Willmar tribune., 1908-10-07
1.-THE PARTY, NOT FORAKER,
IS The REAL CULPRIT. .
Col Henry Wa(erson The WelknoWn Editor Writes in His Char
acteristic Manner Of Recent Political History

publicans had placed "a man of
straw upon a platform of impos-
ture." All that has happened
since, all that is happening now,
verifes this description. Mr.. Taft
was 1.-THE man of straw"-the sha-
dow the counterfeit presentment
Of Theodore Roosevelt. The "plat-
form Of imposture" embraced a
declaration of principles and pur-
poses facing two ways; the one to
catch the Roosevelt sentiment in
the West, the other to hold the in
terests' of the East. Clear proof
Of both: the President taking the
center of the stage, the candidate
falling into second place; the argu-
ment conservative on the Atlantic
side Of the Alleghanies, but radical,
and growing more radical as, upon
the other side, it travels toward the
Rocky Mountains and the Pacific.
If anything were wanting to con-
vince thoughtful and patriotic men
Of the need for a change of parties
If only for the sake of change
it would be found in the present
conditions and aspects Of the poll
tical situation. In order fully to
comprehend it's meaning and por-
tent, let US go back a little and
consider the lines in which it was
originally laid. The President,
having designated an Heir Appar-
ent, set out deliberately to establish
the rule of Fraud and Force. The
republican politicians began bella
boring one another. Bogus dele
cations were set up by the federal
office holders. Every thought Of
decency and fair play, of civil SER
vice reform pledges and honorable
party fellowship, was thrown to the
wind, while Messrs. Knock Down
and Drag Out clustered and brow
beat the primaries in every South
ern state.
Even at this rate. however, the
steam roller had to be called into
requisition at Chicago in order to
complete the slaughter and to force
upon the party the will Of the over
lord of the White House.
Finally "the man Of straw,'
yoke-mated to man of money and
iron-one might rather say of blood
money and trust steel-made the
ticket, and, program of double
dealing having been agreed upon.
the republican campaign was start
ed very much as a Sunday school
picnic. Pastor Theodore had be-
forehand selected a lovely grove
with a nice cool spring and had ar
ranged all the pretty details.
Proxy Frank Hitchcock, the ice
cream man, was to drive the lunch
wagon. Big "Bill," the superin-
tendent, assisted by Aunt Jemima
Aldrich and Teacher Hughes-each
provided with pasteboard wings
was to lead the little ones thru
flower -bordered paths to rustic
bower, where puppet show had
been prepared for the amusement of
the assembled children. The piece
was to be called little Red Rid
ing Hood" willie" Bryan to be
little Red Riding Hood. "Uncle
Joe' Cannon was to play Grandma.
''Sunny jim" Sherman was to play
Wolf. Mark the sequel! The day
dawned dark and sultry. Light
ming flashes played titfully along
the western sky and presently dull
reverberations of thunder rolled
down from the faraway North.
Then the rain began to fall in tor
rents. Picnic, indeed; above the
voice of the elements now rises the
shrill notes of the pastor, crying
"every man to cover and rats to
your holes.'
Presto, change! from arrogance
to realization, from confidence to
panic; the sudden swapping Of hor-
ses in the middle of the stream;
the wild unloading of Foraker i'm
mediately after an ostentatious re-
Cancellation; Hearst again, as in
last years judicial contests, the
side partner Of Parsons and Roose.
welt; the President, himself, down
in the trenches, mud stained and
powder smirched, swearing like 9
trooper, now at republicans ano
now at democrats; every resource
every device, every agency of or.
ganized money and official influence
strained to their uttermost to com
pei the will of the one man dynasty
and to extend the rule Of the one
party power.
It is amazing. 1t is humiliat
ing. 1t should set every honest
patriotic man in the land to think
ing. We are supposed to live un
der government of public opin
ion. Modern politics, however
has created machinery especial!
designed for controlling this public
opinion. The machinery so fabri
Gated, places all the advantages il
the hands of the leaders of the par
ty in power. The ''ins." to begil
on, are as an army fortified. Th'
"outs' are but body of raw mi
litia which, however brave, and NJ