Arizona republican., 1903-08-18
Francis Marion CockreIl

At last the Hon. William J. Bryan has named his candidate for the demo- cratic nomination of next year. His man is Francis Marion Cockrell. Unit ed States senator from Missouri. There being, apparently. such a certainty that Mr. Roosevelt will be nominated by the republicans, all the speculation at present is concerning the democratic nominee, and the fact that MT. Bryan has definitely settled upon a choice is the most important political develop ment of the summer. His decision is significant because he will be the most influential factor in the national demo- cratic convention, if, indeed, he does | not control. Of course. the Nebraska statesman reserves the right to change his mind. but if he holds to his present views Senator Cockrell will easily be. at the outset. one Of the strongest can didates before the convention. and it is very possible that he may be nomin- ated
 Upon the whole. MT. Bryan has not
 
 choice upon Senator Cockrel. He meets in advance. and brushes aside. the two objections likely to be most potent against the nomination of the Missouri senator-namely. age and service in the confederate army. He argues that while Senator Cockrell is sixty-nine years old, he is still strong physically and entirely available aS presidential timber, and he urges that service on the side of the confederacy is no longer a bar between ambition and the presi- dency, and in both of these contentious he is measurably right. Senator Cock ren promises to be vigorous mentally and physically fer many years to come. and unquestionably there is but little disposition in the country today to diminish a mans honors because he happened to be an honest rebel in the civil war
 Moreover, MT. Bryan might have ar gued that Senator CockreII was not under the Jeff Davis government, it is true. but he surrendered to the union forces at an early opportunity. and in Missouri for many years after the close of the war there was much unfeeling joking about the readiness with which Colonel Cockrell surrendered his forces ''in order as he expressed it, ito avoid the effusicn of blood" That surrender threw a bright side-light on Cockrells character. While he is "sot' to a de- gree of rare Missouri stubbornness, and on a matter of principle would die be- fore he would yield his judgment. he is so kindly of heart that he would not hurt a fly. and war was never to his liking. He could not bear to see his old friends and neighbors kill each other.
 Personally, Ccckrell is the best liked man on the democratic side of the sen ate. Republicans without exception esteem him greatly. His homely, back woods way. his utter contempt for all frills. his frankly acknowledged pow erty and his refusal to compete with other senators in pompous dignity and display, and his simple honesty in all things, combined with a really strong intellect and an individuality all his own have set him apart from other senators and far above many of them. Such is the quality of his integrity that when he states on the floor of the sen ate that any item in an appropriation bill is properly there, his assurance is accepted without question. He enjoys, tion in this respect
 There is no reason why Senator Cock relI should not be wholly acceptable to all the elements and factions of his party. He was rampant fer free silver. it is true, and he in fact made the strongest and most logical speech on behalf of the silver heresy in the great debates which preceded the campaign of 1s96-a speech which brought forth from Senator Hoar the highly com plimentary corpment, Almost am 1 persuaded" But notwithstanding his wandering after the false gods of un- sound money, Senator Cockrell kept himself free from all taint of populism, socialism, and all the other 'isms'' that accented the Bryan movement. So that. while supporting Bryan most heartily, the Missouri senator never lost the respect and admira tion of the gold democrats.
 But this. It must be remembered merely quclihss Geretcr Ccckren in er excellent manner from tlls democratic standpoint. Nc progressive republican would consider him an Ideal candidate fer the presidency. He is bourhcr O. the bourboas. He is out of sym Dathy with all thi poEcies which have en-