Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-10-23
democrats Accept the Challenge.

A great many Republicans are say
ing that the only man who can de-
feat Bryan for president in 1908 Is
Roosevelt. They say Roosevelt will
have to go back on his announce
ment that he would not run again, and
be forced into the race.
We Democrats accept the challenge.
And with our lances in rest, our
armor on and our steeds with nos
trils distended, caparisoned with the
truth Of Democracy and our warriors
booted and spurred we will meet the
enemy and take the chances.
But this is not matter Of SMILES
and figures of speech, but question
sf living, vital, and valid principles.
And 1t is not campaign Of bluff
and buster and of wading through
the rich. red blood Of mountain lions.
but Of principles rs old a. the gov
eminent itself.
80 we are getting tired OF this con-
slant threat that Teddy. the Terror.
Will run again II Bryan 10 nominated.
Let him run. We want him to run.
AL the popularity he has left is what
hs got by advocating Democracy and
Il the child Is SO popular why
wouldn't the father Of Democratic
ideas Of the times be still more pop
ular? Roosevelt has been advocating
railroad rate regulation. Bryan beat
him TO II because he has talked Il for
years. Roosevelt favors an income
tax. Bryan made his first campaign
With tho income tax an issue and it
carried and was made into law, but q
fudge Of the supreme court Of the
United States changed his mind and
tie measure was lost. Bryan attack
"a the court for doing that thing and
he was called an anarchist. Roose-
vslt is lauded as a patriot for utter
ing the things that brought upon Bry-
An the epithet Anarchist" We ac-
cspt the challenge. Roosevelt advo-
Gates trust-busting. Bryan had urged
II whom Roosevelt was police COM
missioner in New Yorw and when he
was throwing stones at the fellows
who are now his henchmen. Roose-
welt has urged no new measure that
has not been threshsd out In one
Democratic platform after another.
Bryan Is stronger today than ever
- his life before. He may not even
b nominated tor president, yet these
tAaaEs are true. It IL mot q matter
Ct sentiment or Pigment Of the imag.
lnatton. but the facts stand out be-
fore Us like the burning bush stood
before Moses. Bryan is the man Of
the people and when he goes to the
southland and the country goes wild
over him. we shall insist that the
Democrats accept the challenge and
Welcome the contest with Roosevelt
and Bryan entering the lists against
each other. If we go down II 10 in a
worthy cause and fighting for the peo-
Pies rights. because both parties
stand for them. The only difference
10 that Bryan saw them first.
And we do not discount Rooseyelt's
popularity, but we believe that the
people prefer the man who evolved
the reforms to the man who is simply
. follower. And you may talk about
Democratic incompetenoy till you are
black In the face, the voters will not
ferget that II 1t had not been for the
Democrats, there would never have
bes1 rate bill, although congress
was overwhelmingly Republican. The
Democrats stood for what they be-
hsvsd even though It Injured to the
beneht OF the Republican party. The
Democrats stood and fought and voted
Tor what they believed In and with
Bryan at their head they welcome tho
challenge thrown down by the Repub
hcan party and they pick up the
gauntlet and eagerly await the on
slaught
The Democrats accept the ohal-
lsags.
We see by the Republican nevspa.