The Washington herald., 1908-07-14
POLITICAL COMMENT.

comment in the press, and while most
papers dwell on tho fact that Mr.. Kern
Is unknown outside of Indiana. there Is
q strong feeling that he win add strength
to the ticket I'm the West where il is
agreed the biggest Democratic effort Is
to be made. The Boston Transcript
says:
In comparison Of the qualifications Of
the Vice Presidential candidates Of the
two parties, Mr.. Kern suffers heavily.
He has had no Congressional experience
and no association with the greater pub
lie affairs Of the nation. Mr.. Sherman.
on the other hand, has served twenty
years IN Congress. has acquired a great
familiarity with legislation. has partlci-
pated IN the inner councils os the Repub-
llcans. and Is emingntly qualified for the
duties OF the place for which he has been
selected. Mr.. sherman therefore, comes
nearer meeting the popular demand that
the Vice Presidential candidate shall be
a man capable IA an emergency OF per-
forming the duties Of the President,
Presidential understudy equipped with
wide knowledge OF administration, and
capable also of exhibiting originality iR
directing the affairs intrusted TO the
Executive. AS Mr. Taft IS vastly pref
NA&hAG " W. ID alls 80 - MI DAANA man
superior TO Mr.. Kern"
The Philadelphia Public Ledger thinks
the Kern nomination as good o one as
could have been made. IT says
John w. Kern is a strong man In a
State which Mr.. Bryan hopes 20 carry,
strong himself and strong with the Demo-
cratic politicians, beginning with Tom
Taggart and going down TO the county
managers. He is described as a man of
intense activity and a campaigning power
admitted by all parties IN Indiana. When
only twenty-one he was stumping IN his
own behalf, the Democratic candidate for
the legislature. Since then ne has almost
continuously been kept before the voters
by his party. sometimes being elected and
sometimes defeated, but always aggres-
sive. resourceful. and popular In 1856 he
was a vigorous supporter Of Bryah's free
silver ideas, though he had been a Cold
Democrat before the nomination. His
total abstinence and outspoken religious
convictions have won the favor Of the
church people. though he was FOR many
years the close friend OF Teggart Alto
gether. the choice OF Mr.. Kern. the first
candidate Cor either party for many years
TO be carefully selected FOR the second
place by the leader. appears 70 be justl-
fed. Kern viii not be a 1igurehead. but a
real contributor Of political force"
The New York Mail points out that
John W. Kern fell 25.163 votes short Of
success in 1900 and S4.3C4 I'm 1906. and these
are the two worst defeats ever sustained
by a HOosier gVberuatorial candidate
His experience IN public affairs has been
confined 20 service In the legislature and
as city attorney Of Indianapolis, and 10
several unsuccessful quests FOR higher
Office. II is fair TO say. however, that he
is better known than most Of the men
mentioned az Denver for the Vice Presi-
Dental nomination.
The completed lineup Of the two lead
ing parties-the far West and the Middle
West on the ono side, and the Middle
West and East on the other-is not with
out significance"
The New York World dwells on Mr..
Kern's variegated political record. Il
says.
'Kern's political record IS as Yariegated
as that Of his chief There is scarce Il
public question before the American peo-
Pie which he has not both opposed and
supported. Early in 1886 he was a Gold
Democrat Later In the same year he
was shouting for Bryan and free silver.
He has been against hauling down the
flag IN the Philippines and for hauling il
down. Three weeks ago he issued a
statement, in which he said: 81 am not
in favor OF g plank declaring against in
functions. and do not believe the Demo-
Gratis will incorporate such a plank IN the
rIu form % e Ia. .-1rs
pleased because there IS an Injunction
plank. Manifesly a iluttering and highty
politician OF a familiar type"
The Charleston News and Courier sees
that Mr. kern's nomination VIII have a
great effect IN his home state. It says:
with Mc. Kern IN the field. the State
must be regarded as debatable ground.
and II the people will only listen 20 argu-
meut. they viii find that there IS more for
them and their section IN the election Of
Mr. Bryan and their own distinguished
Kern than in the success Of the ticket Of
predatory wealth led by Mr.. Taft and his
fat-frying running mate, James sherman,
OF Utica"
The Baltimore American admits that
Mr.. Bryan does not easily give up hope
when It says.
Mr.. Bryan's optimism Is Of the right
kind says a Texas contemporary. Il
certainly IS Of durable kind, at any
rate"
The Pittsburg Post has q word 10 say
about Roosevelt policies most OF which
It thinks were borrowed" from Bryan:
Lodge said: Although the President
retires. he leaves his policies behind him
Which poHcles2 The ones that were
never mentioned IN any Republican plat
form. but which be stole from the Dem
OcraIc platforms OF several conventions.
or are his policies that visionary hash
that marvellous cOng.OmeratiOn Of vaga-
ries, only TO be eXhumed from his mes
sage;. and not discOverable in any act
Of Congress embOdyiug them into statu-
tory law2 If they be the stolen policies
he has, indeed. left them behind him.
He has advertised loudly his pretense of
enforcement, but quit like steer when
powerful Wall street or intimate friends
yelled OUGHT II il be his original
moonlight fancies, then bequeathing
them TO Taft involves the rebuke Of Com
gress for ignoring the whole batch.
VIII he trade Congress for Taft?"
on the question Of cheering for Bryan.
the Baltimore sun declares the delegates
are willing workers. 1t says:
The delegates at Denver are willing
workers; they are fresh from the farm.
factory, and office; they have not been
worn out by the arduous labors of filling
government positions, as have our Re
publican friends, and they are Just
natural shouters. They went to Colorado
chOck fun OF cheers that had never been
cheered. When Senator Gore threw at
them the bomb Of Bryan. they just nat
urally exploded in a manner that al
most took the roof off the new CON
vention hail. They must have applauded
by platoons. companies. and battalions.
with relays and re-enfOrcements stationed
along the route. II you don't think 81