The Washington herald., 1913-09-19
Differences IN
new DEMOCRACY
James Schermerhorn, Former
Capital Writer, Comments
on Present Conditions.
WILSON'S HOST LOYAL
Publisher of Detroit Times Tells of
Troubles of Jeffersonian
Party in 1896.
WILSON'S HOST LOYAL

James Schermerhorn, publisher of
the Detroit Times and a former popu-
lar Washington correspondent, a keen
observer of the trend of the times,
after visiting the House yesterday aft
ernoon, said TO The Herald:
The demonstration of Democratic
unity afforded by the final vote on the
currency bill in the House Thursday
afternoon, and the signs of harmony
and high purpose that have attended
the administrations inaugural year,
offer an instructive and striking con-
trast to the divisions and dissensions
that beclouded the last year of the last
Democratic administration, seventeen
years ago.
u was one OF the Washington cor
respondents who accompanied a spe-
cial trainIoad Of Democrats who went
down 10 Charlottesville, Va, to cele-
brate Jefferson's birthday, in April,
1896. A great gathering of Virginians
awaited the coming of the party lead
ers on the heights o: Monticello. 1t
was planned TO make it a rally day
preliminary to the Presidential cam
paign-an occasion of party concord
and inspirs ton at Democratic shrine
symbol in Fire.
But ii developed into wrangIe at
the tomb. The late eX-GOv. Russell OF
Massachusetts invoked the memory of
Jefferson in behalf of sound. money.
The late Senator Daniels was sure that
the author of the Declaration of In
dependence, could he walk again un-
der the acacias and liudens of MOnti-
cello would he for free silver at
Is to !.
While the speaking was going on, at
tentiOn was drawn from the discoTdant
oratory to a burning building down in
the valley. 1t was the home OF one Of
the Democratic celebrators, which was
soon reduced to ashes. Il turned out to
be a symbol of the dissolution of the
house OF Democracy, divided against it
self.
The two orators appeared on the plat
form OF the national convention at Chi
Cago a few months later. espOusing the
same opposing monetary policies. Daniels
doctrine prevailed; Russell and his
cause so manfully presented. were re-
iected, and he went back to his Bay
State home to die. In November the
Democracy received its notice of what
proved to bet a dismissal for sixteen
years
''AIarse Henry's" Prophecy.
Intensity of adherence and antagon-
ism toward President Cleveland added
bitterness and acrimony to the Demo-
celebration at Monticello Col Henry
Watterson paid his respects to the al
legged third-term movement in an inter-
view 1 had with him in Detroit.
If by any concatenatiOn of miracles.
he declared. Mr.. Cleveland should be
nominated for third term he would
not carry n single civic precinct in the |
United States
This prophecy, fairly reflective Of how |
the anti-Clcveland faction felt about the
matter, was not put TO the test.
But another prophecy that the always !
picturesque Kentuckian indulged in at
that time, in answer TO the question as
TO whether he would take the nominal |
ton himself has taken the colonel out
of the seventh son of a seventh son
class.
" Not in my lifetime or in yours he |
said, will the country accept for its
chief officer any man born south of
Mason and DiXon's line
SucceSS of Wilson.
Inspiring and directing the present
Democratic Immigration. as if proceeds |
to fulfill the program it presented to
the people last fall, is a native of Vir- !
ginia whose summons to serve the peo-
pie progressively has shattered Col Wat !
terson's standing as a seer.
And the President Is captain or an |
undivided host il seems to me, because
he and they know whom they have been
called to serve. This is the conviction
that obtains in Michigan and in other
sections that 1 have visited recently, and
is based upon Mr.. Wilson's frank and
farsighted treatment of the Mexican
problem and his purpose through the
tariff and currency measures to let the
blessings OF government get down
through to average folk"