The Pensacola journal., 1906-07-04
GREAT POPULARITY
OF WILLIAM J. BRYAN
New York Herald.

1t Is not safe to make predictions
two years In advance of the. event,
but present indications are that w. j.
Bryan will be the next democratic can
didate for the presidency.
His wonderful recent rise in popu'
lar favor Is making real as we'll as
would-be political leaders "sit up
The democrats of four states in formal
convention have named him as the
candidate, and other states through
their county conventions have simi.
larly indorsed him.
Extracts from "The Press of the
United States" in another column on
this page fairly reflect the spirit in
which his candidacy is being discussed
throughout the country. The chief
source of Mr.. Bryan's popularity is
found In the universal conviction that
he is not only able but sincere. When
he was nominated at Chicago ten
years ago on a platform calling for the
free coinage Of silver the conservative
democrats who repudiated this disas-
trous doctrine and voted against him
never questioned the sincerity of the
mans personal convictions.
He then split his party, and when,
four years later, he was again nomi-
mated, on platform declaring that
Imperialism, was the paramount issue
and reafirming the principles of the
Chicago platform, the schism was con-
tinued and Mr. Mckinley was, re-elect-
ed. Democrats who could not accept
Mr.. Bryan's views either refrain
ed from voting or cast their ballots
against him, nevertheless retained a
personal liking for him. This was in
creased by the cheerfulness with
which two years ago he yielded to the
contention that the party needed a
less radical candidate and acquiesced
in the safe and sane" nomination.
Through the working of natural
laws unlimited coinage of the white
metal has been relegated to the limbo
of dead, and gold democrats" are
shaking hands with the former free
silver" advocates and vieing with them
In indorsing Mr.. Bryan as the natural
and logical candidate of a reunited
democracy. In view of the extreme
radicalism attributed to Mr.. Bryan ten
years ago, 1t is curious to note the fire.
quency with which he is now referred
TO as a conservative radical and "a
conservative force" The fact is thai
many of the demands made in the
Old Bryan platforms with reference
to corporations and trusts have been
carried out by the republicans. and
the agitation for government owner.
ship, and operation of the RAILWAYS is
rendered almost as obsolete as the sill.
yer issue by the measures for thei,
regulation and the prevention of dis.
ordinations.
Thus Mr.. Bryan, while retaining the
sympathy and admiration of the radi.
cal democrats, now finds the conserva-
tives also flocking to his support. The
really paramount and living issue is
one that he has consistently advocat.
ed, namely, the revision Of the tariff
by which the people are taxed to build
up private fortunes. The republicans
have done nothing to reform this
abuse.
1t presents an issue on which ali
democrats are united-to say nothine
OF the fact that 1t appeals to an ever
increasing number .of thoughtful re-
publicans. Mr.. Bryan is suficientlv
progressive to satisfy the most radi.
cal OF democrats, and with the return
OF the conservatives we have the phe
nomenai rising tide of democratic sen.
timent In his favor which promises ia
make him for the third time the can.
didate of his party.
l. L.