New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-12
BRYAES PLEA FOR ROOSEVELT.


Mr.. Bryan confesses that President Roosevelt
is the paramount issue in the coming campaign.
Nothing could more plainly indicate a realiza-
ton of the futiIity of the Democratic attempt
to read him out OF the contest than Mr.. Bryans
efforts TO conjure with the name of the Presi-
dent and his call for the election Of Democrats
in the Presidents interest. Efrrontery is almost
eQualled by pathos In his declaration:
The best way to stand by the President is TO
elect Democrats to Congress and the Senate, for
the Democrats have stood by him better than
the Republicans upon the most important ques-
tions.
With all due respect TO Mr.. Bryan. the Presi-
dent is probably the best Judge Of his support
ers, and, until the President indicates lack Of
sympathy with Republican candidates and a
desire for such support as Mr.. Bryan beseeches
the people to give him through the election Of
Democrats TO Congress, Mr.. Bryan's advice
cannot be considered more pertinent than 1t
is disinterested. 1t is true that some Democrats
in Congress supported the Presidents policies.
but they did not support him. and some Of them,
when they found that the support was not work
Ing TO their political advantage and could not
be capitalized for Democratic partisan pur-
poses turned against him in the bitterest spirit.
When they stood by him it was because his
measures were so popular that they felt it
would be suicidal TO be counted against them.
If the Democrats would promise and could
make the public believe that Democratic vic
tories in important states and the choice of a
Democratic House of Representatives would be
heralded by them and generally regarded as
striking votes of confidence in the President,
then Mr.. Bryan's argument might have some
weight. Everybody knows, however, that such
a result of the election would have an exactly
contrary Interpretation in the Democratic press.
II would raise Bryan, or perhaps Hearst, stock
and depress Roosevelt stock. 1t would hearten
Democrats with the hope of winning the Presi-
dency and would encourage them, not TO CO.
operate with President Roosevelt for the next
two years 10 make a success of even those poll
cies which they profess 10 support, but to try
TO thwart him and make his administration a
failure and then point to the need of a change
1t is one thing for a minority TO join the ma
jority in support of measures OF obvious popu-
Iarity and quite another thing for a majority TO
act afirmatively in order 10 make a success of
an enemy's administration. Even such OF Presi-
dent ROosevelt's policies as the Democrats ap-
prove would be postponed by the next House, If
Democratic. on the pretext of Republican Sen
ate, or some other excuse in the hope Of carry
ing them out under Democratic President
Mr. Bryans plan for an Endorsement of Presi-
dent Roosevelt by voting against him Is too
transparent TO delude anybody. IL simply means
that the Democrats know a national campaign
this year in opposition to the Republicans to be
utterly futile, that the local issues in various
states do not promise success IN an attempt TO
defeat a national policy with which the Presi-
dents name is identified and in whose success
he is so intensely interested. So the only Demo-
cratic hope is to disguise itself as Rooseveltism
What humilating plea for the head Of great
opposition to make. that it is not really an oppo-
stiOn after all! And how certainly futile!