Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-04-13
soL rHERN cANDLDArEs.

sol THERN CANDIDATES
The element Of caution that has
characterized Mr. Bryan's utterances
on political topics since the 1904 cam
Daign Do emphasized in his remarks
in the CommOner on the agitation re-
Gently renewed by the New York Sun
in favor Of a southern candidate for
the democratic presidential nomination
ia 1908. The Suns espousal Of this
demand for a southern candidate Is
based on the contention that the south
ern democrats are conservative and
that the demand Of the country just
now Is for a candidate who will oppose
ROOseveltism
Mr.. Bryan meets the suns argument
by approving everything offered In sup
port Of the right u southern man
To aspire 20 the high Office Of president
Of the United States and he then dis
plays a mixture Of caution and shrewd
politics by taking up prominent south
ern men, seriatim, and showing how
they do fail 10 come up 10 the Suns
requirements Hoke Smith Of GeOr-
gia, Governor Cromer Of Alabama
Governor Campbell Of Texas, and other
southern statesmen, II is pointed out
by Mr. Bryan, won their promotion 20
Office and their hold on public esteem
by urging railroad legislation in their
states and going further than Mr.
Roosevelt has IN advocating trust
prosecution and an income tax. After
disqualifying all the prominent demo
Gratis Of the south. Mr.. Bryan proceeds
10 argue that the most available can
didate for the next campaign should be
selected. no matter where he comes
from north east. south or west. He
cites figures Of election returns in the
country to support his claim that 'the
selection Of a democratic candidate is
a matter OF interest TO the whole coun-
try, and in the selection It is not fair
that one section should be sighted or
that another section only should be
considered"
MI ID al . IAAl dDl hlhulg NoANlNh
is unnecessary. Nothing in existing
conditions justifes the prediction that
any southern democrat stands the
ghost OF chance Of receiving the
democratic nomination for the presi-
dency in 1908, for numerous and OBJ
vious reasons. Party organizations in
the south are based on social rather
than political conditions. The sole
issue that keeps the south solid for
the democracy is the race problem
The southern democrats are pledged
to enforce negro Acknowledgement,
while the republicans contend for OBJ
servance OF the constitutional amend
ment guaranteeing universal suffrage,
BY state laws. the democrats have
nullihed the amendment in nearly all
the southern states, and 50 long as that
condition exists the south will remain
democratic. On no other issue Is the
south democratic. Alabama democrats
the iron manufacturing industry. North
and South Carolina are both in favor
OF the law placing a duty on imported
cotton goods. Virginia demands pro-
lection for its tobacco industry. Texas
demands a protective tariff on hides
wool and live stock Louisiana and
Mississippi clamor for protective duties
on sugar and sugar products.
Remove the negro problem and a
majority OF the southern states would
roll up republican majorities. Mr.
Bryan need lose no sleep over threat
ened southern competition for the pres
idential nomination I'm 1908.