The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-12-01
Two Coming Men.
New York World.

New York World.
Out OF the weller OF Democratic
disaster rise two cOmmandingf figures,
each with a message full OF instruc-
ton and hope
Joseph W Folk has won, next to
President Roosevelt, the most extra
ordinary personal triumph of this
whole bewildering election. Mr.
Roosevelt has ridden on the crest OF
Il Republican tidal-wave-a wave
raised, it is true, i'll great part by
his own popularity. but still owing
much to other influences. But Mr..
Folks victory was purely individual.
He was the only man on his ticket
who carried his State He carried it
purely on his own record. not on that
OF his party or on IL general inclna-
ton to let well enough alone. He
carried it against the bitter enmity OF
the principalleaders of his own party.
Hewas elected us n reformer who had
actually reformed things-a prose
cutting attorney who had sent public
rascals to the penitentiary.
Mr.. Folks career is an inspiring
demonstration Of the value of I'M
compromising aggressive honesty to
Il public man. Folk personifies one
OF the overshadowing issues of pres
ent and future politics-crush cor
ruption.
The triumph of William l.. Douglas
III Massachusetts is even more spec
tacular than that of Folk, although
not quite so strictly personal Stem
ming a republican landslide in State
which even in normal years is a Re-
publican stronghold and which gave
Roosevelt $4,000 plurality. Mr..
Douglas wins the Governorship by a
majority that would be a handsome
one even fora candidate of the domi-
nant party, and by this triumph
commands national attention. He
isindividually strong with the masses
and he had the acuteness to seize
upon an issue that Massachusetts
dearly approves. My election, -
says the Governor-elect, "means the
first gun in a battle for reciprocity
and tariff relief And that gun fired
III Massachusetts will be heard round
the world.
Mr.. Douglas explains:
made the fight solely on the propo-
sltlon that we should have reciprocity
and that all trusts which sell their prC
ducts cheaper abroad than we can buy
them here should not be permitted to en-
JOY protection. | gave them practical
examples of the working of the tariff |
nstanced a recent purchase of $3.50 900
OF leather which bought from the trust
on which there was a duty OF 500 900
| gave concrete Illustrations in the wool
len, cotton and other trades.
1t was an issue that touched a popu-
lar chord. They said in the national
campaign that we had no issue Wehad
the greatest, the most vital OF issues,
For some reason it was suboriinated in
our national campaign. 1t was the one
issue OF all Others to have pressed. We
made our people understand that the
tarlh and trust question is the same
that it is idle to talk of solving the trust
question SO long as we are shelterinp
these giant paupers under our protec-
ton system.
l told our people that Massachusetts
put ST IN the protection pool for every
dollar 1t took out; that our go 600
homes contributed So 200. 900 a wear
to the trusts; that the Steel Trust alone
reaps SSO,OOo,00o year out of protec-
ton, and pockets it, selling abroad
cheaper than we can buy from it. And
yet they have the assurance to tell Ms
the trust question has nothing to do
with the tariff
Two million plurality for Roosevelt
will not hide the handwriting on the
wall OF trust protection revealed bv
the vote OF Massachusetts for re
ciprocity and tariff relief" In Folk
and Douglas the Democrats have two
fine examples OF the type of leaders to
whom the party must turn if it means
to form an Opposition that will op-
pose-to rally a Democracy that
shall be true to the historic princi-
pies and traditions OF The party.