The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1909-08-05
LOOKING AHEAD.

fealllgnmeht.
There is wide divergence of
opinion among Republicans in re-
gard to tariff reduction and upon
other economic and administrative
questions. The leaders of that
party may get together for another
campaign, but il is not probable that
the party leaders can control their
rank and file. The forces that have
caused the present instruction in
Congress will act ms powerfully up
on the great mass of our people as
they have in that body. In fact II
is the sentiment prevailing among
the people that has forced Senators
and Representative to challenge
their own party organization.
Conditions in the Democratic
party are not much better, In view
of these facts we believe that it Is
high time for the Democrats of this
congressional district to begin to
look about them for n standard
bearer for the campaign of next
year. Would be candidates are al
ready BEGINNING To snatch at the
banner. We must face the fact that
II the congressional nomination of
next yedf is to he made IA prize for
the most earnest seeker-if 1t is to
become the spoil of the politician
who con play the smOothcst game,
or create the most astute combina-
ton, we will go down to almost GER
tain defeat.
People are tired OF the smooth cit
lien, the slick duck-who plays upon
the interests and prejudices of the
masses for his own thrift and who
when he deems il to his interests to
do so, quietly sells out to the corpor-
alton that is willing to pay the price.
They ARE tired OF the congressman
learned in the law for the reason
that he is not feared enough to keep
fatal defects out Of laws that are
beneficial to the people. When
| legislation of this character reaches
our highest courts IL Is usually
found that our congressman learned
| in the law have so framed IL that 1t
will not hold water for IA minute.
| Whether the interests affected have
] Ian In
statutes designed for their control
cannot he certainly known, but We
suspect any farmer or miner of av-
crage intelligence and integrity
could do as well.
What the people demand is not cx.
cuscs but accomplished facts. They
want IA man Of clean hands and pure
life and are disposed, where they
ind one that has stood by them, to
hold fast to him.
\ good many men are being men
toned hut Senator John l.. Bradley
of st. Francois county is now be-
ing considered more carefully than
any other man who has received at
tcntion up To this time. In the last
twelve years Mr.. Bradley has made
good In the state senate. He has
been with the people on every line
up. Much of the labor legislation
that has been placed upon our
statute books in that time has been
due to his zeal and persistency. He
has made in many cases the right
kind of enemies. He is not liked
by corporations and so tar as the
record shows. they have not been
able to control him. On the other
hand, Mr.. Bradley was in the state
senate during the celebrated thOus-
and-dOllar-bill legislature and IL Is
whispered that be was connected in
manner not wholly to his credit
with some of the subterranean tran
sactiOns that made that session Of
the General Assembly n disgrace to
Missouri. 1t is also stated that he
has no business but lives upon the
pay he receives from his services as
Senator.
We do not say these things are
true. If they have any foundation
in fact he will certainly have to face
them at the primary and in the gem
eral election. II they have no
foundation in fact they should be
stamped out ut once.
We are neither for nor against
Mr.. Bradley. We do not know
whether he cares to be n candidate
or not. This article was written
without his privity. Our only unx-
iety is to secure a man who can
be depended upon to do the bidding
of his constituents. There is n
strong disposition to see whether
Mr.. Bradley can do as well in Con-
gress as he has in the senate. One
thing we do know about Mr.. Bradley
and that is, he has been ridiculed
and sneered at more than any other
member Of the state senate. Not
xri h AZ n nIipn chic