Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-07-06
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Champ
Letter .

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Especial Washington letter.
~ NE Of my old professors at Beth
any college, West Virginia, the
" beloved Charles Louis Loas,
was always shouting to his STU
dents, "Carpe diemw c'Seize the day!O
Which means, Lay hold of the oppor-
tunityp So I say to the Democracy Of
Pennsylvania, "Carpe diem! Such an
opportunity as they have now may not
come again in quarter of AAltury if
they permit this one to go by unim-
proved. No situation could be more
favorable for them. Last year they
elected Mr.. Berry state treasurer by
100000. This year the Prohibitionists
have nominated the same Mr.. Berry
for governor. The Lincolnites have
also nominated full ticket, headed by
q Mr.. Emery, and Boss Penrose nom
mated Republican ticket headed by
Mr.. Stuart. The Democrats have not
nominated their ticket yet. II the
Democrats rise to the occasion and
nominate first class men on thor
oughgoing reform platform they ought
to sweep the state. Judging from the
tone Of the Pennsylvania papers, the
men nominated by the straight Repub-
Ncans are fairly good lot-good for
Pennsylvania Republicans-and II Boss
Penrose had not been on the ground
manipulating, debating, managing, the
Lincolnites independent Republicans
might have been willing to accept
them, but while be could most PROB
ably have had his ticket nominated
without showing his hand he could not
resist the temptation Of appearing on
die scene to let the world know that he
still II master in Republican matters of
Pennsylvania. The governor Of South
Carolina remarked to the governor of
North Carolina that ut is q long time
between drinks" So it ID q long time
between Democratic governors in
Pennsylvania. Robert e. Pattison was
elected twice on the sole ground that
he was an honest man, which shows
the condition of affairs in Pennsyl-
yania after nearly half century Of
Republican rule. He would have most
probably been elected again If Presi-
dent Roosevelt had not, Justly or I'M
Justly, succeeded in making people be-
Neve that he settled the coal strike.
II certainly would cause the country to
nit up and take notice If the Democrats
sweep things in Pennsylvania this fall.
thereby overthrowing the Penrose re-
gime, which is foul stencil in the nos
trils Of the American people. Hon.
Wayne Aacveagh, ex-attorney gen.
sral Of the United States and ex-min-
lister to Italy, is the moving spirit
among the Llncolnites. He IL q man
Of clean life and splendid ability and
has always had . strong psnchant for
reform politics.
The Wonderful kansan.
wonders Will never cease. Foster
Dwight Coburn, who was appointed to
the senate Of the United States to sue
coed Joseph Ralph Burton, who re-
signed under fear. Of being expelled,
has declined! Only think Of that-and
Republican at thatl Thomas Jefter-
son said in At Of disgust that federal
ofncials seldom die and never resign"
He seems not to have thought Of any
ones declining good fat, juicy job.
True, It has been decided that senators
ana representatives in congress are not
federal officials, but state officials. New
ertheless most people look upon them
% federal officials, and they will regard
Nj. Coburn as greater curiosity than
the sea serpent when they reflect upon
how strenuously even great and IA
nous men fight to secure senatorship
or to retain one. Take the case Of Sen
ator Carmack and Governor Robert L.
Taylor Of Tennessee, both famous all
ever the land. They fought for sena
torial toga as though it were the Bour-
bon crown at stake. Think how Doug
las and Lincoln commended for the prize
In 1858! Here we have the strange
case Of Mr.. Coburn, FIRST class citizen
from all accounts, but not known out
side his own small bailiwick, declining
an honor for which giants fight tooth
and nail, and which Charley Curtis,
Phil Campbell, w. d. Stanley or Victor
Murdock would give his ears to attain.
Queer world this, my masters. The
Latins had saying, "De gustibus non
est disputandum" about tastes there
u no disputing). Perhaps Mr.. Coburn
hath chosen the better part. A chair
IN the senate does not always bring
honor, contentment or length of days.
Ex-senator Burton can testify to that.
But why did Mr.. Coburn decline?
Some say because many persons in the
punfower State are superstitious about
there being hoodoo on the Lane SEN
Atorial line in Kansas. Surely no man
Of sense believes such tolnmyrot as
that, True, General James II. Lane,
brilliant and able man, the first senator
OF that line, committed suicide. Where
fore no man knows to this day. He
may have been weary of the world and
its contests, for he had led most
strenuous life and was the stormy Pc
trel Of the Kansas of his day. Perhaps
his mind was unhinged and like sweet
bells tangled out of tune. True also, his
Immediate successor, Edmund G. Ross,
who lost caste with Kansas Republic
ans and also his seat in the senate be-
cause he voted to acquit Andrew John
son, had hard time all the rest Of
bis life. True, some others in that line
have played In bad luck, but some 9TH
srs In that line succeeded admirably.
The chances are, however, that Mr..
Coburn will become more famous by
declining than he would had no served
out the fragment Of Burton's term.
For all time to come Kansan historians
Will refer to Mr. Coburn as the modest