Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1904-09-09
Election of Parker 10 the PresI-
dency Woulo Unsettle
Business
PEOPLE PREFER ROOSEVELT
Observations of Travelling Salesmas
10 the Middle West-Attitude Of
the Farmer and the First
Voter.

Following out the custom of most large
business houses. one of the big jobbing
concerns in Chicago instructed its travel-
ing men on their return from extensive
trips to present a report on the general
political conditions in the territory over
which they had gone.
I'VE do this said one of the members
of the firm, mot because VIC expect our
travelling men to interest themselves in
political matters or because We expect
them TO influence any votes. Our motive
is entirely different. 1t concerns our own
business wholly. 1t Is not a political
proposition to say that If the Democrats
win at the next election it means Z drop
in prices. That is a thing every bust
ness man understands As Judge Par
ker himself said, Repuuncan Senate
will in any event stand in the way Of
Democratic attempts to break down the
protective tariff Nevertheless, II they
elect Judge Parker, they will stand .
chance Of electing a House Of Represents
atives of the same KIND. That House
will certainly pass a new tariff bill. Even
II this was beaten in the Senate, the
effect would be to unsettle business to
an extraordinary degree. There would
always be the threat of lower tariff du-
ties, and the same thing would happen
in 1905 which happened In 1898. Prices
would 60 down, production would be cur
tailed, laborers would be thrown out OF
employment, the home market would b
at least partially destroyed, and local
business conditions would Immediately
suffer. This was true before the Wilson
tariff bill was passed ten years ago. and
it would be true next year if Parker were
elected in November. What we want Of
our travelling men, therefore. Is to post
us as to political conditions, 50 that We
may make our contracts and adjust our
prices to the conditions of the business
world which are likely to obtain during
the next season."
This same far-seeing business man had
in his hand at that time, however. a re-
port from a travelling man just in, who
had covered large territory in the mid
die West.
The "Drum nj er's" Letter.
II fnd," said the drummer, in report
ing to his employer, that the conditions
in the middle West seem to favor an ex-
traordinarily large vote for Roosevelt
His popularity is growing rather than
diminishing, and the nomination Of Par
ker seems to arouse not only no enthu-
siasm. but actual suspicion. Mr.. Bryan
has officially declared that he will sup
port Parker, but everyone knows that
he is not sincere, and every time he
makes a speech for Parker he will keep
his fingers crossed. This attitude is not
peculiar to Mr.. Bryan, in any way. On
the contrary, it is common among the
Populistic element of the Democratic
party, and thousands Of them are openly
declaring they will vote for Roosevelt in
November. The Presidents manly ntti-
tude on the trust question has attracted
the farmers. They are perfectly well
aware Of the fact that Mr.. Roosevelt
would never attack any legitimate cor.
and they recognize that he ID
not in any way opposed to the legitimate
use of combined capital for any proper
commercial purpose. The farmers are all
capitalists in a small way, and they have
40 sympathy with Populistic attacks on
,apital as such. They do believe. how
ever. that the President performed .
great service in settling the coal strike,
ind they think he showed his bravery
md his honesty in directing the prosecu-
ion OF the suits against the combination
II railroads in the Northwest. On the
,ther hand, the idea has gained ground
lmong the farming classes that Judge
'arker's nomination was largely brought
bout and In fact was directly promoted
" certain INSCRIPTIONS corporate infiu-
noes which were antagonistic to Presi.
lent Roosevelt because he had honestly
attempted to execute the laws as he
ound them. Added to these elements
re the first voters, and they nre for
almost to man. His physical
rowess, his consistent manliness, the
with which he resigned an
Important civil Office to endure the hard
hips of a military campaign, the hearth
ess and the frankness of his manners,
he honesty and the directness Of his po-
teal methods, and the intense Amsri-
anism OF the man. have captured the
carts and affections of the young men
'hese first voters will generally disrs-
ard the affiliation of their fathers and
leir older brothers. and they will vote
Or Roosevelt as personal compliments
, the man. entirely outside Of party