The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-01-10
COL. BRYAN
Almost Certain to BE
Democratic Candidate
For President
TAFT IS NOT so SURE
By WALTER wELLMAN.

Especial to Chicago Record-Herald)
Washington. Jan. 9.--Looking over
the presidential field as 1t has develop
ed up TO this time we find Colonel
Bryan almost sure to be the Demo.
cratic candidate and Judge Taft not
quite sure of the Republican nomina-
tion. OF the nomination OF Bryan et
Denver there is very little doubt In the
minds OF the best-informed observers
here. There Is talk Of Judge Gray
and Governor Johnson and former At
torney General Harmon. but the
masses of the Democracy seem bent
upon giving Mr.. Bryan chance to
wage his third and last battle for the
seat of the mighty IN the White
House. Those who favor Bryan may
be fairly divided into three classes:
Those who sincerely want him be-
cause they believe in him and love
him; those who somewhat indifferent,y
look upon his nomination as inevitable
and therefore not worth bothering
about. and those who consider a third
nomination as the only way TO get rid
of him. 'If we don't name him now"
say these lp~t named. I'VE shall have
him on our hands four years hence
For heavens sake. let's get through
with hint"
How surprised these Democrats
would be II Mr.. Bryan were to win out
and carry the country at the polls!
Not only they would be astonished,
but many In the Republican camp as
well. Il has become the fashion, es.
pecially In hte East, to look upon M.
Bryan as a sort of perennial candidate
for the presidency, as one who al
ways aspires and never arrives.
II is very easy to underrate Mr. Bry-
ans strength. Il Is underrated by
many men who see only the surface OF
things and who have not the knack
of getting into touch with the real
heart of the people. II Is my opinion
that Mr.. Bryan Ia this time formidn-
BILE bidder for the White House chair.
This does not mean that he Is to he
elected. In fact. the chances are prob
ably a little I'm favor OF the Republican
ticket, but men who talk of Mr.. Bryan
as q sure loses, az already defeated,
as bit of dead timber to be disposed
of. do not know what they are talking
about. Il is going to be a sure enough
fight for the presidency this year and
no mistake.
Disregard the professional politician
and get down among the people--"tho
plain people," Mr.. Bryan himself loves
to call them and you will find that
the Nebraskan is stronger than ever
before. As said some time ago. he
has worn we'll. In his honesty and sin.
cerity the people have full confidence.
He Is the only Democrat who stands
is a class with President Roosevelt In
the affections of the masses. Roose-
welt and Bryan are the only universally
popular public men we have today,
and logically from the standpoint OF
the thought and hope OF the vast ma.
jority of the people. they should bs
the rival candidates. The point l
wish to make Is that the men or the
party who proceed upon the theory
that Bryan is not dang ,rous as vote
getter are likely TO wake up some time
and mud themieives sadly mistaken.
How Is II that Bryan has survived
two defeats and one eclipse. and yet
grown stronger In the affections of the
people who have the votes TO castf
To my mind there are three princi.
pal reasons and shall state them In
the Illogical. reverse order Of thei
seeming importance:
I. His character as an earnest. sim