Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1908-01-02

penses or Increasing their prices. 1t Is
easy to say that much of the increased
cost of white paper is due to the trust,
but the scarcity of the raw material
makes the paper trust possible. Still,
If the Is per cent duty does not protect
the American pulp manufacturer its
abolition ought not to hurt him. Why
cumber the statute book with Il useless
law?
Solid South and Solid West.
Looking the other day ut a map
showing that the Democratic congress
sonal strength was confined almost Ell
tirely to the south and to New York
city, l Was impressed with the fact
that it was high time that the DcmOc-
racy ceased to allow itself to be called
sectional | recalled also the fact that
Republican newspapers have been in
clined to scott at the Democratic party
because. while it got the majority Of
its electoral votes from the south. it
had never selected a southern man as
its standard bearer in the presidential
battles. The latter fact is true. yet
If eight months ago the south had de
sired to rally about Il truly southern
man. and Il man who had shown IN
failing loyalty to the principles of the
Democracy of today, such a man might
easily have been nominated. | have
some reason to believe that Mr.. Bryan
himself would have looked with favor
upon such nomination. but in per-
sonai conversation with stnguishcd
senators from Virginia. from South
Carolina, from Alabama and from
Texas. two OF whom at least might
have been considered as possible candi-
dates. and from correspondence with
certain Democratic governors of south
ern states | learned that the south it.
SELF did not feel that the time was ripe
for Il southern candidate.
'The Democratic party shQSld elect
one more president from the north"
said one senator to me. before it goes
south for Il candidate"
But what of Republican sectional
ism? Abraham Lincoln was the near
est approach to Il western man the Re-
publican party has ever nominated for
the presidency. The party has never
looked west of the Mississippi river for
candidate and does not now. The
history of the real westerners who
sought Republican nominations has
been an uninterrupted record of dis
aster and defeat. Today the only man
among the list of those striving for
the Republican nomination who is near
the borders of the Mississippi is Speak
err Cannon. Indiana has one. Ohio has
two, New York has two, but from that
great territory which gives to the Re-
publican party the bulk of its electoral
votes not one candidate has appeared.
1t may Mt least be said for the Demo
cratic party that. with Nebraska, Min
nesota. New York and Maryland all
having possible candidates for its ma
tional candidate. 1t cannot be accused
Of sectionalism.
A Map and Some Malice.
And speaking Of the geographical
distribution Of votes recalls the fact
that New York newspaper which
Democrat should he nominated for the
presidency with show of winning
has been finding great comfort in the
daily publication Of map SHOWING
the gradual loss Of the west and the
north to the Democratic party.
Daily it lays stress upon the fact
that in 1892 Mr. Bryan worked and
ff%r f,, NrI,
Populist nominee for the presidency.
1t carefully however, refrains from
mentioning the fact that he was ask
ed to do so by the Democratic nation
al committee and that largely as q
result of his efforts the electoral vote
Of the state was given to Weaver in
stead Of to Benjamin Harrison, a re-
suit by which Grover Cleveland profit
ed greatly.
Was that bad service for the cause
Of Democracy?
1t emphasizes the truth that Mr. Bry-
an has not carried Nebraska either for
himself or for any other candidate
since 1896. 1t ignores the truth that
the only Democrat who ever did carry
Nebraska was Mr.. Bryan. And 1t has
not expressed any horror or indigna-
ton over the fact that Judge Parker
did not carry New York.
1t finds something eXquisitely hui
morous IN the unquestioned truth that
Mr.. Bryan did not carry his own ward
or precinct. Probably there is no one
connected with the publication suffl-
GENTLY Interested to look up the facts
to know that 1t is the exception wher
presidential candidate does carry
his precinct and his ward. Why that
is don't know, but the instances have
been repeated.
Pedestrianism and Politics.
The newspapers for few days past
have been filled with stories of the tri-
umphant progress Of a seventy-year-
old pedestrian. Edward Payson Wes-
ton, who at that advanced age walked
from Portland, Me-, to Chicago in
rather more than twenty-four hours
less time than he consumed in making
the same journey forty years ago 1t
was good stunt we'll done. But, after
all, 1t is not only the professional ath-