The Somerset reporter., 1908-07-16
BRYAN and Defeat.

Again has William Jennings Bryan
throttled the Democratic party, and
compelled it for the third time to
accept him as its candidate for Pres
ident. Patiently has the Anticipated
party twice followed him to defeat,
and yet he has demanded another
sacrifice, and the subservient party
walks right up to the dough dish and
takes its bitter medicine.
After his second defeat Mr.. Bryan
sent this telegram to friend:
"Thank you for your telegram of
coincidence. The defeat was a severe
one; you all did nobly. l cannot
conscientiously ask the party to con-
slider me again for the Presidency. l
led them to defeat four years ago and
that ought to be enough for any
one man."
But what are promises to him?
They amount to no more than the plat
forms which he has made SO many
times and utterly repudiated.
Is there anything like it in the
history of politics? A twice discarded,
ANONYMOUSLY defeated leader again
compelling an almost unanimous
nomination, his party at the same
time being aware that only defeat
must come! There is something
wonderful about a man who can take
party by the throat three times in
succession, and like a professional
highwayman demand and secure a
nomination that is sure to end i'll de-
feat. 1t shows how he has complete
ly hypnotized his party, and it also
shows his pure and unalloyed selfish
ness in using party that has done SO
much for him to increase his own
wealth and advance his own personal
interests. This last nomination is
worth to his already fat pocket book
at least one hundred thousand dollars
Had the Republican party been
granted the privilege of shaping the
course of events at Denver, Bryan
would have been nominated, as he is
the easiest candidate to beat. Stand
ing upon a platform of glitterine
generalities, each plank of which he
is liable to repudiate at any moment,
the people have no confidence in him
as Chief Magistrate. They even
deem him unsafe as political leader.
They don't know where to find him.
He is a conservative one day, and a
radical the next. Admitting his
oratory, praising his addresses at
Sunday School Conventions, and
miscellaneous assemblages, they don't
take any stock in him as President
of the United States. They will
cheer him to the echo at great mass
meetings, but when election day
comes around they will quietly drop
into the ballot box a vote for the
other fellow.
Bryan cannot carry single State
where he failed two years ago. He
cannot be elected unless he carries
the State OF New York, and that is
conceded to Taft and Sherman on
every hand. He has many of the
leading and influential Democratic
papers against him. He has the
actual personal hatred of that whole
wing of the party which is made up OF
Democrats who have always opposed
him. In addition he has the cordia
dislike of that far larger element in
the party which is composed of mer
who wanted to win, and will not for
give Mr.. Bryan for forcing his owr
nomination when that nomination
removes all prospects of party sue
cess. They are bound to kill him as
candidate this time forever and for
ever. Bryan cannot be elected.
The public sentiment on the liquor
question is finding it's Way to the