Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-10-29
CLEVELAND AND WILSON.
simiIarities Noted Between Their Can
didaeies and Prospects.

Simiiarities Noted Between Their Can.
didaeies and Prospects.
In way and to a degree, history ID
repeating itself. 1912 is suggesting
1892.
Twenty years ago the Democratic
party, though as an organization In
the minority, swept the country as the
principal and guiding factor Of COM
bination. The Republicans were di-
vided, and many of them sulking. The
sulking faction put up no candidate
but those composing 1t either went
fishing on election day, or to the polls
and voted the Democratic ticket. AS
a result, Mr.. Cleveland had a walk
over.
With Office came the responsibilities
Of Office, and the weaknesses Of the
successful combination at once disclos-
ed themselves.
Two issues had dominated the cam
paign-the tariff and the silver ques-
tion. Both in effect, had been strad-
died by the combination. The platform
had promised tariff for revenue only,
while Mr.. Cleveland had softened the
promise in his letter accepting his
nomination. The pronouncement OF
the platform as to money had leaned to
gold, while the silver men, In we'll au-
thorized stump utterances, had been
assured that Mr.. Cleveland, II elected,
would do the fair thing by silver"
Immediately after election day con-
tention arose within the ranks of
the winning combination as to whether
the tariff or the silver question should
be put first on the legislative pro-
gramme. The free traders insisted on
the tariff. The New York bankers, who
had financed the campaign, insisted on
an early attack on the purchasing
clause Of the so-called Sherman silver
act. 1t was pull Dick, pull devil, for
months.
Mr.. Cleveland wabbled. For particu-
lars read Henry Wizards memoirs. At
last, however, the bankers triumphed
and the attack on silver was put ahead
Of the tariff. At once the combination
went to pieces, pandemonium set up In
congress, continued through the tariff
fight, and to the end Of Mr.. Cleveland's
term. Never leader or combination re-
tired from power more completely dis
credited by the record.
The Democratic party is still the
minority party, but is again the prin-
cipal factor in what today promises to
be winning combination. Many men
until now Republicans, have organized
a new party, while others, fearing the
strength of the apostate organization,
will vote for Wilson in order to help
defeat 1t.
Two issues are dominating the cam
paign-the tariff and the trusts-and
the combination is straddling both. The
Baltimore platform promises a tariff
for revenue only, while Mr.. Wilson in
his speeches is qualifying the promise
most distinctly. The Baltimore plat
form declares against the trusts, but
trust magnates like Thomas F. Ryan,
and political organizations like Tam
many Hall, under the thumbs Of trusts,
are prominent supporters Of Mr.. Will
son. Are they privately assured that
Mr.. Wilson will do the fair thing by
the trusts?"
An extra session Of congress In the
spring is generally expected. VIII Mr..
Wilson call one? And. II so, will he
put the tariff before the trusts, or
t'other way? Both at once would be
too much. for congress to deal with
Washington Star.