Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-05-14
Where President Roosevelt Has Led
His Party.


Where President Roosevelt Has Led
His Party.
The natural political prominence of
William j. Bryan twice the nominee of
great party for the office of President Of
the United States and the evident mani-
iestations of toning down of his former
sradicalisms. arc attracting the attention
Of Republican organs generally. They
are discussing the probability of his third
nomination for President. in 1908, and
how that nomination s likely TO be re-
Rarded by the Democratic elements which
,opposed him in both of his Presidential
campaigns and made his election an im-
possibility.
There is little doubt that another nomi-
nation of Bryan for President by the
Democratic National Convention would
1eave dissension in the Democratic party,
but certainly not 60 the extent that proved
20 fatal in 1895 and 1900, For Bryan
Is ndeniably broadening in his views and
taking on conservatism with age and OBJ
servation. There is even room for the
belief that he has consigned his former
pet hobby of free silver coinage 10 the
grave Of Oblivion, while as 20 his other
hobbies railroad legislation and the
dsciplning Of courts that do not rule as
certain hre-eating interests would have
them rule-he has been completely sup
planted in national leadership by the
President Of tho United States, Theo-
dore Roosevelt
Il will therefore be seen that, even
without the slightest change Of heart or
modification Of previous convictions,
Mr. Bryan as the Democratic candidate
for President Of the United States would
not be handicapped In the race for popu-
lar favor as he was in 1896 and 1900.
For free silver coinage is dead. and his
other disturbing Populistic theories
which were so potent in deprving him
of that popular confidence without which
no man can be elected 10 the Presidency.
have been absorbed by the Republican
party, and are now to be taken rs the
principles Of that party, which the Demo-
cratic party may either indorse or re-
pudiate in future national campaigns.
1t is really surprising to note how far
the Republican party has been COM
mitted to Populism by the course Of the
present administration at Washington.
President Roosevelt's course since he
became President in his own right, says
the Boston Herald "has done a great
deal to familiarize the people with radi-
calism, and a goodly number even Of the
Republicans apparently like il. He
adopted and has led his party to support
the policy of rate regulation proposed by
Gen. 3. +. Butler in 1854, indored by
Gen. Weaver in 1892 and proclaimed
by the Democrats in 1904. He has sug.
gested a progressive tax on all fortune.
above a certain amount. He has criti
cised a Federal judge more severely
than the Democrats criticised the Su
preme Court in 1896 He is prosecuting
OF threatening the Trusts as rigorousl,
as ever Mr.. Bryan promised TO do. H
suggests that the national government
may 90 into the coal and oil busines
on the mineral lands which il still owns
He urges that the Federal government
be given supervision Of all corporation
doing an interstate business. lie ever
favors free alcohol as a means Of fghtin
the Standard Oil monopoly
Could William J. Bryan have ron
further, even in his palmiest days Of radi
calism With the issue of free silv,
coinage eliminated, as it has been, absc
lutely, by the logic Of events, the answe
must be emphatioally in the negative.
In the Bryan campaigns the success {
the Democratic party was resisted be
cause the party, in the personality Of it
candidate, stood committed TO the 60,
eminent regulation Of railroads. tn
business interests Of the country coul
not stand for that Now We find Pres
dent Roosevelt making Il an insisten
pol icy Of his administration
In the Bryan campaign Democrat
criticism Of the courts for decisions whic
did not conform 10 Populistic ideas Ncr
denounced as violent attacks upon IN
courts, the "very foundations Of on
structure Of Republican government.
Now we find President Roosevelt publicl
denouncing in the most bitter terms.
Federal judge in Chicago for the deliver
OF an opinion in a case where the nd
ministration was the prosecutor. whic
did not meet the approval OF the admir-
EtIation. And yet, in the opinion {