New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-10-01

TIE FAILURE OF BRYAN'S ISSUES
If The successful raising of issues is the
measure of a candidates effectiveness. then MI
Rrvsn has failed more completely this time
than ever before The people could divide over
the questions which he projected before them
in his two previous campaigns, and they dio
divide over them. the resulting discussion pe'ns
earnest and even passionate But what sign Is
there now Of any such division OF opinion :
What issue of his is now receiving anything
more than languid discussions
The paramount Issue of the campaign, an
nounced with great flourish, what mas become
of il? Where is the excitement that shouIu
attend the discussion Of shall the people
rule?" 1t fell fat the instant It was announced
an utter and melancholy failure TO DIVIDE the
country into hostile camps over a truism. The
measure of rewards was another new issue
which did not excite a ripple OF interest A
little mild laughter met the solemn observation
tbs+ everybody ought TO he fairly and equitaoly
maid for what he does. Like the paramount
Issue II was noIitical bromide; that was ali.
No one talked about It. no one could talk
abort if Even Mr. Bryan himself who can
+aT- ahou+ almost anything under the sun. soon
found he could not talk about this, and ne IS
now as silent on il is every one else
When Mr.. Gompers got back from Denver
hV o
nronised "a be the great issue. 1t is forgotten
nov or nearly so. MI Bryan studiously
avoids telling the country what it means. lie
craa fes the impression of lodging his own issue
inst as be lodged the government ownership
of railways, and Of joining Mr.. Gompers ii
secret wish that they were both vel! rio OF
their bid for the labor vote" The govern
ment guarantee of deposits, which is hardly
matter of first class Importance, hardly an issue
on which the choice of President would be
permirted 10 hang, attracts more attention Lnan
anv other Of his policies, but even regarding
that there is no evidence Of public excitement
The discussion Of II is not persistent or general
Sporadicallv something is said about it in a
wav that suggests an academic interest rather
than ANYTHING stronger. And the proposal IS
unanimously condemned by every one qualified
10 speak with authority upon It The most that
can be said Of it is that unlike his other great
issues il has not been laughed out Of the arena
of discussion or quietly ignored
The scheme for the regulation Of the trusts IS
rarely mentioned. There Is no sign that 1t has
taken hold upon the public. Everybody real
ICES that the big producing corporations present
p great problem. Mr.. Bryan has hazarded his
guess about it's solution, and his guess has been
seer. Al first glance to be Sc impractcahIe as 10
fail 10 interest the public. His guess has no
more merit in II than that Of the average man
in the street who might spend ten minutes out
lining his way with the trusts It IS absurd ana
cbiEnerical and the people are yawning over II
With the tariff as an issue The Democratic can
didate has Jared no better than with the other
issues. Is there any such discussion of the
tariff as there would be if the people were IN
tereste1-as there was, say. when Cleveland
made 1t an issue? The people refuse TO take
Mr.. Bryan or his party seriously, with his rec
ord and its record upon the subject as tariff
reformers. His speech upon the tariff has
hardly left sn echo. Whatever issues there are
in the campaign. they are not of the Democratic
candidates making or seeking.