The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-03-30
ROOSEVELT AND BRYAN IN 1908.

President Roosevelt Immediately after the sue
cessfuI campaign that returned him to ting office
to which he had succeeded upon the death OF Pres
dent Mckinley announced emphatcally that DO
would not be a candidate in the election to be held
next year Notwithstanding this declaration, winch
he has since reiterated there is a wedetined move
ment to force the nomination upon him. and boom-
attempted to be started for other Republican aspr-
ants to the presidential office create but little en-
thusiasm among the people "Favorite sons are
taken seriously only on their native heath. The
Republicans of at least three state legislature
Iowa Nebraska and South Dakota-took test bal
lots to secure opinion as to the favorite ean(l
date and they all resulted overwhelmingly In favor
of President Roosevelt. The polls were, indeed.
almost unanimous. Among the Democrats there
seeems to be an almost unanimous preference for
Mr. Bryan, and his nomination for the third time
as the leader of the Democracy Is looked upon
assured.
Assuming that the custom of limiting the term
of our presidents to eight years is wise, and that
the three and half years of the uncompleted term
of President Mckinley which President Roosevelt
has served may be considered, in substance. as
forming complete term it is obvious that the
wishes of a vast majority of the Republican party
are not in harmony with the presidents views. and
an awkward position is created for their acknovl
edged leader.
Fortunately for the Democrats, they have a
precedent of successful notwithstanding candi-
date in Mr.. Cleveland and they can see possibili-
ties of meeting with success again under somewhat
similar conditions.
That Mr. Bryan holds warm place in the
hearts of the people and that Mr.. Roosevelt is,
was. even more popular is evident from the trend
of events of the past few years. 1t seems that
neither of these prospective candidates strong
party as he is a patriot The administration
of Mr.. Roosevelt has been marked with such ex-
tremes of legislation that the principles of his
party have undergone changes which seem to place
the Democrats and Republicans in iuxtapositiou.
each striving along similar lines to restore the
people the privileges which have been usurped by
the giant corporations. Their methods may not be
similar but their ideals are.
Considering the desrabity of accomplishing in
a modern way the things for which the people are
striving, would suggest the laying aside Of par
tyism in the campaign of 1905 Pool the issues
and let Mr.. Roosevelt and Mr. Bryan toss coin
to determine which shall be the candidate for the
presidency and which for the vice presidency a
platform based upon sound economic doctrines
which would appeal to the sense of justice of the
great American people and not to party partisan
ship or sectional prejudice. Why be a Democrat or
a Republican when the nation needs patriots in the
administration of its affairs In the past too much
attention has been devoted to local political condj-
tions, to the spoils of office and to exploiting the
people with a small consequent devotion to tn
of +ofiy ant
Voters have been appealed to to support the party
ticket, and having supported it. they about their
personal affairs while legislation is most tardy in
efecing any substantial correction of abuses which
manifest themselves in our national life. Under
the party lingo system our elections have become
a farce and constructive legislation is enacted only
after the laws demanded by the people repre-
scented by all political parties Year after year the
voters have saved the country in the "battle Of
ballots" but only in very recent times has the
nifty of the abuses which are inflicted upon the pub
lie by the partisan party control of public Offices
become apparent.
The muck rakers have done more to enIighten
the people on governmental theories and defcien-
ces than all the political orators who have stumped
the country since the foundation of the nation was
laid The demands Of the people have been some
what met but partyism offers no guaranty of the
square deal for the people.
Roosevelt and Bryan. or Bryan and Roosevelt
in 1905 would furnish a candidacy around which
almost the entire country would rally. and repre-
senting the ideals of majority of the Republicans
and Democrats, would furnish striking example
of the unity and solidarity of the people of the ma
ton Any opposition which could be developed TO
this team would be trivial and after election rival
candidates would look sick as a Kansas prohibi-
zionist at summer resort in August.