The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1907-11-21

nation as q reward; neither should
his ambition be considered, for he
has had honors enough from his par.
ty to satisfy any reasonable smbi.
tion. The only question that ought
to weigh with the party is whether
the party viii be strengthened and
aided more by his nomination than
by the nomination OF someone else.
"H he can serve the party by be-
ing It's candidate, he win accept the
commission and make the best fight
he can. II, however, the choice falls
upon another, he will not be disap-
pointe6 or disgruntled. His avails.
bility is a question to be decided not
by him, not by few leaders, not
by the leading newspapers that call
themselves Democratic, but by the
voters OF the party, and to them he
intrusts the decision OF the question
they are the supreme court In all
matters concerning candidates, as
they are In all matters concerning
the platform.
"He assumes that they will not sc.
lect hir, unless they desire to make
an aggressive fight for the spplica'
tion OF Democratic principles so pres.
ent conditions, and he also takes II
for granted that the organization
Of the party will be In harmony with
the platform and will be composed
Of men whose political records will
invite confidence and give assurance
that a victory, II won, will not be a
barren victory.
"It has been asserted that Mr.. Bry-
an was waiting to see who the Re-
publican nominee would be. This is
untrue. He has never felt that his
position should be dependent upon
the sction taken by the Republican
party. The Republicans must nom.
mate either a reiormer, stand-pat.
ter or one whose position on public
questions is unknown, and the course
OF the Democratic party should be
the same no matter which element
controls the Republican convention.
The Democratic party must make
its fight for what II believes.
"While 1t may take advantage OF
Republican mistakes, it must depend
upon it's merits for success and not
upon the errors OF It's opponents.
II the Republicans nominate stand
patter, the Democrats can take ad-
vantage OF the educational work
that has been done by the Republic
an reiormers; II the Republicans
nominate candidate who Is believ-
ed to be favorable to reform, such a
nomination will strengthen Demo
cratic doctrines, because Republican
reiormers advocate the reforms that
the Democrats have advocated be-
fore them, and the Democrats cannot
! afford to surrender their position be.
cause the Republicans gave a partial
Endorsement to a few Democratic
doctrines.
III the Republicans nominate one
who straddles the issues and at
tempts to take both sides, 1t is none
the less necessary for the Democratic
party to make an aggressive fight
The action Of the Republican con
! vention may have It's influence In thu
determining OF the relative availabil
ity OF Democratic candidates, but Il
ought not to have any influence II
determining the question whethe
the one chosen by the Democrat
should accept the nomination.
the rank and file OF the Democrati
party desired Mr.. Bryan to max
the race he viii make II no mattel
who may be the Republican nom
inee.
sIt has also been charged that MI
Bryan was waiting to ascertain th
J chances Of victory, ready to run
the outlook seemed bright, or to re
fuse to run II the chances seemed IN
favorable. This charge, like the 9th
or, is without foundation. No on
can estimate the chances Of the pal
ty In the next campaign with SUI
flcient accuracy to make bis can d
dacy dependent upon the outlook.
"While the Democrats have reaso
to be encouraged BY the fact tha
Democroratic principles have grow
In popularity, and that Democrati
. polices are now praised BY man
Who denounced them q lev yerrs age