Newspaper Page Text
8
The army of steel trust officials and em
ployes in Alabama demonstrated in the primary in
that State the other day that they. too. are alarmed
about Mr. Bryan’s weakness before the people, and
are working. tooth and nail, for Mr. Johnson s nom
ination. Advices to the same effect come from Penn
sylvania, where the multi-millionaire oil magnate,
James M. Guffey, has long been the Democratic
“shrewd leader.” Only there numerous other trusts
join in with the steel trust and Mr. Gulley in the
task of selecting a candidate “who can win.’ name
ly, Johnson.
The Democratic “leaders" in the convention of
1904 framed a pretty good platform. Then they
notified certain special interests that not a word ol
it was meant, save in a Pickwickian sennse, through
TO DR. LEN G. BROUGHTON-GREETING.
The monotony of Georgia's gubernatorial cam
paign was relieved on Sunday last by an item from
Atlanta to the effect that Dr. Len G. Broughton,
who holds undisputed title to the drum-major’s
baton at the head of the band of the vaudeville
class of preachers in this State, has announced his
intention to support Gov. Hoke Smith for re-elec
tion.
This bit of information seems to have attracted
public interest to an extent quite out of proportion
with its value.
Dr. Broughton had until a few days ago occupied
a position “on the fence'’ so far as the public knew
or cared, and the campaign managers for the re
spective candidates devoutly hoped he would stay !
there until after June 4. Figuratively, arms were
outstretched on either side of the political fence,
but they were for pushing purposes rather than ex
tended in cordial welcome.
It would appear that Gov. Smith’s brawny men
were caught momentarily off their guard and awoke
to find that the Rev. Broughton had slid, or been
shoved over on their side.
The natural result of even a t rival advantage
gained in the last lap of a political contest is to ex
cite jubilation in one quarter and to spread gloom |
in the other. This is true of Dr. Broughton’s climb
downward from his perch on to the Smith redoubt.
It is not surprising that the notes of exultation issue
from the Brown contingent while constei nation pre
vails about the Hoke Smith headquarters.
As long as the uncertainty lasted, the campaign
directors of the present Georgia contest were placed
in a position by Dr. Broughton similar to the predic
ament Chairmen Mark Hanna and James K. Jones
THE REASON
the nomination of Parker for President and Henry
G. Davis of West Virginia for Vice-President.
The Democratic voters might have overlooked
tin* burlesque of Parker but for the travesty of
Davis. Davis, the octogenarian multi-millionaire
coal and iron magnate; father-in-law and close bus
iness associate of Stephen B. Elkins, the Republican
“shrewd leader;” Davis, the Democrat in name, yet
a high protectionist and monopolist; the man who
inculcated in the mind of Stephen B. Elkins the very
principles which made the latter a giant figure in
national Republican politics.
The Republicans are afraid Mr. Taft cannot beat
Mr. Bryan. The Democratic “shrewd leaders” ap
peal* to agree that the Republican alarm is well
grounded.
found themselves confronting in the presidential
campaign of 1896 with respect to Herr Most, the
Anarchists’ high priest. Neither doubted the blight
ing influence which Most’s endorsement would visit
upon his choice for President, and each hoped the
dose would be administered to the other side. He
finally had to be credited to Mr. McKinley, but the
Republicans controlled practically the entire press
in the debatable states and were able to prevent the
wide circulation in that territory of Herr Most’s an
nouncement of his preference. Hanna proved him
self a masterful campaign manager and the Hoke
Smith contingent may profit by his example in the
treatment of undesirable recruits.
It is not meant, of course, to characterize Dr.
Broughton as an Anarchist. The Anarchist holds to
the idea that there is and can be no good govern
ment and he steers clear of publicity and keeps a
reticent tongue. Dr. Broughton concurs in that
there IS no good government, but he believes such
an institution possible, provided it were Broughton
created and Broughton-directed and no one else had
anything to do with it. and he is an enthusiastic ad
vocate of illimitable speech —Broughton speech
free, unlicensed, unrestrained, inflammatory and de
structive of private, as well as public character, with
or without justification. Furthermore, he courts
publicity through the medium of the press, and to
obtain this boon, Dr. Broughton stands ready at all
times to shatter at once the best traditions of the
pulpit and the ethics of the Golden Rule. Facts,
as a basis for attack, Dr. Broughton considers non
essential.
Dr. Broughton, himself an imitator, in turn has
imitators, but, fortunately for Christianity, they are