The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1906-06-28
The Political Outlook.

AlTehuy Tue u6mOcTaUlC conventions III
several sta,es have by formal vote de-
clared in favor of his nomination. He
is now on his way from trip around
the world, and it is purposed to give
him grand reception in this city.
The change of sentiment toward Mr..
Bryan has been remarkable. If he is
nominated for the third time fer presi-
dent it will be notable event in Amer
lean history. The only men who have
thmss far made three campaigns for the
presidency have been Jackson, Clay
and Cleveland. Mr. Bryan having de-
feated n 1906 and 1900 as radical can
didate on radica platform, stepped
aside insl0O4 for conservative demo-
crat, who was beaten worse Than BrN an
had been in the two preceding cam
paigns. The party is now prepared
evidently to turn to Bryan as its most
popular leader Therere can be no
doubt tpat Mr.. Bryan is o much strong
er and broader man than be was in
1896. Moreover there can be no doubt
that save on the question of free silver,
an issue which is now apparently as
dead as that of slavery, the country has
come around in most things to Mr..
Bryan's way of thinking. In other
words, the country has grown more
radical, as Mr.. Bryan has grown more
conservative.
With Mr.. Bryan as the democratic
candidate, who is there on the other
side to contest the presidency with
him? Elihu Root Is probably the most
intellectual man in public life today.
If intellect made a man president he
would be the successful candidate in
1908, but would Mr.. Root stand any
show against Mr.. Bryan in the present
state of the public mind on financial
and corporation questions? Mr. Taft
is going on the bench, which probably
settles his csreer for all time. Vice
President Fairbanks and Secretary
Shaw are conducting what may be
called preliminary campaigns for the
republican nomination. If conventions
were held today no doubt both would
receive large number of delegates.
OF the two, Mr.. Fairbanks is generally
regarded as in the lead, but it would
be we'll to keep watch of the movements
of Mr.. Shaw, who is very clever cam
paigner and a man of engaging per-
sonality Mr.. Shaw has the advantage
of having been long a member of the
Roosevelt administration, and yet as
having manifested leanings toward the
conservative side, and of being firm
supporter of the "stand-pat" policy, 40
that while western man, he would be
on any question relating to finance and
the tariff satisfactory to those who op-
posed change.
But would any of these men be strong
enough to meet and defeat Mr.. Bryan
in such contest as which 1908 prom
ises to be? Gould anyone who repre-
sented, or appeared to represent, the
financial interests, the high tariff and
the great corporations, be able to de-
feat Mr.. Bryan standing on a platform
of corporation and tariff reform?
There are three distinct lines of di-
visions in the public opinions of today.
One line represents the ultra conserva-
tives, the stand -patters, the men who
are opposed to any interference by the
government in the regulation of the
corporations. Another line represents
the ultra radicals, which includes the
socialists, who are bent upon destroy
ing the present order, in order to sub
stitute their scheme OF common owner
ship OF the processes of trade and
transportation. Between these two
extremes there is third line of public
opinion which holds fast to the present
political and ecsnomic order, and be-
lieves in preserving the corporation
and defending the right of property,
but is strongly in favor of.exposing and
reforming every wrong and injustice
in the conduct of business and putting
the corporations under adequate gov.
ernment control, as necessary for the
preservation of "square deal" OF
these three lines, the third is now the
one which makes the broadest marh
upon the open page of American his
tory. Those holding to this middle
course including both republicans ant
democrats. On the republican side
speaking broadly, Theodore Roosevelt
is the representative of this line of pol
icy, aud on the democratic side, Mr.
Bryan. Both the ultra conservative
and the radical socialist are equally an
tagonistic to Roosevelt and Bryan
OF the two, of course Bryan is th,
more radical, as being on the outside
what he would do in Office is anothe
thing.
In case Mr.. Bryan is nominated ma,
IL not annear evidant 10 the ranuhlical
leaders that, much as they might re
gret the circumstances, the facts woul'
point to Mr.. Roosevelt as the only per
son in the republican party st-onI
enough to meet Mr.. Bryan on ois owl
ground, and popular enough to defea
him at the polls? But could the re
pablican party, even if it reached th
conclusion and determined to act upo
it, be able to secure Mr.. Roosevelt