Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-03-26
RIGHT IN 1908.

X i II Ii Il Il " y - o"
Walter WelIman. always an inter
ing writer, is especially so when he
treats of political matters to which be
has given thought and investigation.
In a. recent issue of the Chicago Rec
d-Herald he expressed his views on
Mr.. Bryan's chances Of being elected
to the presidency. He says:
"Mr. Bryan believes he is to be the
nominee.
"Mr. Bryan believes he will stand
much better chance to win at the polls
than in either his first or second bat
tie"
Mr.. Wellman does not treat lightly
Mr.. Bryan's hopes of being president;
but on the contrary, gives some strong
reasons why his chances are far better
in 1908 than they were either in 1896 or
in 1900. Here are Mr.. Wellman's own
words:
"Mr. Bryan's strong belief in his
nomination is not based upon mere
hope. or rainbows, or cOnceit, or gilt
terinp generalities. He knows his
party: he knows the facts. His conf
dence raises a strong presumption
that he is altogether correct"
1--WE are not now making any esti-
mate whatever as TO the outcome OF the
election; we are only comparing the
Democratic chance, broadly, with the
Democratic chances in recent cam
paigns: ..
l. Mr.. Bryan was at a tremendous
DISADVANTAGE in 1896 in TWO import
ant particulars.
2. He was wrong, bopelessly, ab8o-
lutely wrong, on the money question,
and the intelligence of the country de-
cided against him"
Mr.. Wellman has given the sum of
the matter: Mr.. Bryan was wrong,
radically wrong, on the paramount is
sue of 1896, and the right judgment of
of the country decided against him"
But in 1908 Mr.. Bryan is absolutely
ly right on the great national prob
lens which demand solution. He has
always been right on the tariff ques-
ton, and an able and fearless advo-
cate of the doctrine of commercial free
dom. He is right in his opposition to
government being administered for the
benefit of the few, and in declaring
that all other issues of 1908 are com
pretended in this one great issue:
"Shall the government be admins
tered for the protection of the rights
and the advancement of the interests
of the general public, or shall it be
controlled by the representatives of
corporate wealth and administered in
the interest of the few"
Let those who have no hope of see
ing the end of the triumph Of the Re
publican party ponder over the fol-
lowing words of Mr.. Wellman:
"This year? Let us reserve discus
sion in detail till the proper moment
shall have arrived. But in passing
consider for a moment certain facts:
luete has Deou duObnSF panic, IGS
effects are still here. 1t is not Dem
Ocratic administration that is respOn-
sible for it this time. The people want
prosperity again.
"Wm they trust do-nothing,
PATCHWORK, makeshift Republican
Congress to bring it back? Or will
they in resentment turn TO the other
party, whose leader is no longer mis-
trusted as radical?
81 do not know, and DO not at this
time have even an impression. But it
seems very clear that Mr.. Bryan is
right-he now has a better chance than
he ever had before.
1.-The Republican party has not now
the sure thing it had in 1900 and 1904,
when the opposition stood no chance
at all.
This year is a fighting year. and
no one can blame Mr.. Bryan for
wanting to go to the front once more. q"