The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-07
CHASING sTRAws.

CHASING STRAINS.
 IL Is sometimes interesting to note the views of the other fellow in poii- tics. and that is our excuse for copy ing the following from Tho yofk Ca, Dispatch, ono of the mos. uncom pro- mising Republican newspapers in the
 country. It says:
 The belief expressed by John Temple | Graves the Georgia editor. that Rooso- welt can break the solid South and carry Georgia and Tennessee, if he | runs for third term will receive pleasant consideration ct the hands of | political aspect of the South from 1 distant view point, it would seem that I prejudice existed there against Roose- welt. The episode with Booker Wash ington can hardly be forgotten by the
 whites who are not prone to forgive the white man who would put a. col bred man on their level especially when that white man is the president than Temple Graves knows the South
 his beliefs must be accepted as con taining much truth no matter how sur prising His claim that the citizens of these states will forget their sentiment and vote their convictions is conf
 plment to Georgia and Tennessee. Sentiment has held the South down to a political mediocrity that has proved enthralling. In rising to tnF upper levels of common sense there is the assurance of more unanimous and wiser choice of presidents. Sentiment has often stood in the way of the ele- vation of those who stand for iusticeA In politics and law 1t Is not much good
 As Editor Graves says, the people or the South as well as the North want a man who can do things That man is Roosevelt. To the mind of MT. Graves Bryan is still the tallest moral figure that American statesmanship has produced since Washington" but. as MT. Graves says. no one knows any MT. Bryan and 1t Is better to leave well enough alone. ..
 The beginning of chat editorial,
 which was printed on Wednesday, shows that The Dispatch is either a careless reader of current news or is profoundly indifferent to facts. Col. Graves has positively denied making the statement above set forth and we nial We know that the versatile Georgia editor sometimes lets his en- thusiasm and exhuberancc of speech get the better of his judgment and better knowledge, but we ara not ready to believe that his own State SC noted for sound Democracy and party loyal ". would slip from it's moorings and give its electoral vote to Roosevelt, It is possible. of course, that the Dem ocratic national convention might put up a man who would not command the enthusiastic support of Southern Democrats. but we do not expec. such blunder.
 All this is speculation. however. The amusing part of the article above quoted is in the patronizlng conplacen- cy with which The Dispatch pats the Southern Democrats on the back as one who should say: Now. children, I know you have been very wicked in the past. but now you are going to be good and vote for Roosevelt, the altogether greatest and goodest Presi- dent the world ever saw"
 That is about the role The Dispatch is assuming. evidently regarding the Southern Democrats as stray fowls who can be reduced with a handful of char. and thinks they only need a little coddling and soft-soaping to "come across" and make Roosevelt's election unanimous.
 The Dispatch is way off It is either talking through its hat, or it is among those who see through a glass darkly." Leaving out all questions of party, of section, or race prejudice, we think 1t would puzzle any one to give a sound reason why the Southern peo- pie. and especially Southern Democrats. should be so enamored with Roosevelt that they would proce recreant to thern-
 selves, their history, traditions and in- terests and vote for a man who is in almost every respect the direct antithe- sis of what the South has always stood for. The Dispatch had better take a QOSe or soothing syrup. put 1uo SO~
 lumbus Ledger, assuming that Col. Graves, has at some time expressed the belief that if Roosevelt, will accept another nomination he can break the solid South thus hits the Atlanta edi-
 tor:
 The Honorable John Temple has been making presidents for the past several | months. He is for Roosevelt one day. | for Bryan another day and Tor Hoke Smith another. He cannot. it seems, stick to a single proposition long
 enough for the people to learn exactly where he stands. In the meantime. | however, Georgians are not paying a great deal of attention to him one way or the other They regard him as
 very smooth and poetic writer. who
 says pretty things In print, but beyond i that they are not impressed with What
 he says. They feel that there Is very
 little depth and breadth to it.
 But one thing may be counted upon | and that is when the} electoral vote or l Georgia is cast for the next presiden- l tial candidate it will not go to Re l publican. Georgia has been Democrat l ic all these years, through more trouh- | lous times than exist at present, and | she has never faltered in her alleE- | lance to the principles of local self | government and the right of the peo- | pie to rule in the affairs of the gov