Rocky Ford enterprise., 1904-09-23
Election Of Parker 10 the Presi.
dency Would Unsettls
Business. ,s
PEOPLE PREFER ROOSEVELT
Observations Of . travelling Saiesnss
10 the Middle West-Aitiiuds Of
the Farmer and the Fir.t
Voter.


business houses. one of the big johbinS
concerns In Chicago instructed its travel.
Ing men on their return from extensive
trips to present u 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 Grm. mot because we expect our
travelling men to Interest themselves In
political matters or because we expect
them to influence any votcs. Our motive
is entirely different. II concerns our own
business wholly. II Is not n political
proposition to say that II the Democratic
win nt tie next election II means q drop
In prices. That IL q thing every bust.
ness man understands. As Judge Far
ker himself said. q Itepu..can Senate
viii In nny 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 eleciin. House of Represent
aurcs OF the same kind. That House
Will certainly pass . new tnriH hill. Even
u this was beaten In the Senate. the
effect would be to uns-ttie business to
an extraordinary d-.re-. There would
always be the threat Of lower tariff du-
ties. and the same thing would happen
In 1906 which happened In 1898. Prices
would go 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
Il would be true next year II Parker were
elected In November. What we want Of
our travelling men. therefore. II to post
us a. 10 political conditions. 80 that ws
may make our contracts and adjust our
prices 90 tho conditions Of tho business
world which are likely to obtain during
the next season"
This same far.seclns business man had
in bis hand at that time. however. . re-
port from q travelling man Just in. who
had covered large territory In the mid.
die West.
The "D-snswses's" Letter.
~ hnd." said tho drummer. In report
Ing io his employer. ''that the conditions
Ia the middle West seem tn favor an sx.
traordinnrily iarIc vote for Roosevelt.
Ills popularity IL growing rather than
diminishing. and the nomination Of Par
kcr seems TO arouse not only no enthu.
sinsn. but actual suspicion. MIR. Bryan
has ofiicialiy declared that he will sup
port Parker. but everyone knows that
he IL not sincere. and every time he
makes q speech for Parker he will keep
his fingers crossed. This attitude IL not
peculiar 10 Mr.. Bryan. In any way. On
tho contrary. Il IL common among the
l'opulistic element Of tho Democratic
party. and thousands Of them are openly
declaring they will vote for Roosevelt In
November. Tho Presidents manly a,ti.
tudc on the trust question has attracted
the farmers. They arc perfectly we'll
- L.. - s.
would never attack any legitimate cor.
porntion. and they recognize that be 10
not In any way opposed to the legitimate
usc Of combincd capital for any proper
commercial purpose. The farmers are all
capitalists In 4 small way. Rnd they have
no sympathy with ropuiistic attacks 90
capital rs such. They do believe. how.
ever. that the President performed .
great service In settling the coal strike.
and they think he showed his bravery
and his honesty In directing the pro.ccu.
ton Of the suits against the combination
OF railroads In the Northwest. On the
other hand. the idea has gained ground
among the farming classes that Judge
Pnrkcr's nomination was largely brought
about and In fact was directly promoted
by certain unscrupulous corporate in,iu.
cnccs which were anita nronistic to Prcsi.
dent Roosevelt because he had honestly
attempted to execute the laws as he
found them. Added to these Elements
nrc the first voters. and they are for
Roosevelt almost to n man. His physical
prowcss. his consistent maniiness. the
promptncss with which he resigned an
important civil Office To endure the hard.
ships Of a military campaign. the hearth
ness and the frankncss OF his manners.
the honesty and tho tiircctnc-s Of his po-
iiticai methods. and tho intense Amcri.
canism Of the man. have captured the
hearts and affections Of the young men.
These first voters will generally disre-
gard the atiiliation OF their fathers and
their older brothers, and they will vote
for Roosevelt As a personal compliment
In lhn rinn cniirclx aIfsiJa nj narix