The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-09-05
HIS WEAPONS sNATcHEp FROM HIM

HIS WEAPONS SNATCHED FROM HIM
Fighting the devil with fire as an act of
tmbecilty does not take precedence over fight
ing the Master of Bilingsgate with epthet
For eleven years the Thunderer has hurled
his bolts at his enc mics, not sparing his friends
Oh occasions, and during that time he has
proven beyond question that among men in
public or private life there is who
catch those bolts and send them hurting back.
The dictionary of epithet that contains word
not familiar to him through long use has never
been written: the man who can conquer him in
a duel with mud for weapons has never been
born. Abuse and vtuperation were invented
on the day of his birth ready for the use
OF the Master.
Yet many men, ordinarily not lacking in
sense or judgement, have sought to meet him
on his own ground, the result always being
the sams---another victory and increased fame
for the victor.
Comes now man to whom these methods
of warfare are repugnant Starting with the
primary knowledge that to engage an expert
udslinger with mud is voluntarily to bespat-
ter oneself the Scholar in Politics has acquired,
by years of philosophie study of men and
events the additional knowledge that to attack
with argument one who all his life has substi-
tuted abuse for argument is to find that oppo-
nent weaponless and defenseIess They accused
Roosevelt of Inconsistency and he laughed
at them; they accused him of dishonesty and
he smothered them with terms of reproaeh;
thay Tod
hurled the lie. He finds his personality
for once ignored and his platform ruthessly
torn from under his feet and he cannot an
swer. When called crook he retorted with
you're another" and more and he said II bet
ter, worse. according to the point of view:
when his theories are calmly analyzed and
proven bubbles he cannot retert with Liar"
and thief" He must answer in kind and the
Master of Abuse meeting the Master of Argu-
ment. is overwhelmed
The lnconsequent Theorist, evading, as ever,
promise OF a specific act and application of
specific remedy told the workingmen that If
he be elected president they should share in
the loot now collected for the manufacturer
Into their pockets should go a part of It, he
promised, but failed TO deliver himself OF any
explanation OF how ii is TO be done Profered
thanks for bluntly and truthfully describ-
ing the protective tariff system for which he
stands and requested to give information as
to how he intends to put into the workingman's
pocket part of the loot, he cannot answer
Charges Of dishonesty and crooked dealing
formerly his represent help in time or
trouble. fail him now. Armed for attack with
the SWORD OF ~losie~ana~ far-defense- Bith~1ha4
shield of personal recttude his assalant has
him vainly seeking refuge in subterfuge and
evasion.
For illustration note his speech Tuesday at
ST. Louis 1t contains nothing. 1t lacks the
old punch for his sole weapon has been
torn from his hands Here Is his reply 10 the
request for information as to how he will
force the Plunderbund to divide its illgotten
gains with the workingman
Again MIR Wilson says that / express the
desire that more of the money to protected in
dustry should get into the pay envelope of the
worlingman. but that he can only find sug-
gesion in cur platform for accomplishing our
purpose. which suggestion is the minimum wage
proposition. If Mr.. Wilson should read through
my speeches and the platform again. then he
advanced with reference TO the tariff Our prop
ostion is concrete and simple namely. that il in
any protected industry the condit ions OF life and
work are not satisfactory we shall forthwith
take the protection off that industry, and that Il
shall be the duty OF government commission
TO oversee The industry and see II the conditions
are satisfactory"
In other words. II this Plnderbund refuas
-aecenl orders from some commission to
divide It's. .hanty the heots Vii he. sake,, away
That gives nothing TO the workingman.. In
place of commission TO find out when the ,
booty is not divided his opponent would adyo.
cate the passage of a law preventing the loot
ing OF the people and allow them to retain I
what4is righHully theirs Instead or furnishing
those who refuse to divide he would so arrange I
\ that there viii be nothing to divide the loot I
remaining with those rons4nlnm II has hare +
tofors been hlched The one would name !