The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-07-06

Charles NJ. Harvey has the follow-
ing interesting discussion of the age
of presidential candidates, past and
present, in recent number Of the ST,
Louis Globe Democrat:
With 1908 still year ahead Of us,
the extent to which presidential guesses
begin to- concern themselves with 1912
is rather surprising. 1t is mentioned
that if certain aspirants fail to get
the candidacy a year hence they may
be more available four years later
The fact that many OF the aspirants
are comparatively young. make those
conjectures plausible. Nearly all the
men who are mentioned In connection
with the Republican candidacy will. If
alive. be under the presidential age
deadline in 1912. The same is true of
several of the Democratic possibilities.
Bryan, for instance, will be only So
when the conventions of 1a12 meet,
and Hearst will be hut ~ at that time.
Only Polk Pierce Garfield. Grant.
Cleveland and Roosevelt. of the elected
presidents. We're younger at their in
aueuration than Bryan would be on
taking Office if he should be elected in
1912 and of these only Cleveland and
Roosevelt were younger than Hearst
will he in that year.
Bryans youthfulness is already, in
the calculations of some of the proph-
cts, beginning to single him out for
the canvass five years hence. 1t is
assumed by some of the gossips that
the drift against him in the South and
East may make him believe that 1908
would not be a good year for him. and
that he may let some of his rivals get
the nomination in that canvass. If an
anti Bryan Democrat should be put up
in 1908 and fail, as did the anti-13ryan-
elimination, the Nebra skan would have
the field to himself in the succeeding
campaign. After two consecutive de-
feats for "reactionaries." the Bryanites
would be masters of the situation in
the next campaign. Their old enemies
would be driven into silence, and the
radicals would be in the ascendant. 1t
is figured by some of the close observ-
ers that if the Republican wave re-
tr,e l,t to1o In, ic II
and as it has been in recent yeais.
Bryan will decline the candidacy in
any case, and let somebody else lead
his party to slaughter. A third de-
feat would naturally be presumed to
put Bryan down and out for good. And
as he is still ambitious. he is likely
to take a careful look over the field
twelve months hence before telling the
convention to give him another chance.
Nearly all of Bryan's vogue at this
moment is due to the circumstances
that he leads all the aspirants on his
side. Another defeat would probably
| take him out of the role of possibilities.
despite his youthfulness, his eloquence
his versatility and his vast personal
popularity. BY letting somebody else
lead his party to defeat in 1908, if de-
feat is to come for that party in that
year, Bryan would be able to pose for
four years longer as the first Democrat
OF the age. In this swiftly moving
time it is possible that something may
turn up in the next few years to make
the Republican party weaker in 1912
than 1t is likely to be in 1908 AS Bryan
will be youthful enough physically and
mentally for presidential honors f1ve
years hence, if he lives, he may be
tempted to let some Of his rivals throw
themselves into the breach next year
The same consideration, of course will
appeal to Bryan's rival. Hearst.
The age consideration comes to the
rescue Of several Republican aspirants
also. In 1912 Taft will be only So years
OF age, and many presidents were older
than that on taking Office. Fairbanks