The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-09-16
THREE MEN.
BY J. ". puROsE

In 1908, so near, and yet so far, one of three Americans will become the greatest man in the world until 1912 or longer by the rule It is the American idea else where known in the annals of time, to elevate ono man to the loftiest pinnacle of opportunity for the brief time nomi- hated in the bond, and for that brief time only. The Presidency of the United States is an office carrying more power than any other office known to eivics, in any age or any land, but the Presi- dency is a democratic institution, and in Its features of democracy perpetuates the principle upon which it rests and disseminates it through the entire sys- tem.F Then George Washington and Thomas Jefferson established C custom, denying more than two elections to a President, they fixed the democratic habit in their country upon firmer basis than even they wot of, wise men as they were.
 Either MT. Theodore Roosevelt, Mir William Jennings Bryan or MT. William Randolph Hearst will, no doubt, be elect ed President in I90S This is a man. 1t matters not which of the trio receives the honor There is no substantial diff ference in the qualifications of the per sons, apart from their respective policies in public affairs for the office
 MT. Hearst has proven in the rugged contests of private affairs that he pos sesses executive ability of a phenomenal merit MT. Bryan Is a teacher of eivies without a rival in the world; MT. Roose- welt came into power in crisis. inten- sifying as the years pass. It may be questioned If any man in America could have taken up conditions where Mr Roosevelt found them and left the way open to reform more effectually than he has done in the Presidency
 These three Americans are in the prime of life. They are all handsome men. full grown, vigorous men. They are all tenn perate men in habits They are married men and good citizens. They are pros porous men, each adding to his talent as the years go They are all men of liberal education It is compliment the American people bestow on them selves, when they reduce the chances of the Presidency to one of three men as worthy as these.
 Roosevelt, Bryan and Hearst are each or southern origin. The great political issues upon which the contest for choice between them hangs in 1908 is of southern origin. John H. Reagan of Texas is the author of the interstate railroad legsla- ton. The southern states are in the lead against gambling exchanges. The south ern states, most of all. are in the lead against the protective tariff; against per- petuation of the bonded debt of the United States and against all, and singu- lar. those influences of government which generate and preserve the private monopoly of trade.
 If the southern states can lift them selves up to the moral courage of letting Messrs. Roosevelt, Bryan and Hearst, all northern men, fighs out their battle on northern soil, dependent upon northern conditions and factors, the future of the United States will be greatly promoted. and the future of the south will be trt- umphantly established
 No one specific issue can control the result of the next election of President. In fact, no matter how the people may be deceived in the fancy The country needs man now as the country needed Washington in his term of office The money question is open; the tariff ques- ton Is wide open. Let us elect a strong man to the presidency and compel Con gress to go true. Democracy will then dominate for ages.
 Montgomery, September 15