Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1907-08-12
WASHINGTONLETTER
POLITICS VIEWED AT The Ma.
TIONAL CAPITAL.
North Carolina Conflict With Rail.
roads Holds Leading Position on
The Boards Last Week. PreSi-
Dental Possibilities Considered
From Democratic Standpoint.

From d Democratic Standpoint.
Special spondence to the HERALD
WAsnINGroN. d. G., Aug. S.-As ett
forth in this correspondence last week
the North Carolina conflict with the rail-
roads is still the paramount political
issue. The victory of Governor Glenn in
forcing the railroads to obey the state
law reducing rates until the legal ques-
tons involved have been decided by Il e
supreme court is the most satisfactory
outcome to the people that has occurred
since railroad control has been attempt
ed. The greatest satisfaction is ex-
pressed by democrats that a democratic
governor showed the ability and courage
to compel obedience to the law by i'm
prisoning the law. breakers in spite OF the
threats of the corporation managers and
attorneys, and the aid Of federal judge.
1t should be remembered that the issue
in the North Carolina case was similar
to that contended for by the democrats
when the railroad ate bill was pending
in the United States senate, namely,
that a reduction of rates would be effect
i've until declared by the courts uncon-
stitntional or confiscatory.
The discussion of the most available
presidential candidate for the democrats
to nominate has received fresh impetus
this week by the arrival in Washington
of Senator Bacon, of Georgia. He de-
clares himself favorable to Southern
man for president, such as Senator
Daniel, Culberson, Carmack and Gray,
and dozens OF others who could be
named. "All that is needed" declared
Senator Bacon, sis tor one of them to
step out and declare himself a candidate
and the nomination will be his" Other
democratic leaders do not view the
nomination of Southern man with the
optimistic complacency of Senator Ba-
con; they do not believe that the Demo-
cratic National Convention will nominate
a man from Southern state unless he is
acceptable to the delegates from the close
and doubtful Northern states.
1t is pointed out that during the last
ten years most of the Eastern democratic
criticism OF Mr.. Bryan has been based
upon his extreme views of financial
economic and political questions. They
have failed (and in many instances, it
would seem, Intentionally to recognize
the distinction between Mr.. Bryan's
academical views and those which he et-
practical politics. The great financial
issue on which his first battle was fought
he now admits is a settled question in
consequence OF the enormous increase in
the volume OF gold and initiation of the
currency and therefore no longer de-
/ bated, although he still contends that
great as has been the prosperity during
that time in which he predicted poverty
and distress, the prosperity would have
/ been more general had the doctrines for
which he contended been favored by a
! pCPuldi NotCs w IthIii tliC ldSG tNO
months he has stated to Mr.. Bourke
Cochran that the Initiative and Referen.
dunn were not necessarily articles OF
democratic faith at this moment, and
now in the "Commoner" he has SO seri-
ously modified his doctrines of govern
ment ownership as to put it into the
category of academcal things and make
1t inoffensve even to railroads owning
democrats. How, then, under these cir.
cumstances, the Wall Street element in
the democratic party, can continue to
oppose him is not plain, unless they adj
nit that the fearless freedom OF his char.
acter, his utterances and his uncontrola.
bility are the real elements in their OBJ
jections to him. Mr.. Bryan's retreat in
the matter Of government ownership will
90 very far to check the criticism in the
South, whatever effect it may have upon
the Eastern or so.called conservative
elements in the democratic ranks.
j. X. Y.