The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1904-12-29
Letter from the Southwest.
The St. Louis Exposition. The Political
Overturn in Missouri. Memphis, Tenn.

ago many things of great interest have
taken place in the section of the coun-
try in which the writer lives. First of
all was the great fair at st. Louis. 1
distinguish it as great, for so it appear
ed to be to me from every point of OBJ
servation. 1t was great in extent, great
in size of its buildings, great in its
quantity and variety of exhibits. Not
much, however, need now be said on
the fair, for it is a thing of the past,
and those who failed to visit it missed
good deal more than they will ever be
likely to realize. The newspapers and
several of the leading magazines have
furnished excellent descriptive articles
which will partially compensate the
many who failed to make personal
visit to the scene. Contrary to my
purposes and expectations 1 was priv
LEGGED to spend only three days upon
the grounds, but those were days into
which great deal was crowded, every
hour being strenuously employed to
the attainment of the best results. 1t
would require very long letter briefly
to catalogue the many things l saw and
heard or even to describe those things
in which | was most deeply interested
The time and space at my command
would fail me to tell what | saw in the
Government building, the Fisheries,
the transportation, the Varied Indus
tries, the Agricultural Horticultural,
Educational, Mining and Art exhibits.
The buildings themselves were well
worth trip to see, Then the grand H.
Nominations, and the famous Pike, with
its endless variety of attractions. L
spent several hours one night on the
outside of these varied scenes, among
the crowds, without losing my head, my
.money or my reputation. Several of
the shows were we'll worth seeing, SO
had been told, but all | saw of them
WAS from the outside. Nearly every
body whom | have heard speak of the
fair, speaks of it in the highest terms;
practically the only criticism | have
heard expressed was concerning the
yastness of the undertaking. The
grounds and exhibits were all too large.
The election in Missouri was great
surprise to many of us, who for some
wears had considered Missouri as safely
in the Democratic fold as Maine was in
the Republican. There was some little
talk in Republican meetings about the
redemption of Missouri" but l for
one never cherished the faintest hope
that Roosevelt would carry the State,
and how it all came about is problem
not easy of solution. When J. w.
Bryan spoke in Springfield early in the
fall the crowds were immense and the
enthusiasm unbounded. Folk had good
audiences. Secretary Shaw and Sena-
tor Fairbanks spoke at different time,
but so far as I could see there was
nothing to indicate the overturning of
the Democratic table in the State at
large. Locally the result of the cleo
ton was not a matter for surprise, as
Green county is supposed to be about
equally divided between the adherents
of the two leading parties; yet even
here | doubt if many expected such a
thing as clean sweep, especially in
or TO secure the defeat of certain can
didates who were on the Republican
ticket. So far as l have heard nobody
seems to have hoped for the success Of
the Republican candidate for Congress-
but he went in like ali the rest, and
even Senator Cockrill's seat is conced-
ed 10 be lost to him, though he is high
ly esteemed as having been an honest
and efficient public servant
Many people are asking the question,
what was the cause of the change?
Some say one thing: some say another.
Some charge wholesale bribery; others
Democratic indifference; others SAY it
was designed by the Democrats as a
western rebuke to eastern leadership.
One thing, | think, is sure, that the per
sonality of President Roosevelt was
vastly stronger than the personality OF
Judge Parker. There was much in the
personality and attitude of the former
to excite admiration and awaken en-
thusiasm, while in the personality and
attitude of the latter there was little
or nothing am not by any means an
active politician, but | know of some
dyed in the wool Democrats of South
ern birth and sympathies who voted
for Roosevelt. Another factor which
had. think, great weight in the minds
OF many was the fear of change of
policy in its relation to business inter
ests Mr.. Folks election AS Governor
is trib tie to his worth, as we'll as to
tie integrity of the people when their
loyalty to principle is put to the test.
Great efforts were made by the Repub-
lican party to secure the election of
Col Walbridge, but many of the Re
publicans felt that it would be serious
mistake to throw overheard man who
had made such gallant fight for the
integrity of official life. The recent
olo.{;o,, ,,o,,c% not howouor ho FOL