Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-10-29
BRYAN and Republican Senate

Bryan and q Republican Senate.
There are some who fancy that the
election of Bryan would De merely a
halt in which neither party would have
full control Of the government, and that
this would be a restful period for the
country. How little the persons who
hold this view have considered the prac-
teal features of such a situation, and
Bryan's qualities as an agitator Re
Gently he was questioned as to what
he could do as President with Repub-
Hcan Senate to reckon with, and he re-
piled at some length in a speech at Buff
falo. He said he could make a begin
ming by presenting measures of tariff
reform, for the regulation Of corpora
lions and railroads, for the guarantee
Of bank deposits, for declaring the ulti
mate independence of the Filipino and
for setting in motion all that is includ-
ed in the Denver platform. One of the
things in that platform is greenbacks as
emergency currency, though Mr.. Bryan
was careful not to give this fact par
ticular mention. He is a free trader,
and there is not the slightest doubt
that he would show it in his tariff pro-
ceedings. His messages, all marked by
his personal and party bias, would be
incessant, according to his rash habit
with the issues he takes up from time
to time
A President has extensive powers of
his own and weighty methods of indu-
encing even an opposition Congress.
After March 4 next Mr.. Bryan would
call Congress in extra session, and 1t
is probable that, along with his cleo
ton, the House would be Democratic.
His vast resources in patronage would
be applied to break down what remain
ed Of Republican control and to hasten
the day when all departments of the
government would be Democratic. He
said at Buffalo: 1T is reasonable 10
assume that the Republicans i'll the Sen
ate will recognize the force of public
opinion and see the folly of putting
themselves in opposition to the de!iber-
ate judgment of voters" A Republican
Senate under Bryan would be ON the
defensive at every point from the no
ment of Bryan's inauguration. He
would treat it as a body repudiated By
the people and tagging super1uous on
the stage. His messages would be
planned to discredit it with the country,
and he would adroitly try to saddle
upon it the responsibility for his own
mistakes and failures. Whatever went
wrong, his ready excuse would be that
the Republican Senate crippled his poll
cies and that all would be as rosy as
his accustomed promises If his party
had full power to act.
1t must be remembered that Mr.. By
an condemned the administration of Mr.
Cleveland as severely as those of Nc
Kinley and Roosevelt. He would not
accept any of these as model nor sub
scribe to the financial policy of Mr..
Cleveland. He would be the exponent
Democrats cannot intelligently support
him with any other understanding. In
Bryan's whole career the seeds of rtyO-
luton have lurked. His treatment of
his party illustrates the readiness with
which he resorts to the one-man power
If the Republican party after twelve
years of full authority cannot hold its
lines against Bryan, it is vain to expect
to resist the general upheaval he rep
resents when all the line is carried ex-
cept a Republican Senate. Bryan's
election could not fall short of a Bryan
lied government. The Senate also could
not prevent this result Bryan would
oreupower it and at the same time shift
all blame to its shoulders. Let no oppo-
nelt of Organism imagine that it can
DC INDUCED half way. 1t is not half
right nor half Safest. Louis Globe
Democrat.