Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-18
THE ISSUES OF 1903
Questions Being Discussed by
the Politicians.
DEMOCRATS ALL AT SEA
Apparently Little Doubt as to the
Candidate.
BRYAN'S RADICALISM OPPOSED
Objection Among Republicans to Sup
porting Some Positions Taken
by the President
DEMOCRATS ALL AT SEA
RADICALISM OPPOSED

What will be the democratic issue in
the presidential campaign
Who will write the republican platform
In that campaign
These are the two questions which poll
ticians are mainly discussing these days
and one usually brings up the other because
the same principle Is involved in each
a struggle between radicalism and con-
seryatism In the two great parties Tn.
contest already is taking form In different
ways and in several places, and will CON
tinue until the national conventions settle
It.
The democrats all at on the Qgns-
ton OF their issue. There is little doubt
to their choice OF candidate. providing
he can be brought to terms the plat
form. The reception that is given to Mr..
Bryan every time he appears In public is
construed by politicians to mean that he
still keeps his wonderful hold on the es-
TEEN and affection of the rank and file
of the democratic party. Ii has grown
rather than diminished since 1900. and ha
Is thought To be regarded the first
democrat of the land today.
Bryan's Radicalism Opposed.
But-and there is~emphasis on that but
democrats in large numbers, who love
and respect him. still maintain their dis
agreement with him on government own
ership Of railroads and other redical prop.
ostions which he has laid down. The ques
ton is. Would Mr. Bryan yield his judg
ment to the democratic national convention
and consent to run on a platform there
adopted. surprising that the conserNatiN"
wing of the party should be in control
1t is recognized by politicians that there
is strong ground swell under the demo
cratic surface setting toward conservatism
1t is moved by desire OF democrats TO get
back to old moorings away from new and
TRANCE doctrines and practices, and 70
turn to the principles OF the fathers. Many
democrats think that they can discern a
similar tendency in the republican party,
and believe that If the democratic con
venton takes a conservative stand thou
sands of voters who have supported repub-
lican candidates since 1896 will be attracted
to the democratic standard of conservatism
Graves Suggestion of Surrender.
According to the expressions in the press
the suggestion Of Mr.. John Temple Graves
that the democrats should abandon their
cause their principles and the traditions of
years and support President Roosevelt has
been received only with jeers and loud
boots in the south The spirit of conserva
tism is said to be strong In the souih
as it ever was. and no proposition OF that
character is likely to find favor In that sec
ton.
The prospective democratic issue. rathef
than the candidate. is the burning question
with the democrats. and the radicals o.
the west and the conservatives or the south
and east will fight II out in convention. The
particular kind of tariff to be advocated ana
the scope and extent OF federal contfoi "L
public utilities will be the two hard pro-,
lens to be met by the convention, and on
these the conservatives and radicals Will
divide.
Question Meeting Republicans.
The republicans in their national con-
yention will be confronted with the qu"S-
tion whether Theodore Roosevelt shat
write the platform or whether the con
servative wing OF the party shall do So 1T
Roosevelt writes il, no man can now tor'-
cast the full scope of the announcement
Nobody knows whether by 1908 President
Roosevelt will be standpatter or re-
visionist on the tariff question. re h"H
been both in his time and something more
His Judgment of the exigencies OF the mo
ment and of the party would determine
If Roosevelt writes the platform, IN"
politicians see no reason to tHln t, ma s f ~
will be less positive on the subjects OF leu
eral authority over interstate commerce.
income tax. governmental regulation OF
swollen fortunes and the like than MS
known position at present. ON the coh-
trary every one expects him to take al
advanced position on all those questions
even if he does not find one or Two more
issues.
Roosevelt's Hold on the Party.
That he will be opposed by faction In
his own party is certan-not the rlch
mems conspiracy" but the calm Judgment
of an influential element, whether numeri-
cally strong or not. Politicians say that
If the convention were to be held tomor-
row. President Roosevelt would dominate
and control 1t in every respect. HIS com
plete hold upon the emotional affections
Of the people is admitted by politicians TO
be undisputed. ,,
But a long summer. a fall, winter ana
a spring season are to intervene before the
conyention assemblies The questions are
asked: VIII he keep up the lick? VIII his
wonderful luck. genius. adaptabiiity. YER
satility and other elements or remark
a BILE career carry him through the seasons
and bring him with uudminished power 10
ant LON