Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-09-28
TALKING FOR PARKER.

Now that Mr.. Bryan has taken the
stump for Parker the Democratic
press Of this state appears to be elat'
ed and are making the claim that a
good many Republicans said he would
do nothing Of the kind, which is all
nonsense. Soon after the adjourn.
ment Of the national convention Mr.
Bryan said he would enter into the
campaign as soon as his Chautauquar
lecture engagements were filled and
after making such announcement nc
one expected he would do otherwise
than keep his word. Mr.. Bryan, SO far
as he is personally concerned, has
nothing to lose and everything to
gain. by doing what he thinks consist
ency will permit for the election OF
Parker. On many occasions Mr.. Bry
IN has used vigorous language in de
n%ouncing the apostacy OF the eastern
wing of the Democracy during the two
last campaigns when he was the
party leader and its candidate for the
presidency. After accusing the east
ern Democrats of ~disloyalty TO him
and the party, he could not afford to
initiate their example. By supporting
the ticket with his voice and vote
there can be no accusations lodged
against him after the election Is over
by those who have opposed him in
the past. Should Parker be over
whelmingly defeated Bryan stock
would rise quickly in the political mar,
ket as 1t could not be said that the
result was due to the radical views ad'
vocated by him. II would have to be
attributed to something else and
doubtless Mr.. Bryan is satisfied that
he has made clear what it Is.
While Mr.. Bryan does not like the
Democratic candidate for the presi
dency. his boosters. and but very little
of the platform he has found just
enough in the latter to gain a foothold
and will try to hang On and do the
best he can in the campaign. But he
is far-sighted enough TO see the out
come.
In his dire straits to find something
in the platform on which to stand
Mr.. Bryan has chosen imperialism
and "militarism." Both Of these were
issues in the last national campaign
almost to the exclusion of everything
else, the money question cutting but
little or no figure. Yet the American
people overwhelmingly sustained the
administration in what it had done
and was doing as regards our island
possessions and in recognizing and
making effective our small standing
army. While Mr.. Bryan had to find
something to talk about he will moi
be able to convince the people thai
their LIBERTIES are in any way threat
ened by the army now being main
tanned by this government. No bet
ter answer to Mr.. Bryan and other:
can be found than that in the mes
sage of President Roosevelt. In treat
ing of this question the president says;
1T is difficult to know If our oppo
nents are really sincere in their de
mand for the reduction OF the army
II insincere there is no need for com
ment, and IL sincere, what shall We
say in speaking to rational persons
of an appeal TO reduce an army of GO,
600 men, which is taking care OF the
interests of over SO,OOO,OO0 people
The army is now relatively smalleI
than Il was in the days OF Washing
ton, when on the peace establishment
there were $500 soldiers. while ther'
were a little less than 100000 OF pop
u%lation. smaller than it was in thu
peaceful days of Jefferson, when ther'
were 5,1OO soldiers to 5.3oO,OOo: Ther'
is now one soldier to every. l,4OO PEG
pie in this country-less than one
tenth of a per cent. we cannot o.
asked seriously 10 argue as 70 th'