The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1904-10-06
The Triumph CD of "Standpatism'
in the Second District.

We picked up an eastern paper the
other day in which it was stated in
substance: The weakness of the tariff
revision idea in the west was clearly
demonstrated when Congressman
McCleary defeated an opponent run
ming on a tariff revision declaration
by an overwhelming majority.
1t is true that Mr.. McCleary won,
but it should be borne in mind that
he is one of the prominent members
of Congress, and one of the best
known men in the country. He is
chairman of the Library Committee,
and is close to the head of Appropri-
alton, one of the most important
committees of the House.
When in 1896, Silver's gifted cham
pion, Charles A. Towne, demoralized
the republican coharts in one of the
most brialliant oratorical efforts ever
delivered on the floor of the House,
the little school-master" took the
floor and with the lance OF his logic
punctured the glittering bubbles of
Towne's creation, and with the ham,
mer OF common sense smashed his
wordy illusions and made a monkey
OF the speech-maker. Tons of printed
copies OF this speech were mailed by
the National Republican Committee.
Cords of them were distributed by
state and local organizations. We
have seen the financial kings of the
land perusing it with interest, and
frontiersmen in their log cabins on
the Red Lake Reservation reading it
word by word with interest.
In 1896 James Thompson McCleary
did as much for the cause of republic
canism and sound money as any
man within the boundaries of the re-
public. His name became a house
hold word in the nation and he re-
ceived, and justly received, the
acclaim of the multitudes.
Mr.. McCleary's integrity is I'M
questioned, his private life pure as
sunshine, and his intellectual qualifi-
cations far above the average mem Der
of congress,
Hundreds of young men and
women in the second district of
Minnesota who passed under his
instruction when he was a Normal
professor and who have so high a
regard for his personal qualities that
they would vote for him if he ran on
the republican, democratic, populist,
prohibition, socialist or any other
old ticket.
Mr.. McCieary is past master of the
art of politics and has machine"
that would make those of men, whose
reputation for political manipulation
is bounded only by the horizon, look
like thirty cents, spanish money.
He is gifted speaker and few men
can successfully cope with him in
debate.
A hundred postmasters and other
federal officials made his cause theirs.
The state and national administra-
ton were at his back.
He had unlimited funds at his
command whether he used them or
not.
His personal acquaintance was so
extensive that it is safe to say he can
correctly call two-thirds of the people
OF his district by their first names.
Against these almost insurmount-
able obstacles, H. J. Miller, editor of
the Luverne Herald, entered the arena,
He was inexperienced in politics, an
indifferent speaker without funds.
He received no support from the
national or state administration. He
based his candidacy wholly on a
principle and he received about seven
votes to Mr.. McCleary's eleven.
Some years ago when the lamented
Senator Hoar was vigorously, and one
might say virulently, opposing Presi-
McKinley's foreign policy. The
Massachusetts legislature with practi-
L. ~