Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-28
watterson's Unfortunate Accusation


Mr. watterson. supporting a man whose
policies he abhors and whose personality
he for long time abhorred. has not been
at his best in this campaign, and as the
end apnroaches is inclined to substitute
passion for argument. Asserting tnat the
republicans have three times running
bought the country. he asks, In double
leads. Can they do it again?' This Is
,aken from, a long editorial processing to
deal with history:
.'Intelfigeht men everywhere know that
under the reign of Mark Hanna. begin
ming with the national republican con-
yention at ST. Louis in 1896, when Mchln-
lev money flowed like water-when with
a golden cleaver the old Buckeye Ducca-
neer chopped off Tom Reed delegates as
if they had been steaks and cutlets'-the
smile is of republican origination-
through the succeeding Ito the democrats)
ill-starred campaign-through the cam
paign of 190O-the single reliance was
money: tainted money: money stolen
from trust funds by their faithless GUS
todians, piratical captains of predatory
wealth. to secure immunity from expo
sure or else wrung by the familiar arts
of political blackmail from unwilling. yet
weak or culpable, corporations, which
dared not refuse.
sA1l men know this 1t is matter of legal
record From first to last Mark Hanna
handled Ia AQUEOUS SulllS-HllillOHS upou ilii-
? lions-to blind the eyes of honest men, TO
buy the votes of dishonest men. and thus
by collision and chicane to forestall the
verdict of the ballot box.
AS matter of fact. money did not flow
like water-it never does for that matter
at ST. Louis in 1896. Mr.. Mckinley won
with ease over Mr.. Reed The one was
the most popular man in his party, the
, other not popular at all The Maine man
was never dangerously in the contest for
the nomination; was beaten before the ma
tional convention met. and knew it. After
the convention, some of his friends were
sore. and. seeking excuses for their fall
ure. raised the old cry of Doodle.
AS for what took place later. Mr..
Watterson should not at this day revive
and indorse the Bryanite talk of that
day. For part of that talk was that
Mr.. Hanna, in the handling of the "fabu-
1ous sums-milions upon millions'-of
campaign money carried on his secret
pay rolls the whole voting Cleveland
contingent of the democratic party. 1t
was alleged that the Buckeye Buccaneer''
financed the Palmer and Buckner move
ment. and paid the newspapers and the
spellbinders supporting the Indianapolis
ticket for their services.
II only talk. Never a particle of
evidence was produced in support of the
charge. But it proceeded from the same
source as the talk Mr.. Watterson now
quotes TO support the general charge
against the integrity of the electorate.
The country has never been bought, and
is not now for sale. Far too much money
is used in campaign years by both parties
Neither is justified in pointing the finger
OF shame al the other. The present cam
pagn has been prosecuted with energy
by both sides, and each has raised all
the dust it could. Just how much will
never be known. for the Ridder report
simply shows the humbuggery of the
whole hullabaloo about publicity. II any
body believes that the sum of three hun
.dred thousand dollars covers the money
expended by the democrats in their ma
tional activity he ought to be headed for
fee minded institute. But Tues
days result, whatever IL may be- will not
mark a triumph of bribery.