Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1906-01-17
Hearst Gaining Friends Every .

NN'eichi"' w htth. ~ not 10
every item of the faith which he
processes. The re-examination of
the returns, to the extent that was
possible under the circumstances.
brought the editor so near the
portal of victory that his claims on
the public support have had
hundred per cent. of dignity added
TO them. The self-possessiOa, fair
ness, and fidelity to his supporters
with which he fought for "A fair
count have convinced thousands Of
even those who opposed him at the
polls that were it within practica-
BILE bounds to probe to the bottom
he would be the winner. 1t is as
common a conversation about the
weather 10 hear men of this class
say that they wish this untiring
and evidently sincere man had
been awarded the commission.
Hearst Is one Of the most singular
and luminant men of the times.
His political career of the last three
or four years has been an uninter-
rupted series of surprises. and
every new astOnishment has
brought him closer to steady-going.
conservative conviction, and he has
lost nothing with those whose cam
paigning is of the more dashing
sort.
No conversation Is carried on i'm
the resorts of men of affairs touch
ing the governorship, without
Hearst as a forward figure. He is
recognized as one who has made a
substantial winning with the peo-
pie of the great metropolis. He
has so admirably maintained him
self as To personal equation that
men who used to Sneer at and even
denounce him for his views on
public ownership and other indie
pendent lines Of belief now admire
him as 4 man of action and one
who, in power, might be trusted to
get the best out of the new prop
agandas and still hold the country
to safe and conservative level.
They acknowledge his skill and
breadth as a politician, who has
rallied all sorts of propositions to
following, and who they believe is
capable of selecting the best, throw
out that which Is not desirable, and
combining the reform mass on a
safe and sane line of public con-
duct. There is general philo-
Sophical notion that a man who
has cut SO mighty a swath in
national, State, and local politics,
and who has pioneered" so many
of the advanced theories of the
times, and whose honesty and good
faith have not been responSibly
questioned, must be a man with
career before him.
The policy of belittling Mr..
Hearst for what he has chosen to
advocate, on principle, or on the
eXpediency of the moment, in his
papers and in his public life, has
been snutfed out by the rebuke of
the old organization in November.
Men who were of a radically differ
ent opinion a few months ago show
no fear that Hearst will be danger
ous if chosen for office, even with
the help of those who hold to eX-
treme platforms. The radicals
represent popular demaned for
something, and there is the conces-
sion that this man is for the people.
His standin6 has been demonstrate
ed. He has to be considered, and
there is more than a softening dis
position toward him where afore-
time there we're curses loud and
deep.
Thoughtful men do not seem to
be as much afraid of public owner
ship, initiative and referendum, the
severe regulation of semi-public
affairs, or the participation of
government in the great problem
of transportation as they were
some time ago. The Sturdiest of
the "oldtimers" admit that some
thing has gone wrong with the old
systems, and they are willing that
all the opposition shall be cOncen-
tried under a leadership that will
stand by the best of that which is
either old or new and reject the
rubbish. The separating machine
cannot be operated till it is fairly
| in the hands of firm and safe ex-
ecutive person.
The main question in New York
as to the oOVernOrshiD il one of