The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-07-24
CAMPAIGN PUBLICITY.
Republicans Dodged the Issue at
Chicago.
8Y BRUTE FORCE OF MONEY.

Action of the G. o. p. Convention In
vises the Criticism That It's Cam
paisn viii Be Wased on Doodle
Basis = Democratic Anti-injunetion
Plank Approved by Both Capital and
Labor-Popular Election of Senator'S.
By WILLIS j. ABBOT.
OF course by this time the ticket OF
the Democratic party is clearly known
and, in my Judgment generally ap-
proved. It is not necessary here to go
into detail concerning the qualidca-
9ions for the places sought by the two
men. he who would seek to say what
Mr.. Bryan stands for would be indeed
an over self assertive man. And John
nv. Kern Is so well known to the pee
ple of his state and the adjoining
states that It Is wholly unnecessary to
cay anything now about him. AS my
readers have already had the platform,
they must Judge for themselves Of Its
qualities
The Ncxs Step.
Within few days majority of the
members Of the Democratic national
committee will visit Mr.. Bryan in Lin
coin. At that. time the organization
oe the campaign will be determined
upon In a preliminary way, not per-
1nanent one. It will probably be two
or three weeks before the chairman.
secretary and executive committee VIII
be. selected. We hear many names
suggested for these places, but as yet
there has been no centering on one OF
them. Committeeman Ryan OF Wis
cousin would make q strong man at
the head Of the ma tional committee. So,
too, would James Kerr Of Pennsylva-
mia. Mr.. Kerr has the advantage at
this moment Of having made win
ming fight against one Of the most
1orceful and at the same time most
Sinister politicians In his own state.
when he won place on the national
committee he showed strength IN
politics that would justify his aspira-
ton to the national Craftsmanship. Per
Gaaps before publication Of this letter a
selection may be made, but my judg-,
ment Is that it will not be. Certainly
the new national committee is ear
nestly and enthusiastically favorable
30 Mr.. Bryan, and his suggestion as to
chairman, secretary and other execu-
tive positions will in all probability be
accepted. A candidate whose acqui-
escence was sought before any action
was taken by the convention, candi-
date who absolutely refused to inter
9ere in the slightest degree with any
movement In behalf Of this man or
that maa whose name had been men-
ticned for second place, might well be
intrusted with selecting the managers
of his own campaign.
Concerning the Platform.
When we Democrats came to Den
yer it was to meet threats that on the
anti-lnjunction plank there would be
made such fight as never was
known in a Democratic convention
since the time we fought over free
silver. What happened? There was
no fight. We heard that Judge Alton
B. Parker was coming from New York
to antagonize not merely the views OF
the majority on this particular declara-
ton Of principles. but to oppose Mr..
Bryan himself. Judge Parker came to
Denver and made it his purpose to
meet the closest friends Of Mr. Bryan
and to say that under no circumstances
would he do anything to be regarded
rs hostile to the Nebfaskan. The state
Of New York, supposed to be hostile,
voted its entire seVenty-eight votes for
the nominee and voted for the plat
form. In talking with a number OF
labor men have found that the ap-
proval Of the anti-injunctiop plank Is
universal. One whose name may not
mention, but who is known to mem
bers Of organized labor all over the
hand, said to me: "The question Of the
anti-injunction plank was necessarily
left to Samuel Gompers, president Of
sthe,American Federation Of Labor. BE
has approved the action Of the conyen-
tton, and Wes viii all approve%it." On
the other hand, prominent representa-
tives Of the employing classes here In
Denver say thas the plank is SO lair
and that the presidential nominee is
90 thoroughly to be trusted not to de-
stroy business interests that they &C.
cept the labor declaration Of the Dem
ocratic party. For an issue which
prior to the convention seemed to be
likely to create serious hostility this
one has In the end been so thoroughly
smoothed out that no political dissen-
sion seems likely to result from It
As to Campaign Publicity.
Here is rather an interesting thing.
The president Of the United States,
Mr. Roosevelt, and the nominee Of the
RepsSlican party at Chicago, Mr.. Taft,
come months ago declared themselves
in favor of federal law compelling
the publication Of all contributions
made to campaign funds. Not having
any influence with the recent Repub-
lican convention in Chicago, Mr..
Roosevelt and Mr.. Taft were unable
to get a plank in the Republican plat
form giving effect to what they had
asserted to be their desires. Mr.. La
Toilette sent in such a plank. but every
Taft man and every Roosevelt man
voted 1t down. The Democratic party