Reformers not only take encouragement from Parker’s loss of votes, but in the victories won by Douglas, La Follette and Folk.
Widely separated as were the States of Massachusetts, Wisconsin and Missouri the fact that the independent voter broke party lines in each of these States to support a genuine reformer is the most significant fact among the election results.
No one can misunderstand it. The people want honest leaders. The people will follow without flinching. Party names count for nothing. Give the people a MAN: fearless, honest, aggressive, standing for something, and not afraid to fight for it: the people will follow him to the death.
We too often say, “The people are fickle; they won’t stand by their own leaders!” Ah, friend! Think how often the people have been fooled. See how many men they have put into office to accomplish reforms. See how often these leaders have forgotten their pledges as soon as they began to draw salaries, free passes and perquisites!
The people have been betrayed so often that they are discouraged. But don’t you doubt this, brother: Another reform wave is coming, and woe unto those leaders who seek to check it!
Here is the condition of the Democratic Party:
For four years it is bound to the St. Louis platform, plus Parker’s gold telegram, plus Parker’s message to Roosevelt “heartily” congratulating him upon his election.
For four years Belmont, McCarren, Meyer, Dave Hill, Gorman & Co. have absolute control of the party machinery.