Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1907-04-05

About year from now the question
of the nomlnees by the Two great po-
litical parties will be in the re-front.
The state conventions will begin in
April and the national conventions
Will follow in June or July.
AS far as the Democracy is concern
ed, at the present time all signs point
to the nomination of William j Bryan
with little if ANY opposition. This
will make the third time for Mr.Bryan
to make the race. In 1896 be made the
race almost entirely ON the issue OF
free coinage of silver and though a
large faction of his own party oppos-
ed him he would easily have
won hadit not been that the issue drew
out the bitter opposition OF the money
ed men in the east who opened their
Golfers unstintingly 10 Mark Hanna,
chairman of the Republican National
committee, thus enabling him 10 flood
the country with Doodle and to buy
the election. In 1900, four years later,
Mr.. Bryan was again nominated and
again forced the convention to insert a
plank in its platform declaring for the
free and unlimited coinage OF gold aEd
silver at the ration of IT. 10 |. This is
sue had lost its charm with many who
had formerly cherished it as an almost
sacred doctrine of the party and on the
other hand there We're few Gold
Democrats VINO returned TO the Stand
ard of Democracy. The result was
that the same Influences again triumph
ed. since that time the monetary at
fairs of the nation have SO changed
tina he question of free coinage is no
longer an issue and even MIR. Bryan
himself comedies that. If he is nomi-
naled in 1905 he Will not be handi-
capped by the silver issue and will
doubtless stand before the buslaess in
terests of the country in stronger
light than ever before.
In the Resublican party matters are
not so harmonious. President Roose-
welt holds the reins of the party and
rules with rod of iron. He can doubt
less have the nomination, if he desires
1t, for third term. So far he has per-
sistently asserted that he will not &C.
CeDt, but if he refuses it fer himself he
will doubtless name the nominee or at
least will be III a position to WELD a
potent influence Gin the convention.
The possibility of his nomination with
such pressure as to induce him to ac-
cept in spite of his positive declaration
TO the contrary cannot be specialized
upon If it comes it will come sud-
denly and with little or no warning.
Present indications point to the pro.
liability that the contest Will be GEN.
tered around Secretary Taft whom the
administration is backing. 1t is hard
ly possible that with all his popularity
in his party President Roosevelt will
be aole TO WELD stronger influence in
the conventio n than Grant did when
he tried to force the nomination OF
Lis
Roosevelt will have his Foraker.
Foraker has no love for Roosevelt
and Is outspoken and bitter in his OPP
pos ion against Taft and this fortells
contest within the pr rty in Ohio that
will probably be unsqualled i'll recent
wears. Foraker and his colleague, Sen
ator Dick hold absolute control over
tie machine in the state and have al
ready announced that they will cal a
state convention TO not only make 8
state ticket but to act also on The ques-
non Of the presidential nomination
Meanwhile the friends of Taft are not
idle and will put up fight that will
be memorable IN The history of the
arty.