The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-12-02
TKE KIMBALL GRAPHIC
cLATE TlNAN
Official Paper Of the City and Count,
pEMocRAIlc Posi- MoRIEM

DEMOCRATIC posi- MORTEM
1t is nov up the KlMnALL GRAPHIC,
which has always stood for safety
and sanity" to explain the recent
national election. Guess Clate will
have to TESS up that Bryan wasn't
such Il poor vote getter after all
Pukwana Press.
We had already laid out a certain
amount Of space this week on the sub
ject and it is we'll enough to use the
foregoing extract from the Press to
introduce it. We thought it time
enough after everybody else had ''shot
his wad."
Bryan's power as a vote getter could
be better determined if it were posi-
bic to estimate what ne could have
done had he been the nominee in
place of Parker. That he would have
polled a heavier vote we do not believe
and We don't think his most ardent
admirer thinks Sc.
That the whirlwind of passion for
the policies which Bryan stood for in
1896 and subsequently, has cooled Won
derfully goes without saying; and he
reads the history of current events to
little purpose who does not realize
that all of democracy, in a party sense,
has become lukewarm in consequence.
The result of the election is due
more to Roosevelt's greater popularity
with the people oyer Mckinley than
Parker's inferiority to Bryan as Il AN
didate with the Democratic party.
i Any analysis of the vote in the east
ern states shows this, where it cannot
be said that a man of Bryan'S policies
possesses greater strength than IA Park
Ell.
The radical move of the party In
1896 alienated thousands of the best
men in the ranks, Democrats who had
never known what it was to vote
other than the straight ticket
and when the action was repeat
ed with emphasis four years latter
and thoroughly rubbed in between
times, there was a disposition to re
main with the newly found associa
lions. This was intensified whel
Roosevelt came to the front, between
whom and Parker there could be bu'
little choice on the part of this ele
ment of the party.
But what is playing whaleY will
national, as we'll as state and county
elections, these times is the indepen
dent voter. Here is the factor tina
is Kidding the prearranged plans 0
the politicians, and to the Press ant
all others we commend it for the tru'
explanation of Roosevelt's sigma
triumph ove Parker.
1t was the independent vote tina
swept Mckinley into power and s.
thoroughly rebuked Organism. 1t WA
the independent voter that refuse,
to take up the uncertain and yacilat
ing policies of a divided Democracy il
place of the tried and known policie
of Roosevelt.
1t has frequently been the complain
of the Byan wing OF the Democrat
party that it was the gold bugs tina
defeated their champion. In turn til
gold bugs might retaliate and charg
the defeat of Parker to the BrYanites
1t is true in neither case. The balanc
of power is held by the %independen
voter-however difficult it may be t
put your finger upon him in any con
muEity. He is there, and in TIL
silence and concealmcnt of the cleo
tion booth does the work which make
and unmakeS men and their policies.
What is needed hy the Democrat
party is not reorganization but pol
cies and issues which will comman
the independent vote. 1t was til
, so-called muEwumps or independer
voters who placed Cleveland in til
White House and gave the whole az
ministrative force of the governmer
to the Democrats for the hrst tim
; since the war. When the party mi
took the needs Of the country and al
piled Is to l as a specific tins elcmen
deserted the party like rats from