The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-10-01
CURRENT COMMENT
unmnr and Politics.

Whatever else the Republican party may have
lost ii has not lost its sense of humor.
1T seems genuine pity that so amlabiF anu
admirable a Joker as Job Hedges should be
sacrifice upon SO hopeless an altar as the sara
toga standpat nomination for governor
1t seems another pity that the banquet tan'es
Of tire metropolis sitottta compelled to'asiA
for the entire month of october one 81 our
standard humorlsts to furnish leader LOT the
forlorn campaign OF the Republican reac-
tionaries.
Mr. Hedges is a man of ability. Of Many EN-
gazing qualities and Of wide acQuantanee
with public affairs He Is worthy In his CUTS
and graces Of a better nomination from pet
ter party at better time But the atroelous
crime of being funny man has sent more thah
one promising politician to the rear,
Proctor Knott. of Kentucky convulsed the
American congress in that famous speech when
described Duluth as The Zenith city II the
ttnsalted Seas" and from that zenith " run
his own bright career steadily declined Wheh-
ever he rose after that the house prepared 10
.Iohn Allen. Of Mississippi, was perhaps the
funniest man the American congress ever Ehe".
Hut The public never took him seriously after
his maiden speech.
II is doubtful If American public life has
known a brighter man than Sunset coz but
for his reputation as hum"riAt ne nllesl nav
had his partys nomination Tor the pres %ehey-
Jokers and funny men have many TRENDS
and evoke no little admiration But the pusl-
ness of states and governments Is S2rious
business, and men preNaihhgIE serious "'7 eeN
orally called to admin ster It,
Mr. Hedges viii doubtless pay the penalty Of
his perennial Jokes ffe HAS ''fAe -
hosts of friends and a stainless RECORD
But even if Job Hedges were the most SER
Gus Of men the workout out for him IT sara
toga would be mposs bic
lie has been nominated lay the cons Mt Of
Ellhu Root and Boss Barnes, after Rarnes
lrad laid down the edict that ' no man with a
reform faint" should be named. he mas neetl
put In nomination by Martin SAKE OF Ne" Aorh'
t WITH an apology -ftr-tfae- factthai ht 9zls .
IN, .narist SAKE himself has been dehonilhatea
by Timothy Woodruff political Lailapoo-
loosa'--which must be something worse IMAM :,
! "MoIlycoddle" and weaker than MusWuniP,
/ Mr., Hedges is n,snnated Gpon platloi "
that broathes OF Barnes in every blast IT
nrovidss for makeshift direct nomination. II
, fayors the convention system which faNoIs the
hosses II is against the Massachusetts, naiiot.
I II compromises the workmens compehsat on
measure 1t opposes popular election or | nited
states senators 1t delays female suffrage and II
fayors preference rather than final choice OF
| State candidates by the people.
The Saratoga platform and nominees have
finally settled the never doubtful fate of the
! a matter OF fact a convention of any party in
which Root and Barnes sat dominating spirits
could not do better than eroak like the raven.
/ The way IS wide open for wisdom and
winning ticket by the Democrats. All thHt Is
! needed at Syracuse is a clear, progressive plat
+ form and clean, progressive nominee.
SuiZer, the able and treless consres slnan
I GIynu, the brilliant and loyal editor; Gerard
/ the popular gentleman and iudge-each clean
4 able and progressive would represent ability
] proved in public Office and character still an
assisted after years of public life.- New yorb
! American.