The Washington herald., 1907-10-13

New York. Oct 12-"The prosperity Of
the United States is not and never again
can be dependent on the policy Of any
man or set of men; neither does it de-
pend on politicians or on political parties
And the sooner We all realize that fact
the better off we viii be-"
Col. Henry Watterson. editor of the
Louisville Courier-JournaI, is back in
New York for his annual fall vacation.
and he is just brimful Of confidence as
to the continuation of the present era Of
prosperity. Revelations of scandals OF
high finance, railroad rebating and Jug
Cling of millions by traction magnates
IN no way faze the colonel It IS all
part Of the game as it is at present
played, he thinks. and he is content to
take everything as it comes. always in
sisting the nation can take care Of itself
For the colonel has become a philoso-
.pher- All Of the stirring affairs of life
are to be put aside. he himself insists,
and he viii devote the remainder of his
existence to dealing with the simplici-
ties Of life. but land here the rub comes)
dealing with them through the medium
of printers ink
The colonel says he is out of politics
forever. and he won't talk politics. al
though occasionally friends succeed in
prevailing on him 10 give reasons.
Has Attended Last Convention.
II nave attended my last state anu
national convention he declared. ''Wnen
! suggested some time ago that John
Johnson, OF Minnesota, would make an
ideal candidate for all that is left of the
once proud Democratic party to gather
around. I meant well But the criticism
that followed was, in many instances.
unkind and UntruthfuL And so it has
been ever since 1 took occasion to tell
Bryan the truth and show him that he
and his friends were strangling to death
all that remained of the old-time Demo
cratic party.
But then party lines have ceased to
exist There may come a new party-a
division OF the people on new lines. That
is what I would be for If were still in
politics. but it is for the new generation
10 decide that question. Roosevelt is to-
day the Republican party If he wants
another term, or half a dozen other
terms, he can be his party nominee. And
il the people want him. why. I am favor
able to the plan But if he is 10 be per-
petuated in the White House. bv an
means let IL be for life
I have opposed Bryan in many OF his
policies. ! am against any one who
would ditch the train If he coulG no,
always be the engineer. But Bryan is
still actor TO be reckoned with ia na-
tional affairs, and he stin has a strong
following"
Believes johnson Boom Growing.
The colonel was asked if he believed the
johnson movement was gaining. and de-
ClaTed he thought there was a strong
undercurrent in favor of the Minnesota
governor in the Northwest, and in certain
sections of the South. The movement
for Lewis S. Chanler, lieutenant governor
Of New York, apparently doesn't amount
10 much, in his opinion, although he ex-
pressed himself as considering Mr.. Chan
Ter nne example or the young man in
politics The fact that he was elected
when the head of the ticket went down
10 defeat, he seemed to think, would tell
against him in the minds of politicians.
Watterson positively refused TO discuss
what he considered an ideal policy for a
new political party.
I'd like to see a bossless party
again, was all he would say. "One
where the delegate to the town caucus
was the real directing force. Then we
would have conventions where real merit
would count, and we could frame issues
that would appeal to the wage worker. as
well as TO the capitalist, u the merchant
and the labOrer.
But am sick of both parties and their
policies. their rattle Drained leaders who
are seeking only self-perpetuation. Let
me alone TO follow out my ambition as
an essayist, TO discuss for those readers
who wish to hear from me the affairs
Of the world, and do not trouble me
about politics. As I told you before.
am through, through for all time"