The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-15

notwithstanding its long string of suc- cessive victories. American politics Is reduced to two nen-one out -Bryans Bryan and the other -Roosevelts Roosevelt, and both succeed capitaliy. Each says Me too" to the other. Roosevelt is slightly the more versa tile; Bryan Is possibly set "a little dig kiner." Roosevelt would put the octu- pus In jail: Bryan would have the gov ernment turn octopus. Bryan proposed that the octupus should get national license to do business. with the stipu- lation that It's rights and privileges should be cancelled and it's goods and chattels. confiscated if it did more than fwo-thirds of the aggregate business in It's line; Roosevelt proposes na- tional charter for the octopus. and Bryan answers that that Is violative of States rights though he favors the Beveridge child labor mischief. that is an annihilatlon of States rights, to say nothing of government ownership, which turns the republic into an enn- pire, and the initiative and referendum. which is radical revolution of our gov ernmental system.
 These two men are the absolute mas ters of their respective parties. No wonder men marvel about what makes Democrat. and no wonder men marvel shout what makes Republican. There are a dozen different answers to both these speculations. no two at all alike and every one exactly correct. If Cleveland is a Democrat, what is Bry- an? If Roosevelt is a Republican what Is F'oraker? It is no further from Richard oiney to Ben Tfllman than it is from Nelson W. Aldrich to Robert M. LaFollette, Senator Knox and Gov ernor Cummins are no more in accord than are Isidor Rayner and Arkanssw Jeff Davis. Jerry Simpson, when a Congressman from Kansas. joined the Democratic party because he was in accord with 1t, and William A. Peffer, formerly Senator from Kansas, joined the Republican party because the G. 0. P. had turne1 Pop.
 The Republican party is going to nominate for President in 1908 one of two men--Rooseveit or Taft. No other administration of our history ever dab bIed more fin party politics than Roose- velt's: no other ever played the game so skillfully. The convention will do whatever Roosevelt dictates, just as the Democratic convention will dance to whatever tune Bryan pipes It may be that Roosevelt has frrevocably made up his mind not to accept the nomination under any circumstances, but if his de- sire for 1t were ap importunate as was Clay's, or Douglass, or Blaine's. or even EalrDAnks s, ne COuld nut Pidy LHe game for himself more adroitly or more fortuitously than he has played 1t. The demands come from all quarters. The average man, whatever his politics. be- lieves that Roosevelt will be renomi- mated and reelected.
 Mir. Bryan lends force to this view. Only while ago he had nothing but commendation for Rooseveit's states manship. Now MT. Bryan discovers | tender solicitude for States rights, I which. he says, are not safe in Mir. 1 Roosevelts keeping. Can this be be- cause Mr. Bryan has come to conclude that Roosevelt is the man he will have I to beat? Quite likely do not be- 1 1ieve Mir. Bryan would run against
 Roosevelt. He has lately acquired the 1 art of retreat. He has parted with a deal of his fntrepidity. He tried to | run away from Government owner l ship; 1t would be as easy for him to
 part company with his shadow under
 the midday beams of Duly's torrid sun.