Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-08-02

"a efyU0uy worm kAVWihS VI
"a mentioning is a Democrat,
% my lecture business took me
through the Indian Territory, Kansas.
Arkansas and southwest Missouri, in
which states and territory ] lectured
at the Chautauquas for two weeks.
1t may open the eyes of denizens in
the effete east to know that nearly
every town of 1000 inhabitants and
up in the above mentioned states and
territory maintains a Chautauqua.
OF course most of them are held under
tents, but permanent homes will come
in time. And the people turn out to
hear the lectures. At Muskogee and
yanita, in the Indian Territory, in
each audience addressed something
like 1000 people. At Tusla would
have had more but for heavy rain.
And more intelligent audiences or
more appreciative are not to be found
in America.
OF course Arkansas is as reliably
Democratic as Vermont is Republican,
but Kansas usually goes Republican,
and, while Missouri gave Roosevelt
her electoral vote and elected nine Re-
publican congressman, she is, under
normal conditions, Democratic. The
Indian Territory and therefore the
new. state of Oklahoma. is the most
interesting of political problems. No
man in his senses doubts that Mis-
souri, will roll up from 10000 to $4,000
Democratic majority this year and
elect fourteen or fifteen Democratic
representatives out of sixteen to con-
gress, for, as above stated. she is nor
mally Democratic, and nothing but
Judge Parker's telegram to the st.
Louis convention could have placed
her even temporarily in the Repub-
lican column
Kansas is normally Republican. but
this year Kansas bids fair once more
to break away from her Republican
mornings and to elect the Democratic
ticket. The Kansas Republicans are
badly factionalized. The Cy Leland
and anti-Cy Leland crowds are whet-
ting their knives for each other. The
railroads nominated the Republican
ticket, which disgruntled many thou
sand Republican voters and many Re
publican newspapers. So that the Re-
publican ticket is inherently weak. On
the other hand, the Democrats had the
wisdom to put up an unusually strong
ticket. Their candidate for governor,
ex-United States Senator Harris, is
thousands of votes stronger than his
party, while his opponent, Governor
Hoch, who is a candidate for re-elec-
ton, is thousands of votes weaker
| than his party Harris served in both
houses of congress with distinction and
| is a man of capacity, experience an0
character Though one of my ex-con-
stituents, he has been in the Sunfow-
| er State so long that he is counted
among the old settlers. He has had a
remarkable career in Kansas. After
the civil war closed, in which he served
as Confederate colonel, he went to
Kansas and began life as chain car
rier on the Union Pacific railroad. His
merit caused his promotion till he
rose to high position. Going into pol
itics, he served in both houses of the
Kansas legislature. was then elected
congressman at large and afterward
served full term in the senate of the
Uuited States. The old Union soldiers
are his hest friends, for he is one Of
their best friends. On the ticket with
him are Mr.. Farrelly for lieutenant
governor, a man of splendid character
and talents, and David Obermeyer for
~, Of ho crrso
lawyers and one Of the most brilliant
orators in America. So, on the whole,
the chances are that the Democrats
will sweep the state,
The Oklahoma part of the new state
of Oklahoma is close politically. The
race in that portion of the state will
be neck and neck affair. The Indian
Territory portion of the new state is
Democratic, and largely SO. At any
rate that is the opinion of intelligent
men 1t ought to be, for at least three
fourths of the population are from Mis-
souri,, Texas and Arkansas. OF course,
there never having been an election
down there, the political status is large
~ guesswork and everybody is on the
qui vive. The general opinion is that
notwithstanding all the gerrymander-
ing the Republicans can do the new
state of Oklahoma will be Democratic,
will elect a Democratic state ticket,
three Democratic representatives out of
five and a Democratic legislature which
will elect two Democratic United
States senators. all of which is greatly
to be desired.
I had the honor of making the first
Democratic speech in the new state OF
Oklahoma at the yanita Chautanqua.
was followed next day by Governor
Hoch Of Kansas, who, filling Senator
Delivers engagement, spoke for the
Republicans.
Queer.
This is strange world, my masters.
It is queer how things turn out in this
mundane sphere. For instance, some
whit nvar two onr1fifrioe q nro oup enid