The Elbert County tribune., 1904-08-18
STATE AND NATIONAL POLITICS.

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Denver. Aug. 15.-The political stu
alton is constantly growing in inter
est. An active and comprehensive
campaign has been started. at least
month earlier than usual by all parties
in this state.
Liberty Leagues.
Tho people of the state have been
presented with the extraordinary
spectacle of the Democratic or
ganization employing Socialist agi-
tators to go over the state
and organize Democratic Liberty
Leagues These Socialist organizers,
while constantly urging Socialist doc
| trines and theories upon their hearers
advise them TO vote the Democratic
ticket. The Socialist politicians. who
must be given credit for considerable
foresight, believe that they are killing
two birds with one stone" By combi-
nation they are able to pour their doc
trines into Democratic ears at the ex-
pense OF the Democratic state commit
tee, for that body is paying. at least,
| portion of the expenses OF the organic
ers of the Liberty Leagues.
The Socialists figure 1t out this way:
II the Democrats Will accept their plat
form and nominate a radical anti-law
| and order candidate, they Will fuse
with the Democrats and secure large
| campaign contributions, and II the
ticket is successful. number of the
! state offices. II is understood that In
| the event OF the success of a combinh-
| ton OF this kind that President Meyer
will DO made adjutant general of the
state. On the other hand. II the Demo-
Gratis nominate a conservative candi-
date, who is openly opposed to the an
archistic methods of the Socialists, they
will put up a candidate of their own,
who, they hope. will profit materially
in the matter of votes from the Liberty
League movement, which they control.
In any event, the Socialist politicians
have succeeded in entangling the DEM
ocratic leaders in n nauseating combi-
nation that will drive thousands OF
Democratic votes to the Republican
party. Reports from the organizers OF
these Liberty Leagues are far from en-
couraging. At first they appeared to be
making some impression upon the more
ignorant classes, but since the first
spasm has worn off, they find very little
interest among the conservative work
ing people. They, of course have no
difficulty in bringing the radical ele-
ment into these leagues. for this ele-
ment is composed almost wholly OF
rampant Socialists. and this is about
all there is to the Liberty League
movement. 1t is the same Sort OF an
auxiliary to the Socialist party as the
Western Federation of Miners. In
good-sized town Socialist organizer
recently made socialistic appeal to
the BARRIERS union. At the close of his
talk he asked the thirty BARRIERS pres
a. 81. al 80
ocratic ticket. The paper received one
signature.
An Enormous Campaign Fund.
President Meyer and Secretary Hay
wood, in their recent TRADE of abuse,
offered In reply to the governors state
ment regarding the strike. boosted or
the enormous sums OF money the West
ern Federation was receiving from the
various unions of the East. While
there is absolutely nothing left OF the
Western Federation of Miners in Colo
rado, except the executive committee
and the HEADQUARTERS In Denver. the
twenty-seven orators which they sent
East to stir up union men, have been
financial success. The absurd
stories of outrages by the authorities
which were sent out, and which have
been supported by the exaggerations
of these twenty-seven Patrick Hen
rvs" who were demanding liberty or
death Of their sympathetic hearers, has
resulted in a veritable harvest of yell
low coin. This enormous campaign
fund. which is said to now be approach
ing the two hundred thousand dollar
mark, Is sure to exercise very marked
influence upon the judgment of the
Democratic campaign committee. and
when Joined with the Democratic cam
paign fund will supply the sinews of
war by which the combination hopes
to defeat the Republican party and re-
store the delightful conditions which
have existed during strikes under for
mer Democratic administrations in this
state.
Democratic Candidates.
A great body Of conservative Demo-
Gratis of the state are showing unmis-
taxable signs of revolt against this
combination with the forces of discon-
tent and disorder. The law and order
sentiment which was already strong
among the conservative Democrats has
recently received an additional impetus
by the desertion of Judge X. r. Rabbit
and Senator Barela. who have issued
open letters announcing their with
drawal from the Democratic party on
the law and order issue. In addition to
this, the publication of the long record
of outrages and murders committed by