Contemptible Politics

     Chairman Dougherty of the Ohio Democratic State Committee, with commendable courtesy, sent a communication to Chairman Dick of the Republican State Committee proposing that, in view of the president’s assassination and as a mark of personal respect for him, political speaking in Ohio be suspended during the present campaign. Mr. Dick promptly refused, and if he had stopped there no serious criticism could have been made against his action, but in the course of his reply he resorted to as contemptible a piece of politics as has been practiced for a long time. He said:

     “If it seems best to your committee to withdraw from antagonizing those principles, and to cease from further advocacy of political doctrines which the President has always believed to be perilous to the prosperity of the entire country, we shall be very glad indeed to be advised to that effect, and to have your co-operation hereafter in the maintenance of more wholesome public politics.”

     It is a small man who would attempt to turn a great national sorrow into a little partizan [sic] advantage. The assault upon the president, dastardly as it was, does not change the character of public questions. Imperialism is just as unAmerican [sic] as it was before and the trusts just as menacing to every legitimate industry. The volume of money has not been increased by the calamity which has befallen the country, nor has the production of gold or the balance of trade been augmented by it. State issues have been as little affected as national ones. The necessity for reform in taxation and for the better control of corporations is just as imperative as it would have been had no anarchist attacked the president. The people must vote on these questions.
     The republican party must be in a desperate condition in Ohio if it is compelled to shield itself behind the universal sympathy felt for the late president and his widow. Mr. Dougherty acted wisely in making the offer which he did, but Mr. Dick has not raised himself in public esteem by his reply.