The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-10-02
REFORM OF TARIFF
VIII Be Chief Issue In Next Pres.
ldentiaI Election.
Rights aad Regulation of
Trusts, the Other Questions Most
Likely to Figure in the Campaisn,

Trusts, the Other Questions Most
Likely to Figure in the Campaign.
A dispatch from Washington to
The Charleston Post says gradually
the sentiment of the people of the
country with respect to the Demo-
cratic nomination for the presidency
next year is taking form. Definite
ness is being brought about not so
much by men, as by policies. The
feeling among Democrats Of the
country is practically uniform in all
sections that during the next nation
al administration, something will
have to be done regarding the tariff
question. That feeling is not confn-
ed, to be sure, to the Democratic
party, but the sentiment is more ho-
mogeneous and definite among Dem
ocrats than it is among Republicans,
A strong ''stand-pat' sentiment ex-
lists among the Republicans and the
differences of opinion among Repub-
licans on the tariff renders it the cas-
Ter for the Democrats, who substan-
TALLY are q unit on the proposition,
to make Roadway with their propag-
anda.
It daily is becoming evident that
the tariff revision question is to be a
prominent, perhaps the paramount,
issue of the next national campaign.
In the selection Of a candidate for
the presidency, therefore. the Demo-
cratic party, particularly, will en-
deayor to name a man who has been
q consistent and able tariff reformer.
This is the situation which, to a
greater extent than any other, is d.
recting the finger of destiny at one
man. The man, in the opinion Of
many of the prominent Democrats
who recently have visited Washing
ton, is William J. Bryan. He is re-
garded as the ablest advocate of tar
iff revision in the Democratic party,
and when the tariff question as a
leading issue he would be the logical
candidate.
Some apprehension has been felt
by the party leaders as to MIR. Bry-
ans strength in the South, but as
surance is given by prominent DEM
Gratis of that part of the country that
he would receive the cordial support
of the party, of the South on such a
platform as is now likely to be adop-
ted. Senator F. M. Simmons. Of
North Carolina, voiced the Southern
sentiment we'll when he said a day or
two ago that the people of his section
regarded Mr.. Bryan as 1.-The great
est advocate of the peoples rights
and interests which this generation
has produced Senator Simmons
said that with the elimination of the
question Of Government ownership
and that of the initiative and refer
endum, on which the people of the
South differed from Mr.. Bryan, the
Nebraska leader would be able to
command the support of the South
without serious opposition.
That seems to be the concensus of
opinion among the Democratic lead
ers, all of whom agree with Senator
Simmons in believing that, in addi-
ton to the tariff question the two
important issues of the next nation
al campaign will be Federal. en-
croachment upon the powers of the
States''--an issue which has been
pretipitated by the present admins
Iration--and the regulation and con-
troll of trusts and combinations Of
capital.
On all three of the questions now
presented Mr.. Bryan is regarded as
particularly strong, and unless the
situation should change materially
before the convention, it is regarded
as very probable that he again will
be selected as the standard bearer.