The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-12-28
Especial Correspondence J

IL have received many coHIhehua
tions from Congressman and 9TH
er Democratic leaders for the
statement in my last letter Of
the present outlook for the
Democracy based on former elec-
tions. Since writing that letter
the meeting of the Democratic
National Committee has been held
and the time and place for the
convention agreed upon. A great
effort was made by the friends Of
Mr.. Bryan on the Committee to
force an early convention, for fear
that something would occur to
cause him to reconsider his decis-
ion to be a candidate II too
many months intervened before
the convention met. The enthusiasts
tic friends OF Mr. Bryan have
staked their political future on
his being nominated and elected.
though as one OF his most ardent
supporters declared to me ''he
would sooner be beat with Bryan
than win WITH some other candi.
date.' Such, however, was not
the feeling OF the majority of the
committee; for the opinion was
expressed in the determination to
postpone the date for holding the
convention as long as possible
with the hope that events would
cause a concentration upon some
other candidate who could better
unite the party. On the face of
Il. there was but little open oppo-
siuon to the nomination of Mr..
Bryan, but majority of the
members OF the committee were
quite willing to say privately that
they feared Mr.. Bryan could not
bs elected.
Tue chief reason for this fear
that Mr.. Bryan cannot unite the
party was the number OF "new
ideasu which he has adopted as
necessary for the public veal,
and that he no doubts intends to
implant in the Democratic plat
form as Democratic principles
The latest of these "new ideas y
does not meet with the concur
renee of any Democrat have
talked to. This is the proposition
Of President Roosevelt that Con.
gress provide an appropriation 70,
the campaign expenses of "each
~ tho vroot poJttioal ,o,&to, ., ,,,, =
Bryan boomers at the meeting OF
the Committee, one and all, de.
ciared that It could not b.
possible that Mr. Bryan had en-.
dorsed the Roosevelt proposition
1t Is painful. therefore, to Demo
Gratis to find In the Commone,
OF the 18th inst an endorsement
of that proposition by Mr. Bryan
The Commoner quotes the Presi
DENTS remarks in full and adds
"The recommendation is given ir
full. because 1t is new idee
and an important one. The
Commoner is glad to bring Il e
the attention of Its readers, ant
TO endorse It," Now. these word.
import an unqualified endorse
ment of Mr.. Bryan of the mos
audacious novel, and! dangerous
proposition ever enunolated In
I civilized country
There is no warrant for It in tn,
Federal Constitution. Indeed, It Il
prohibited by the First Amendment
which guarantees freedom OF reli
gion. OF speech. Of the press
and OF assembly. Party politics 4
a matter OF opinion: and Jefferso,
declared, In the most famous bill
he ever wrote that "to compel
man TO make contributions O
money for the pronaeation OF onin
Ions which he disbelieves. is sin
ful and tyrannical. ,, To compel
man to nav taxes for the propaga
tion Of religions omnions Is sin
M. TO oomr~l him IN paw take
for they prona eation ~ nolitice
orArAons Ia tvrannical. There 4
m more Justice In the one taxa
t'np than in the other. nor is ther
snv more authority in CONGRESS- IN
the ora than thnrA ia for the OIL,
~ rven Mr.. Rrvan's staunche es
runrcvtars In Washireton ADM
Nhct he was imnrdent IN piviro hi
erdo~samap& hastily and inadva,
ferfIv N such a rronosftaor ~
'mwwdert MAN 10 ~ r. ho pror
fe~t ~ thn rTritod ctetas IN mi
rcsA, ne wo'' ps ~ the mot-e
~ ~cvevrwcrt owrhrebfr ~ ~",
.vnnd~. IN tho votto~ - co-croI'tu
thc FcHo~o, Ccvr~-~~ort ~ ~uorc-
: ten Sc~~~ita IN hn-ts c~s ~ ~
matter OF licensing corporatiop