Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-16
The merciaI Travellers.

"A great zeal mas Deen printed In the way
of camp!gn literature in regard to the in
fluence the travelling or commercial man
will have in this approaching campaign.
Mr.. Bryan speaks of them as a great army
securing the country in his interest: talk
ing democratic doctrine to every customer
and in every country cross-road. He is
counting without his host. In the first
pace the travelling man. a rule. does
not talk politics; his customers are Of
varying political creedS, and one of his
most important functions in duty to his en-
pioyer Is to steer clear Of engendering
prejudice or controversy. Apart from their
work. however. the intelligent travelling
man is willing to tell you what he thinks OF
the political situation. In the course of the
past two weeks your correspondent in
travelling through eight states in the mid
die west, has interviewed over 100 COM
mercial drummers in good standing in al
most every imaginable line of trade. and
representing every section of the United
States.
Among these 100 travelling men there
were not over five ardent supporters of
Bryan, and, perhaps, ten more who gave
MIN mlid Endorsement; all of them were
opposed to the trust. inasmuch as it con-
centrated the business Of the country and
deprived great many in their calling of
pr otitablc employment. A great many of
these men We're democrats, but their argu-
ment is not that of MIR. Bryan. They saw
emphatically that they are in favor of
some control of the trusts which would
ton. but they say with equal emphasis that
Mr.. Bryan offers TO them no remedy except
the free coinage of silver. which their ex-
perience in business leads them TO believe
futile measure and one which would de-
Stroy far more business than 1t would regu-
late create. The legitimate travelling
mems organizations are not political in any
sense of the word, and politics is barred
from discussion in their gatherings The
commercial travellers organizations which
have entered the political field on behalf
of Mr.. Bryan are organized by politicians
either in out of the business and are
Joined simply by those members of the
fraternity who desire to express their po-
ltical affiliations. The commercial men
are very bitter in regard to the hardships
which have come to their calling through
the great commercial combinat ions of The
past few years, but for being a great
PROSECUTING army for the Bryan side Of the
political combat. this they Indignantly deny
If Mr.. Bryan stands upon the Sioux Falls
PLATFORM his remedy for trusts is govern
ment ownership OF money. transports ton
and means of intelligence, and he will find
little support for these among the men
closely identified with the active CONNER
cial life of the country If these are not
Mr. Bryan's remedies. he has none, and
under present conditions the iconOclaSt is
not a popular political hero.
Feeling Bryan Will Not BE Elected.
Throughout the west there is a feeling
| even in the strongly democratic states that
| Mr.. Bryan will not be elected This feeling
| is not confined to republicans. but in pri-
| vate conversation many of the democratic
| leaders express the belief. There is
| always that reservation, however in the
statement that there is no telling that per-
haps. after ALL the cumulative effect of the
attacks upon the present administration
and the return of the more conservative
democrats to the regular party organiZa-
| ton may result in a democratic victory in
November; hence on the democratic side
of the fence there should be relaxation
| of effort or hope until the vote is counted.
| The results of democratic victory in the
| matter of spoilS which would be available
would be tremendous and extend into every
hamlet in every state and territory. and
| this will be found strong factor in hold
| ing together the local democratic political
| organization.
TOxne's Nomination n Mistake.
| Since the Sioux Falls convention has ad-
| tourned the conviction is growing upon the
| democrats that the nomination of Charles
A. Towne was a mistake. 1t was believed
| by many of the delegates at that conven-
] ton VINO voted for MI. Towne's nomination