The Harrison times., 1911-01-28

taken TO see tlat they went 10 SOlu OF
anti-Bryan Democrats. Blackburn was
a strenuous free silver advocate In
the days when free silver was vital
issue. But | recall distinctly talking
with him the day before he sailed for
Panama and he declared at that time
that lie president had said nothing to
him about any political obligation be-
ing imposed upon him by this honor
able and profitable appointment, He
did not hold it long, resigning if re-
member rightly some time before the
commission was abolished. At the
same time his record met with the
approval of the authorities and the
numerous magazine writer's who go
down to the canal every month or two
and all write the same things. | don't
know about Kentucky, but | do know
that the appearance of the Hon. Joe"
Blackburn to take again the oath as a
United States senator would be greet
ed by more enthusiasm on both sides
OF that body Of dignified statesmen
than would be the case with almost
any other man now in public life.
"Joe" Bailey Brave and Foolish.
And speaking Of the various sena-
torial "Joes," Joe" Bailey is facing
with characteristic courage and equal
ly characteristic folly a futile fight
which may seriously affect his stand
ing before the country. Before this
letter is printed he will probably have
undertaken the defense Of the COM
mittee report whitewashing Senator
Lorimer The overwhelming sentiment
IN the United States senate is against
Lorlmer and against the pettifoggng
assumption on the part of the major
lty Of the committee that because the
votes purchased in his behalf and
proved to have been purchased were
not entirely essential to his election
he Is therefore not subject to sena-
torlal discipline. This Is not regarded
| as either good morals or good politics
One would hardly think that from a
Democratic point of view it would be
looked upon as good politics for so
| prominent a senator of that party as
Bailey to take up the defense of Lor-
liner, leaving to Senator BeVeridge
the attack upon him. There is feel
ing Of relief among the Democrats at
the capital that Senator Robert L.
owen, as sterling a Democrat and per
maps as able lawyer as Bailey, in
uoduced a resolution declaring the
Lorimer election illegal and void
Lorimer did not help his cause by ap-
pearing daily at the senatorial ses-
slons when the question of the recep-
ton Of the report on his case and the
! time for debating 1t were under dis
cuSslon. There have been other sena-
tors who faced the same situation that
he does now, but with one accord they
showed sufficient tact or refinement
to absent themselves from the cham.
Der while matters pertaining to their
status were under discussion People
here are asking whether Billy" Lor-
inner will insist upon making a speech
in favor of the majority report Of the
committee which whitewashes him.
Roosevelt Still Leader.
There is similarity between
political conditions in the nation
this year and those which ex-
listed just prior to the second elec.
ton Of Grover Cleveland in 1892,
Then the White House was tenanted
by an eminently respectable, even ad-
mirable president, Benjamin Harrison,
against whose official character no
word was ever said, but who failed
to inspire any enthusiasm among the
people Officially he led the Republi-
can party, but the passionate devotion
Of the rank and file Of that organiza.
tion was given to the more magnetic
and spectacular Blaine, even though
at the moment the latter was ap-
preaching the period of senility.
Today Taft officially leads his party,
but at Oyster Bay is the man who
really holds the party following under
his command. Beaten as he was in
his New York fight, unhappy as his
influence was upon the fortunes Of
his party In Indiana and Ohio, Roose-
welt is still force much to be reCk.
oned with. People here think that
the Roosevelt plan Is to permit the
Taft denomination with the virtual
certainty Of the defeat of the Repub.
lican party In the pending presidential
election, One Republican statesman
Of national reputation, whose name
am not at liberty to mention, insists
that in this event four brief years of
Democratic government will be fol.
lowed as was the Cleveland second
term by another sixteen years of Re-
publican domination.
Signs Pointing to Democratic Regime.
There is no doubt that conditions
are ripe for Democratic victory, al.
though how enduring that triumph
may be Is matter for debate. The
Republican party is split, the Demo,
cratic organization more united than
1t has been in the present political
ppnpratlOn Dusippss conditions nra