The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-20
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1908.
THE MAN WE CAN ELECT.

The papers are copying and comment- fpg on a recent statement made by ex- Senator Martin, of Kansas, who was one of the leading Populists of the Northwest. He sees that Populism is out of the run ming, and gives it as his opinion that while Cleveland is not exactly the article of Democracy that I would pick out for President, he is better than Roose- welt and would cause this country less trouble. More than that, we could elect Cleveland, and he is the only man we could elect. Of course, he is not with the Western Democrats on the money question, but really that is settled issue for the present, and all the Bryans and free silver parties on earth could not bring it to the front again"
 It is of course perfectly natural that Cleveland is not "the sort of Democrat" to please a man who still doubtless be- Meves in all the essential principles of Populism, but Mir. Martin likes Roosevelt much less than he likes Cleveland. and he prefers gold standard Democrats to Re- publicans. For these reasons he wants to support a Democrat who can win and he sees, as all close observers are be- ginning to see, that in Cleveland we have a winner. Commenting on his views The Chattanooga Times says:
 The notion has become so general that MT. Cleveland's conservatism, business sagacity and experience and his sound and sober judgment on all questions at- fecting our national life are well nigh the sole reliance against the demoraliza- ton created almost everywhere by MT. Roosevelt's impetuosity and lack of bal ance, that 1t would seem singular folly if the leaders of Democracy should fail to seize the opportunity for utilizing them to secure an immense popular vic tory next year. The fear of Cleveland has had more to do with the Republican talk about Senator Hanna than any other agency. MT. Hanna will not be nominated; what Democracy ought to do In that emergency, 1t would seem, is clear.
 We are not prepared to say, in the positive language of The Times, that "Hanna will not be nominated" for such a statement may turn out to be prema- ture. Events are transpiring and DOT tending which may either undo Roosevelt entirely or may make him the strongest man in his Party, perhaps the strongest of any Party. The courSN of the admin istration In connection with Panama and the canal enterprise may meet with such general approval and support that Roose- welt will be the only man thought of by the Republicans, and that approval may be so strong that no man can defeat him at the polls. On the other hand the result may cause such general repudia- ton of Roosevelt and his administration that his nomination and election will be impossible. Public opinion on the 18th milan question is in a decidedly chaotic condition just now, and no one can tell the outcome.
 However that may be, we cordially agree with The Times in its estimate of Mir. Cleveland. He is. in everything of SciaI, such a complete antithesis of Roose- welt that all the conservative elements of all parties are coming to regard him as the only hope the country has of rescue from the blundeTer now occupying the Presidential seat. On more than one occasion Mir. Cleveland has given to the world evidences of sagacity, conservat- ism, and firm and honest statesmahs hip which mark him as the kind of man now needed at the helm. The malice and spite of his enemies need not worry him pr his friends. The men who make Presl- dents are looking to him as the one man who may save the Party and the coun- try from the evil consequences of reck. less legislation and impetuous blundering It is a decidedly encouraging prospect