Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-08-26
it II it II + # il
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Il Clark's
IT Letter
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tspecia, Washington Lettsr.]

Especial Warrington Lettsr.l
!" PLIT wide open In Wisconsin,
- going to pieces In West Wiz.
~ ginia. sending up Macedonian
cry for help in Vermont, fear
full Of losing New York, Connecticut
Rhode Island, New Jersey and Della
ware, fighting for dear life in Indiana,
with Colorado, Nevada and Montana in
the Democratic column, with Utah and
Idaho trembling in the balance, the
G. o. P. is badly demoralized and real
ICES that 1t is in for sound drubbing,
which it most richly deserves. Conse-
quently Republican spellbinders are
abandoning the issues of the campaign
and In desperation are frantically shak-
ing the bloody shirt in the faces Of the
American people. 1t is a shameful, an
unpatrotic performance All patriots
hoped that tie Spanish war had buried
forever the animosities of the civil
war, but the Republican orators will
not have 1t 80. Will they find favor
able response among the people in their
efforts to once more stir up sectional
strife? Hardly. At the END they will
have the modification Of knowing that
they did monstrous thing only to In
crease the Democratic majority. This
campaign is to be fought out on live
Issues, and no amount Of demagogy
will suffice to turn back the hands Of
the clock twoscore years. The over.
shadowing question before the Amer
lean people is this: What is best for
us and our children in this emergen-
cyl" Excepting the question as to
what we will do with the Philippines,
the issues of this contest are purely
business matters-the tariff, trusts and
economy in the public expense that
labor may be lightly burdened. The
thought Of the American people cannot
be diverted from considering these
questions by wild harangues about Sc.
cession and African slavery. For these
reasons Republican speakers are vast
ing their breath and making them
selves spectacles for men and angels
by cropping in the graveyards Of history
for specters with which to brighten in
telligent voters. 1t can't be done. The
average voter reads the newspapers
and Is well informed. He cannot be
deceived or hoodwinked az to his In
terests by lurid rhetoric. This year he
is going to vote his interests, which
means that he is going to vote the
Democratic ticket.
Judge Badger.
Lovers of fair play and decency in
politics will be glad to know that that
splendid Democrat, Judge Badger of
the capital district Of Ohio, has been
unanimously renominated for congress,
an honor and reward which he rich
~ deserves for able, faithful and con.
spicuous service in the house. He will
be reelected, though the district was
thought and intended to be safely Re-
publican by the small bore Republican
legislators who shaped and fashioned
It, and thereby hangs tale Instructive
to manipulators and wire pullers and
illustrative OF the love Of fair dealing
inherent In the American people. I'm
til three years ago Fairfield county,
with 1900 Democratic majority, had
been part Of that district for long
time, making 1t fighting ground, with
the chances in favor Of the Democrats.
In 1900, owing to fractional differences,
the Democratic candidate for congress
was defeated by close shave. There
upon the Buckeye Republican solons
took it into their heads to make 1t sure
~ Republican by large majority by
cutting of Fairfield county. But
The best laid schemes o mice an men
Gang aft agley.
So 1t happened In this case. The
Democrats nominated Judge Badger
and, to the utter amazement Of the Re-
publican plotters, elected him. SO may
it happen to all gerrymanderers!
OF course the Republicans will make
herculean effort to defeat Judge Bad
ger, and General Senator Chairman
Dick will increase largely the per capt.
ia circulation of the district by the
free use Of campaign Doodle. Repub-
lican spellbinders Of renown will be
imported by the score to shell the
woods and whoop it up for the Re-
publican candidate, for SO long as
Judge Badger carries the district he
Is standing rebuke to those who dis
membered the ancient and famous cap
ital district Of Ohio for partisan pur-
poses. It will be hot contest. Hur.
rah for Badger!