Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-09-15
(By 7. C. Welliver.)

| j,
New York, Sept. r. Mixed up
somewhere in the management OF this
campaign, on one side or the other,
there may be tirst-class. political
genius; Quay or Hanna, a Tilden
or a Whitney, a Van Buren, or JEFF
ferson or Buchanan But thus far
this genius ex machina has utterly
failed to emerge and claim the recog-
milton which will be ready whenever
he will make himself known.
In truth, the management of the
campaign on both sides is not at all
pleasing to the old timers of politics.
| You can find bunch of them around
the Metropolitan building any day,
smiling at these new-fangled methods
and trying TO penetrate the air of
mystery which has settled over the
establishment.
What they want is to find out
whether there is really anything be-
hind the veil of mystery. They
thought for awhile that there was;
but latterly they have been doubt
! full
! Across Madison Square, at the Hoff-
man house. there is just the same sit
uation. The mystery isn't so preten-
tious, perhaps, but there is all the
mystery which can decently be main
| tanned in connection with so modest
an establishment If the Democrats
had as many rooms and intersecting
passages and rear entrances and cur
tanned alcoves and paneled doors and
dumb walters and stage settings, they
would be just as full of mystery as
the Republicans. But they haven't the
price; that's all.
Mr.. Bryan Buncoed.
Gossip relates q lot of curious
things about both committees. Mr..
Bryan selected Norman Mack for ma
tional chairman on the Democratic
side; and the story is that Mr.. Bryan
has vetoed various proposals which
would have served to get into the
managerial harness some of the ex-
perienced politicians. Objection, of
course, was based on the fact that
these men have been too long and
outspokenly opposed to Bryan. Mr..
Bryan Is willing enough that his old
enemies should vote for him this year,
but--except Col. Watterson he
doesn't much care to place them on
the watchtower.
So when 1t comes to making an or
ganization FOR the east, it was neces-
sary in a mild way to bunco Mr.. Bry.
an; and that is just what is said to
have been done. Bryan had no objec-
ton to Hudspeth for eastern mana
ger; but he would never, never have
consented that James R. Nugent
nephew Of Senator Smith. be made
state chairman of Jersey if he had
been given the chance to pass on the
matter. But the things was skillfully
set up and pulled off before Mr. Bryan
| had chance to protest For Mr.. Hud
speth, 1t must be said that he bears all
the earmarks Of a thoroughly live one
He has campaign scheme all organ
lied in his mind. and is getting at
work on 1t w!ihtsrrt delay
Mack Lschs Initiative.
Critics Of Chairman Mack say that
he IS handicapped at two vital points
First they charge he is afraid to bug
a postage stamp or pass the time OF
day with Il politician, without first
learning whether Mr.. Bryan will like
it. Second, they say he surrendered
to Connors ard Murphy the whole de
cision in, the New York state cam
paign, even abdicating that consider.
able influence which would have been
his need as a leading Democrat OF
Erie county, entirely aside from the
national Craftsmanship. In other words
they say Mr.. Mack is simply buffer
between the idealistic Mr.. Bryan and
the thoroughly material politicians
who hold his fate in the east in their
hands. That Is what makes the east
additionally uncertain. If the political
powers in the east decide to stand for
Bryan, they will give him some real
strength. even in the enemy's country
It is not to be denied that with the
gold Democrats coming back into
camp and many of them taking off