The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-07-14


are Republicans, and they constitute
the great bulk of the party, who will
now urge upon him the political neces-
lsity of again standing for office. They
will tell him that Bryan is to be the
Democratic nominee and that there is
no living Republican who can defeat
him except Theodore Roosevelt. 1t is
not probable that this argument will
change his mind. Indeed it is prob
able that President Roosevelt would
not look upon the election of Bryan
as calamity to the country. He
probably thinks Bryan would make
much better president than many Re-
publicans who are mentioned.
| The situation in the Democratic
party is more clear and certain than
| it has been for years. The announce
ment of Hearst that he will not be
candidate leaves the entire field to
Mr. Bryan and he is likely to be
nominated by reclamation in a sensa-
1
where united Democracy will enter
upon Il campaign With more hope of
success than has attended the party
since 1892. The Republican situation
is just the reverse. In the first place
there is the hope that Roosevelt may
be persuaded to stand for re-elec.ion
That hope Will probably continue up
to the very day of the convention, even
though he should repeatedly between
now and then Sfuse. outside of
Roosevelt there is no man who stands
pre-eminent in the Republican party
There are a dozen men who are cam
didates if Roosevelt is not Secretary
Taft probably stands at the head of
the list, because he is believed To be
the favorte of the president, but he
would have I, fight to secure the dele
CATION of his own state. Vice prcsi-
dent Fairbanks could probably secure
his own state without trouble. Speak
er Cannon, if it We're not for his age
would almost surely be the Republican
candidate. His personality is more
striking and attractive than any Re-
publican of the day except Roosevelt
but he is an old man and has had Il
/ long political career in which he has
made many plumbers. His political
acts would not help him very mach
but his personality is strong and
rugged Secretary Roots connection
with corporations and his cold tenn
permanent would not make him a popu-
lar candidate although he is intel
lectually the greatest of them all.
! Secretary Shaw belongs to the ex-
IRENE conservative wing of the Re
publican party. He would be very
satisfactory to the wealth and COR
porate interests of the country, but at
this particular time would prove an
unpopular candidate before the people.
Senator La Toilette represents the ex-
IRENE radical wing of the Republican
party and would probably max" a
strong popular candidate but it is
hardly possible that he could secure
the nomination at the hands of the
Republican party. There are a half
dozen other men who have been NEIL
toned in connection with the nominal
that exists in the Republican ranks.
This uncertainty is natural result of
President Roosevelt's administration.
To such an extent has the president
become the popular idol that other Re-
pubicans pale into insignificance.
Just the reverse is the Democratic
situation. The sterling character of
Mr.. Bryan. his consistent and per-
sistent advocacy of the issues which
he stands for. his remarkable recep-
ton everywhere on his trip abroad,
and most of all the fact that measures
which he advocated ten years ago are
now being enacted into law through
the efforts of President Roosevelt
have made him the undisputed leadet
of the Democratic party. Democrats
who opposed him in 1896 and 1900
are now his enthusiastic supporters
Thus two years in advance of the
national conventions the Democratic
party is absolutely united with only
one candidate while the Republican
party is torn into factions in several
states. notably in Wisconsin,, Iowa.
New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
with dozen or more candidates.
There is reason. therefore. for Re-
publican apprehension. 1t is fourteen
years since the Republicans were
forced to face a united opposition.
They have had easy political shedding.
Fourteen years of uninterrupted Re-
publican success has sufficed to create
factions and discord. 1t is no wonder
that Republican leaders are earnestly
calling for Roosevelt to again lead the
party.
The Democrats are talking about
carrying Kansas this fall. They have
made a good start by nominating Ex-
Senator William A. Harris. Harris is
one of the ablest men in the country.
His record while in the United States
Senate STAMPS him as man well fit