The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-04-30
GIVING UP THE FIGHT OF 1904

y (FrOm the st. Louis Globe-DemOcrat.)
It is clear that not a single sane
Democrat in the United States looks
for victory for his party in 1904
Ex-Boss Croker of Tammany undoubl-
eddy voices the Judgment of every 9th
er Democrat Of sense in saying that
the Democrats are not expecting vic
tory this year, and that all they can
do now is to work for 1908. Bryan
sees the drift against his party very
plainly. as is shown by his assault on
Parker and his platform, and on Hill
and the rest of the persons who are
responsible for the man and the out
giving. His Chicago speech of last
Saturday night shows that he not only
does not expect victory for his side
this year, but he does not desire it.
There is not a Democratic leader any
where in the country who has any
hope of the result in 1904. The tenn
per displayed by Williams of MISSISSIPPI
pi, Cochran of New York, and other
spokesman OF the Democracy in Con-
gress displays an irritability and an
anger at the anti-Democratic con
ditions which are significant.
There is a chorus of exclamation
from the Cleveland and Hill sections
of the Democratic party that Bryan
means to bolt This is the explana-
ton given by Bryans Democratic en-
emies and his attack on the Cleve-
land aspirant for the nomination. 1t
is natural assumption, of course.
Bryan went to Chicago in cold blood.
He hired a hall with his own money:
he introduced himself and ran the
whole affair \ large number of invi-
tations We're issued by him to edu-
Gators. editors. business men and 9TH
. er9 conspicuous citizens Of the city.
He meant to give his meeting as much
prominence as possible. and he sue
ceeded. At the outset in his address
he pointed out that the affair was I'M
usual but he justified himself by the
gravity of the situation for the Dem
Ocratic party. He has a newspaper.
in which he could have printed this
attack on Parker, Hill, Cleveland and
the things for which they stand, but
he thought that by hiring a hall in
a large city and delivering this in
dictment orally it would have more eff
feet. Undoubtedly he was correct in
this sort in the Commoner would be
seen by only few persons. and would
attract very little attention. his dem
onstration in Chicago was published
in all the daily papers of the country
and was read by millions of people.
Nevertheless the Republican party
will not be lul1ed into any undue sense
of security by the dependency Of its
enemies. The Bryan bolt. if it takes
place, will not cause any relaxation
on the part of the Republican mana
gers to get out a heavy vote on cleo
ton day. They will act on the pre-
sumption throughout the canvass that
the contest is going to be close, and
they will see to it that their side of
the situation is presented to the voters
OF the country. An active canvass
Will be made by them. They have the
issues and they Will have the ticket
which will appeal to the support of
men Of education and character, and
these will be utilized to the fullest
possible extent for the benefit of the
party. Whether the Democrats ex-
pect to win in 1908 or not. they are
sure to be beaten badly in 1904 All
the indications are against them. Not
the slightest apprehension as to the
result is felt in business circles any
where. If there We're any symptoms
OF Democratic victory, enterprise
would halt and a general cessation
of industry would take place. Moth
ing of this sort is visible. Nothing of
the sort is expected anybody. Still
the Republicans will act as if there
were a chance that the Democrats
would make a strong canvass. The
Republican party will deal with the
issues of 1904 in 1904, and will at
tend to the situation of 1908 when that
comes to hand.