Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1910-08-05
WILL IT De HARMON ?

WILL II De HARMON?
Mary have been looking at the Ohio
republican convention thinking that
in it they would find some solution of
the presidential question. If the re-
publicans have now nominated q man
who can beat Governor Harmon in the
present race, then Harmon may not
be the next presidential candidate of
the democrats. If, however, they have
not nominated such man, then Mr..
Harmon, they think, will be. Inas-
much, therefore, as Mr.. Harmon's ca
reer as presidential candidate of his
party turned on the choice of the con-
vention just closed. that convention
became a matter of much interest.
This is the feeling of many who think
that the democrats might win the
presidency in 1912. The time of that
election is some distance off. Many
things will happen before then, and it
will require many things to happen
before the dreams of those who imag-
inc democratic nominee for president
could be elected at that time. If any
one will study the situation he must,
we think, come to the conclusion that
an "Insurgent" will have a fine
chance to win.then. The two old par
ties have travelled along together until
they have about become one and the
same. There is no visible difference
to the nakedIeye between them. There
seems nothing dividing them or dis
tinguishing them but their name.
Most of the present leaders of the DEM
ocraticl party:either bolted the national
ticket or sulked in 1895 or since. They
are largely in sympathy with trusts
and corporations generally. They are
advocates of high tariff, gold stand
ard, Emergency Currency, federal
railway Incorporation and every prin-
ciple for which the republican party
stands.
This being SO they cannot draw to
them the rank and file Of the demo-
cratic party. Our senior senator well
repres ents the character Of the men
now in power in the democratic party.
He Is credited with being in sympathy
with most republican ideas. He was
entirely out Of sympathy with the ma
tional ticket in 1896, and ever after
when Mr.. Bryan was the nominee. He
is also credited, whether true or not,
with working zealously to repay the
debt he owes those who elected him
first to the senate, and some think he
has well repaid it. He is looked on by
many as being as favorable to trusts as
Mr.. Aldrich, and as strong believer
in the divine rights Of railways as Mr..
Elkins. As he goes SO goes the organ
ization in Virginia, SO goes what is
now known as the democratic party in
Virginia. He is said to hold the gov
ernor in his hand. He Is accredited
with being able to dictate the new ap-
pointee for the senate. He has full credit
given him of having dictated the re-
cent appointment to the Corporations
Commission, and many 60 SO far as to
say that no important action of the
governor is ever taken without his
counsel, indeed consent. 1t is the firm
belief of many that he watches even
minute things in the various parts OF
the State calculated to aid in his po-
litlcal control. There are those who
feel certain they saw his hand in the
election which sent Stanton into the
dry column, and that this action was
based entirely on political and not
moral reasons.
There are those who say that he has
already chosen Judson Harmon for us
as the next presidential candidate.
Therefore our people had as well get
ready to vote for him. Now that Mr..
Bryan has become ''discredited," the
man he so much disliked is out of his
way, and the sailing is plain. The
democratic choice, if he can control it,
will be Harmon, and yet there could
not now be shout raised for Harmon
in Virginia with jack screw. This
tells the tale. Thu tells that the peo-
pie and the leaders are far apart.
There must be some enthusiasm, some
spirit, something the people want, in
jected into politics or the next nomi-
nation will be q repetition of the
Parker campaign. 1t may be the same
man may be in the field again who de-
feated Parker. If so the result will be
known long before the election.