Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1907-01-09
NOT PRESIDENTIAL TIMBER.


Andrew Jackson Montague for
Nice-President.
1t is time for Democrats TO unite;
we will not hurl the apple of dis
cord by any critical consideration
of Mr. Hughes's political prefer
ences. But this we may say: it is
rather a startling suggestion to con-
slider defeated candidate for Gov
ernOr of New York and a defeated
aspirant for Senator in Virginia,
for more exalted honors. Time
must pass before candidates voted
down in their own States become
available for ampler hOnors.
Successful Governors of New
York have become formidable
Presidential candidates. There
was Governor Grover Cleveland.
who became President, and Gov
ernOr Theodore Roosevelt, who
passed throuh the obScurity of the
Nice-Presidency to the white light
that beats upon him now.
Governor Montague clamored
for a show of hands by the people.
The hands were against him with
an emphasis he has recognized with
the grace of silence.
Prospect in the political forest
again, Mr.. Hughes; You have not
vet found Presidential timber. If
William Jennings Bryan lives, it is
dollars to doughnuts he will be the
next Democratic nominee for the
Presidency, unless the party is
stolen by President Roosevelt:>
The above from the Winchester
News-Item dosen't discourage us
in the slightest. We felt very
much disguised and demoralized
ut the exhibition" presented in
the candidacy of Hon. Alton b.
Parker Chat able jurist of Esopus),
and we felt very much like yelling.
We told you so, " as it was plainly
patent TO the most casual observer
that the COURIER did fairly hit the
nail on the head when it remarked
in June, preceding the November
election of 1904, that if Mr.. Parker
should happen to be nominated he
would suffer 4 greater defeat than
ever administered to William Jen-
nings Bryan.
AS we said last week the burden
of Democracy, the stress of battle,
the heat of the day, were borne al
most alone by Mr.. Hearst during
the two great campaigns waged
under Ny BrTan's banner.
As to Mr.. Hearst's availability
as Presidential timber, which the
News-Item seems to doubt, we have
our own opinion. The final out
come of the recount of the votes
cast for Mayor of New York City,
Will, we feel confident, show how
correct that opinion is.
Mr.. Hearst is a strong man
mentally, physically, morally and
politically. He is not debarred
from the Presidency by any clause
of the Constitution that we have
ever discovered. Then why is he
not availablel
Mr.. Ryan, Mr.. Belmont, Mr..
McCarren, Mr.. jerome, Mr.. Nc
Clellan, and some others less noto-
rious, said Mr.. Hearst was "un-
available" for office. We would
be ashamed to be on the same side
of the political fence with them.
The show of hands" which ac-
compliched the defeat of Mr..
Montague Gin our opinion) came
out from stocked deck" dealt
by one of the shrewdest manipuIa-
tors the State of Virginia has ever
We oppose the nomination of |
Mr.. Bryan again for the reason
that we feel morally certain he
would be defeated by either Roose-
welt, Hughes or Fairbanks-not |
because we think any less of the
great Nebraskan.
We favor Hearst and Montague
for the reason that we believe they
can win.
What we want to see now is a |
ticket which can bring out
large Democratic vote; and, at the
same time, command considerable
strength from the usual Republican
ballot casters.
What we want to see is campaign
of energy on the Democratic side,
instead of combining that desirable
element to the Republican ranks las
in the 1900 fight, } and instead of the
iDsipid and safely sane' effort
produced in 1904.
A campaign of Hearst and
Montague would not lag at any
stage; it would be a fight on the
enemy at every turn; it would