Omaha daily bee., 1908-09-28
n REAL ISSUE.

NNAN ~ W.. ~ H1
OF the great political parties msy serve
for a time 20 divert the attention Of
the voters and to even entertain them
the real issue OF the campaign and the
one that will demand the consideration
and influence the votes Of the men Of
America at the polls in November has
thus been defined by Mr.. Taft i'm one
of his speeches:
Which party by its work. and not by its
promises, has earned the confidence, not
only Of the capitalists. but OF the wage
earners and farmers?
The question now for the people TO set
tie is whether the remedies which the re-
publican party has adopted and is carry
ing out under Theodore Roosevelt shall
be continued?
In considering the question which
party has earned the confidence Of the
American people It is well to avoid
confusing the democratic party Of hon
orable record with the party sailing
under that name today. The historic
democracy is dead. The democracy of
today is Organism. The attempt to
link the Bryan fads of anti-imperial-
ism, federal license for corporations,
centralized control of banks and rail-
roads and the principle OF the initia-
tive and referendum with the democ-
racy OF Jefferson and Jackson and all
the other strict constructionists down
to the days Of Grover Cleveland is sim
pie absurdity. The tariff is really the
only issue on which Organism and de-
mocracy get within hailing distance. On
that issue Mr.. Taft, while adhering to
the basic principle OF protection, is
pledged to revision. Mr.. Bryan re-
jects the protective principle and offers
a fresh remedy every morning
The country approves the Roosevelt
policies. Mr.. Taft is pledged to the
continuance of them. Mr.. Bryan
claims to be heir to them and spends
his time in denouncing them. Mr..
Taft and the republicans promise to
alter and modify party policies to meet
changed conditions, but they do not
reverse their policies. Mr.. Bryan and
Organism democracy change policies
as the winds change and spit upon
party traditions. The republicans aim
to accomplish eventualities. The dem
ocrats confine their efforts to %expound-
ing theories. Mr.. Taft's program is
definite and specific. Mr.. Bryan's
plan is pleasingly worded, but consists
of vague g%eneralities. Two recent
contributions to the political literature
of the day clearly emphasize the differ
ence between the two parties. One Is
from Mr.. Taft's letter of acceptance,
the other from Mr.. Hearst's letter to
the California democrats. In his let
ter Mr.. Taft said:
The chief function OF the next admins
%tration, in my Judgment. is distinct from
and a progressive development of that
which has been performed by President
Roosevelt. The chief function OF the next
administration is to complete and perfect
the machinery by which these standards
may be maintained, by which the law
breakers may be promptly restrained and
punished, but which shall operate with
by which the high level of business integ-
fere with legitimate businessGas little as
possible.
The practical constructive and difficult
work, therefore, OF those who follow Mr..
Roosevelt is to devise the ways and means
by which the high level OF business integ-
rity and obedience to law which he has
established may be maintained and de-
psrtures from It restrained without undue
interference with Legitimate business.
In q IaffAr to tho nor,,o.a4i, ,I,,I -
San Francisco Mr.. Hearst said:
You imply, furthermore, that you are
democrats, and / cannot help wondering
what kind Of democrats YOU think YOU
are. Are you 1892 democrats, or 1896
democrats, or 1900 democrats. or 1904
democrats, or 1908 democrats? Are you
Cleveland democrats, believing in the
tariff reform that we didn't get. and the
military suppression of labor unions that
We did get? Are you Parker democrats,
supporting the trusts II they contribute
and opposing them IL they don't? Are you
Bryan democrats, believing in free silver
sometimes and In government ownership
sometimes, and in the initiative and the
referendum sometimes? And II YOU are
Bryan democrats and believe I'm these
things, do you also believe In a Bryan
platform that contains none of these
things?
There is no democratic party. There Is
only a Bryan party, and the followers of
that party don't know when they go to
bed at night what they will be called upon
to believe when they wake up in the
morning.
The people demand a calm continue
tion of the Roosevelt policies. No
waverers are wanted at this stage of
cur national life. Intelligent voters
will nave little d~if1cnltY In deciding