Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-11
READY ron THE THIRD FALL.
Bryan Ready Co FOreciose HIS MORT
gaze on the Democracy.
Brooklyn EaEle I'M. DemD.

bEQOklNn EAAklt AAAiAs 1NlhsNs
Formal application for first place on the
next presidential ticket Of the democratic
party has been filed by MIR. Bryan who has
had some experience as a candidate. True
he has not said in so many words. that he
wants the nomination, but there can be no
doubt about the meaning OF his recent
pronounccment Calling attention to the
fact that he has not said ne would not. be
n candidate, he protests that such high
honor is something no American citizen
should decline. This is not subject to
variety OF interpretations II has all the
significance, though not the phraseology of
an application. 1t serves notice upon the
country generally and the democratic party
more particularly. Also 1t is the plainest
sort Of an intimaton to other aspirants-a
sort of keep-or-thc-grass notification.
&c. the democratic kismet mRterializes
once more. boiling up, as II were. with
typical serenity. He made poor record
at the polls in 1896 and a worse one four
years later, but nothing in the political
code prevents him from referring his
traducers, respectfully otherwise, to the
still poorer showing made by Alton Il.
Parker. Moreover. he has the further con-
ISOLATION Of knowing that much OF the
thunder he exploited as a nominee has,
according to his statement Of the case,
been stolen by one Theodore Roosevelt,
which theft he CONSTITUTES into a compliment
because Mr.. Roosevelt happens TO be presi-
dent. II is further construed as an indorse-
ment vindcation, a justification, with
more to the same effect.
Mr. Bryan makes no exception when he
saws such a high honor is something no
American citizen should decline" He does
not even except the present incumbent OF
the office of president, Notwithstanding the
fact that Mr. Roosevelt has almost regis
tered a negative vow in heaven. However.
IL is worth while recalling that at short
Intervals Mr.. Bryan reminds the president
OF this vow. fearing, perhaps, that possibly
| he will forget It, He may. He has just
received warrant for forgetfulness from
Nebraska He has Just been told that no
| American citizen should decline, and-he
| is an American citizen.
| Unfortunately, Mr.. Bryan cannot run both
conventions He cannot prescribe a pro-
gram for the republicans 1t is not with
| in his province or jurisdiction to tell the
party in power that it should dismiss from
its mind all thoughts OF Theodore Roose-
welt, thus taking the president at his word.
So Mr. Bryan must take his chances. He
must foreclose the mortgage he has OF
seems to have upon the democratic nomi-
nation, with the possibility that the prefer
ences of Roosevelt will not be consulted
when the next national convention Of the
republicans, having disposed Of preliminar-
| les, gets down to serious business. AL
ready n Roosevelt league is in existence
which is to say. the campaign for another
term for the president has begun.
| Well. the republicans can AFFORD to abide
the event" Apparently. the democrats have
| no choice. The man who did not believe
| in miracles was asked what view he would
take Of the case Of one who fell three times
| from the roof Of a ffteen-story building
without injury. The first fall he called an
| accident the second a coincidence, the third
! a habit. The party has contracted the
Bryan habit. Though the Parker nomi-
nation wns an interlude or intermission,
| the habit persists Those who look for
| availabilities elsewhere find scant cause for
! encouragement-the klsmet is there, with
every graphing iron out. He is on the
roof ready for the third fall