Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-07-22
The Bolt of the "Antis,"

announce tnat the vote OF tHe AIlll-
imperialists" would be given to Bryan
as the result of the Philippine, or
rather the Philippine, plank in he
Democratic platform. Mr.. Winslow's
announcement failed to make any
great sensation, for it was commonly
supposed that he was the only anti
imperialist left and that he knew
where his vote would be cast.
Naturally enough it would be cast Cor
Mr. Bryan since Mr.. Bryan made one
of his various presidential campaigns
wholly on the issue of anti-imperial-
ism. That was in 1900. as perhaps
some will remember. In 1895 Bryan
had solemnly assured the country that
only the 50-cent dollar would save it
from prompt and everlasting ruin The
crown of thorns was being pressed
down upon the brow of labor and man
kind was being crucified upon cross
anybody or anything except through
the election of Bryan and the adop-
ton of the 50-cent dollar. Well, the
country saw things differently and left
the Bryan outfit in the ditch while it
proceeded to travel the prosperity road
with every dollar in circulation worth
100 cents.
Then in 1900 the Nebraskan had re-
covered his breath and his nerve and
the other that the republic would be-
come an empire and all its citizens
would become serfs if we did not
scuttle from the Philippines. The
country, however, was not in a
scuttling mood having other ideas of
national duty and national opportunity.
and Bryan's issue" of anti-imperial- |
ism was left in the wayside cemetery
along with his free silver folly. Since
schemes as to government ownership
Of the railroads and half dozen other
issues" and is out again for the
presidency on no issue at all except the
glorious plan of promising everything
to anybody who has a vote.
And so in gratitude for the tender
memories of 1900, Erving WinsloW |
says that Bryan shall have the anti
vote But here the plot thickens. 1t
CO 10 haC 9TH c' h1
Mr. Winslow still surviving and
that Winslow like Gompers is unable
to deliver the goods Two other
'antis" have been heard from-both
Bostonians of course,-and they make
their leaders announcement look like |
80 cents. Dana Estes, the publisher,
and an original anti" says: Bryan
has been on all sides of this Philippine
question. No one is more responsible |
for the ratification of the Spanish
treaty and the saddlng of the PHILIPPINE
islands upon this country than William
J. Bryan. and in that matter he dis
played his usual shallow judgment and
tendency to play politics with grave
constitutional and moral questions"
Then there is Winslow Warren,
with emphasis against the Bryan pro-
gram. He says that the difference be-
tween Taft and Bryan is the difference
between action and experience on one
side and words, words, words on the
other. He goes on to say: In view
of the kind of men surrounding Mr..
Bryan and dominating his convention,
would it be wise and safe to entrust
power to him and his advisers? Then
again. there are likely to be three or
four vacancies in the supreme court in
the next four years. Is Mr.. Bryan, or
Mr.. Taft, with his experience and
trained judgment. best qualified to fill
such vacancies? a vote for Mr.. Bryan
does, however, indorse questionable
principles of great importance, such as
guarantee of bank deposits, which
seems to put premium on careless or
fraudulent banking"
Plainly Erving Winslow cannot de-
liver the votes of his brother "ants"
to Bryan. In other words the tissue
on which Bryan ran for the presidency
in 1900 is as dead as the free silver
issue on which he ran in 1896 as dead
as his 1905 issues" will be year or
two hence.