The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-01-31
THE BUSINESS SLUMP
Breakdown of Republican Poll
cies Indicated.
FAILURE OF PROTECTION.


decentralization and the lnte-
rior Department-The Factional Fight
In Ohio - Republican Attack on
Rights of Labor.
By WILLIS j. ABBOT.
One day recently culled from Re-
publican newspapers, which for more
than ten years have been preaching the
great increase il the prosperity Of the
country, due to successive Republican
administrations, these headlines:
"Coxey Army In Cincinnati. Calls
on the Mayor to Ask For Aid and
Work.
"One Hundred and Thirty-eight Thou
sand Nine Hundred and Fifty Idle In
Chicago. Business Depression Blamed
For $3.50 Persons Out Of Work"
"Coxey Army In st. Louis. Eight
Hundred Men March to the City Hail
and Ask Mayor For Work"
These assertions could be paralleled
in almost every American city. The
most forceful one-the second-comes
from the Chicago Inter Ocean, which
throughout its entire existence has
been the leading advocate Of the high
est type of protection in the middle
west. 1t goes on to add to its figures
Of idle workingmen the statement that
the normal number Of men out Of en-
ployment at this season in that city is
$4,000, so that the number this year IS
almost treble the usual one. But the
tically- every Republican is insistin,
that it must not be touched until after
the presidential election. and the suS-
picion is rife that It will not be touched
then unless to increase it. If the Dem
ocratic party wins, it can do bub little,
for the senate must for some time to
come remain overwhelmingly Republic
an. The hard times in the country,
which are not yet passed, amount 10
the complete breakdown of Republican
policies and particularly to repudia-
ton Of the present administration.
When 1000 men in st. Louis march
ed through the mud and snow to the
mayors office to beg for employment
1t was reminiscent Of the darkest days
Of 1893. The demonstration gave a
peculiar significance to the statement
made by Senator Gore Of Oklahoma
before a crowded audience in Cooper
Union, New York, few weeks ago
that when during Cleveland's admin
istration sixty-five national banks clos
ed their doors the newspapers called it
a panic. This year, said he, they clos.
ed by hundreds in every section Of the
country, and the papers politely refer
red to the interim as holiday. His
allusion may necessitate some slight
explanation to some Of my readers.
In several Of the western and southern
states at the very outbreak of the
financial stringency the governors in
order to save the banks declared legal
holidays ranging from three to ten
days in duration, during which period
no money was obtainabla.
Tho Blind Orator of the Senate.
BY the way, Senator Gore Is likely
to make hit on the platform, though
in the senate the precedent that sen.
ator shall not be heard during his first
term may hamper him. This precedent
has been badly warped during this
session, but is clung to rather tena.
ciously by a number Of the statesmen
Of that dignified chamber. Gore has an
interesting personality. The fact OF
his blindnes from boyhood is Of course
familiar to newspaper readers through
out the country. That he has fitted
himself for such high official position
indicates q strong will and mind well
disciplined. Students know that the
loss Of one faculty is very apt to de-
velop and sharpen the others. With
Senator Gore 1t has deYe:oped hie
memory to an amazing extent. His
wife. who is his chief helper and
guide about the capitol, or his secre'
tary has only to read aloud a docu'
ment once for him to master 1t.
A Misleading Poll.
The Washington Post and the New
York World have been affecting the
country with polls Of the members OF
the house of representatives, as to their
presidential preferences. Nothing has
so long and 80 thoroughly been dis
credited in politics as poll In which
names are not mentioned. The aver
age statesman is very prone to say TO
the reporter: "Well, I am really Tor
So-and-so, but you mustn't quote me.
You might say, If you want to fill out
your article, that the people Of my state
are generally for the other fellow, but
nv name mustn't be mentioned in any
case" The Post and the World, being
bitterly opposed to Mr.. Bryan, were
able to find fifty-three members, names
snot given, who divided their votes
among several other candidates. MT.
Bryan, Of course, however, had more
than a two-thirds majority Of all the
Democratic members. While not at
taching much significance to polls, !
secured one Of the delegation from Vir-
Cinia, which showed only one man hos
tile. This state had been mentioned
in the newspapers aforesaid as being
practically certain to cast it's vote III
the convention for Senator Daniel.
The Next Secretary of the Interior.
OF all the states or territories Of the
Union the new state of Oklahoma
brings the most business to the interior