The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-07-18
WATTERSON TALKS
ABOUT POLITICS
He Advises Democrats to Return to the Constitution Says
Bryan Should not be Nominated Again and De.
clares for Roosevelt to Run for a Third
Term Would be Insanity.

the constitution" Is the battle cry
which Henry Watterson is raising for
the Democratic hosts in 1908. The
veteran Democrat and the last one
left of group of great editors, is
taking just as keen an interest in
American politics today as he did in
1896, when his message, mo COM
promise with dishonor' rang out
around the world, and in 1892 when
he advised the Democrats against
nominating Cleveland and told them
they were walking through
slaughter house into an open grave"
Mr.. Watterson will not name his
dark horse" for President, but says
he will whisper the name into w. ].
Bryan's ear whenever the Nebraskan
asks him to do SO. He declares that
no one can win without Mr.. Bry-
ans backing and that the Democratic
party needs harmony. He believes
the tariff and trust question should
be two chief issues of the Democrats.
He does not believe either Roosevelt
or Taft will be the Republican nom
inee for President, but that Hughes or
Fairbanks may be in the running.
He declares IL would be nothing
more than insanity itself for Mr..
Roosevelt to become candidate for
third term. He says he wants to
see one more Democratic President
before he dies.
Mr.. Watterson will never write for
any publication except his own, but
he consented to do some talking to
the Enquirer correspondent, and here
Is what he said, his language having
beein taken verbatim:
Mr.. Watterson, said the corre-
spondent, "The Enqrer wants you to
talk on the political situation. par
ticularly, as to the Democratic party.
the state of parties generally, and any
other thing you may care to say"
"As to the Democratic party" Mr..
Watterson replied, settling himself in
his big arm chair and speaking with
much deliberation, "its chief trouble
is It's lack of unity. Unfortunately 1t
is not one with itself. 1t represents
two branches, the Radicals, so called.
and the Conservatives, so. called. of
the North, projected from huge
\ trunk known as the Solid South. In
three Presidential elections, while
the South has stood firm to it's col
ors, the two Northern branches have
steadfastly refused to vote for one
another. Why? Because there have
been serious though not now irrecon-
cilable differences Of opinion, but
mainly because of frlctions. some
fanciful and some real, largely person
al In kind, growing out of the lack
OF discipline and fixity of purpose in
evitable to continuous defeat. Mr..
Bryan himself is one cause of dissen-
sion, and Mr.. Bryan is not guiltless
OF his share of responsibility for this.
Yet his leadership remains intact
and unchallenged He should be
treated with respect but no good end
can be served by treating him with
reserve. He has no reserves himself
and while his might be virtue in a
private citizen, 1t becomes a weakness
In public man, and something more
harmful still in a party leader.
.& Leaders In politics, like Generals
In the field. must win victories. NOT
lose them. Neither politics nor war
may be what is called an exact sci.
ence, but neither is quite empiric
In presence Of the voters the party
leader can quite as little afford tc
theorize as can the General in the
face of a marching army. Each must
first beat the enemy.
The correspondent asked Mr.. Wat
terson whom he favored as the mex
Democratic candidate.
II have no favorite," Mr. Waiter
son promptly replied, "and no candi
date. If | had ! would keep hin
to myself, because any suggestion from
me, though II were never so disinter
ested and so wise. would arouse in
certain class of Democrats. and | an
sorry to say, a very large class, pos
tive resentment They have neve
forgiven me for their own foolish
ness. They are one-man ldolators
With them 1t is Bryan, first. last an,
all the time, whether we can elec
him or not. Now, want TO see on
more Democratic President before
ue. Ihat Is the difference and abou
the size of It ."
But the dark horse about whic
the newspapers have been fixing s
much?"
"The boys have been having a grea
deal of fun with themselves durln
the hot weather, haven't they?" h
replied, and continued "The sum O
1t, so far as | am concerned, is this
that when Mr.. Bryan said he did no
want the race; If some good. regula
tion Democrat could be found likel
to get more votes than he to tax
him, knew of just such man
But without Mr.. Bryan's BACKING
nobody can win. Just as they knife
Judge Parker, they would knife an
candidate not chosen by themselves
AS soon as Mr.. Bryan tells me he |
out and asks me for my man, will
whisper the name to him. and no
before"
Don't you think Mr.. Bryan can b
eected7'
al do not say he cannot be-" sal