Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-11-16
Two Democrats Prominent in
the Public Eye

cratic disaster rise two command.
ing figures, each with message
full of instruction and hope.
Joseph w. Folk has won, next
to President Roosevelt, the most
extraordinary personal triumph OF
this whole bewildering election.
Mr.. Roosevelt has ridden on the
crest of a Republican tidal-wave-
a wave raised, it is true, in great
part by his own popularity, but
still owing much to other infu-
ences. But Mr.. Folks victory was
purely individual. He was the
only man on his ticket who carried
his State. He carried it purely
Oh his own record, not on that Of
his party or on a general inclina-
ton to let well enough alone. He
carried it against the bitter enmity
of the principal leaders of his own
party. He was elected as re-
former who had actually reformed
things--a prosecuting attorney
who had sent public rascals to the
penitentiary.
Mr.. Folks career is an inspir-
ing demonstration of the value of
Incorporating, aggressive hon
esty to public man. Folk per-
sonifies one of the cvershadowing
issues of present and future poll
tics-crush corruption.
The triumph of William l..
Douglas in Massachusetts is even
more spectacular than that of
Folk, although not quite so strictly
personal. Stemming Republican
landslide in State which even in
normal years is g Republican
stronghold, and which gave Roose-
welt $4,000 plurality, Mr, Doug
las wins the Governship by a ma
j0rity that would be handsome |
one even for candidate of dom
inant party, and by this triumph |
national attention, He
il individually strong with the
and he had the aeuteness
to seize upon an issue that Mass
;husetts clearly approves. "My
lection" said the Governor elect
o The World, "means the first
gun in a battle for reciprocity and
arif relief" And that gnn fired
n Massachusetts will be heard
round the world. Mr. Douglas ex-
plains:
/ made the fgEt solely on the
that We should have
eciprocity and that all trusts .
'hich sell their products abroad 7
heaper than We can buy them ,,
ere should not be permitted to ,
njoy protection. i gave them ,
ractical examples of the working ,
f the tariff. instanced recent Y
urchase o. $3.50. 900 of leather
hich l bought from the trust,
n which there was duty of
30, 600. l gave concrete illustra-
ons in the wooden, cotton and
her trades. .
1t was an issue that touched a :,
'pular chord. They said in the :,
atlonal campaign that We had no :,
sue. We had the greatest, the u :,
ost vital of issues. For some n
Ason it was subordinated in our i,
ltional campaign. 1t was the y,
l.. issue of all others to have ~
essed. W, made our peop'e I'M ~ :"
rstand that the tariff and trust ~
estion are the same.-that it =,
idle talk of solving the trust
estion so long as We are shelter
e these giant paupers" under
r protection system.
| told our people that Massa-
usetts put Sc in the protection
ol for every dollar it took out; pr
ut our $50, 600 homes contributed fal
). 600, 600 year to the Trusts; Sa
1t the Steel Trust alone reaps fal
J, 900, 900 year out of protec- Su
n, and pockets it, selling abroad of
eaper than we can buy from it.
d yet they have the assurance pa,
tell US the trust question has CHI,
hing to do with the tariff. Re
mr.,