulging in
the practice of making laws by his
official decree; and the people have
become accustomed to his habit of
executing only such laws as he con-
siders wise. Mr.. Williams appealed
for reci procity with Canada, the put
ting of f.soft coal, hides, and other COM
nodities on the free list. and for the
Eilipinos free press, free speech, and
commerce with the United States by
any vessels they may choose to en-
ploy. He said the air was full Of is
sues for the campaign which The be-
lieved would retire the Republican
party from the confidence of the people
and from its position of trust next
November.
The Democrats of the Judiciary
Committee of the House turned neat
trick on Wednesday to the discomft-
ure of the Republicans. A majority of
the Republicans we're absent and all
the Democrats were present; where,
upon the Democrats instantly called
up, approved of and ordered reported
to the House two imporatnt resclu-
tions introduced by Leader Williams.
One asked the administration why it
had not prosecuted the coal trust, and
the other inquired why criminal action
had not been taken against the North
ern Securities conspirators. AS these
resolutions had been referred to the
committee as to a graveyard, and it
was never intended that they should
see the light, the Republicans were
deeply chagrined and enraged. They
flibustered, but were voted down and
overruled, and the House was asked to
pass the resolutions. They are now
on the House calendar as privileged
measures, subject to be called up at
any time. So it is likely that the Re-
publicans of the House will be COM
PEELED to so on record, either in adopt
ing these damaging resolutions, or in
defeating them, an alternative equal
ly unpleasant.
On Wednesday Sara Lippincott died,
aged eighty. She was best known by
Ter peD-name "Grace Greenwood"
She has spent the last half Of her life
in this city, having been recently driv-
en- away by act of Congress which To-
Gated the new marble building for
members upon the site of her resi-
dences When Dr.. Bailey was publish
ing the anti islavery paper, The Era,
she was a governess in his family and
contributed to it, as did Mrs. Stowe,
Mrs. Sonthworth, and that brilliant
and audacious Miss Dodge, better
known as Gail Hamilton. Mrs.
Lippincott walked down the declivity
Of life seEenely and comfortably, re-
tanning her remarkable mental gifts
to the last and something of that ex-
traordinary beauty for which her
youth was celebrated To the last
ber firm moath and Websteriau brow
and eyes gave az impression Of great
intellectual strength. Her biother
still lives here. Of her work moth
ing need be saba million children
know all about it. To her last week
she was an admirable raconteur. She
has not written much lately, being
as she herself once expressed it to
your correspondent, too much of a
housekeeper to make good author,
aud toe much of an author to make
q good housekeeper. -
President Roosevelt declares that
Mr.. Elbu Root is tile greatest man
in the United States, present com
pany OF course excepted. Whereupon
Secretary Shaw, John Hay, and Sen
ator Lodge have all written to him
and asked him if he said so.