Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-10-31
Many Influential Members of
That Party Refuse to
Support Bryan.
New England, New York, New Jersey,
Maryland and the Southern States
All Furnish Evidence Of a Sweep
Ing Democratic Rally to
TAFT and Sanity.

That Taft and Sherman will have
he votes OF a very large number Of
Democrats or November 3D. Is not
remarkable; 1t would be remarkable
1t the Democracy, including in Its
ranks many who are eminent In busi-
ness, In the professions and In vari-
pus branches OF industry, were united
behind Bryan. who represents q plat
form which aims to cripple business
and industry, and to ~paralyze every
form OF legitimate enterprise. Bry-
ans past has been followed and stud
led by thoughtful, intelligent and
conservative members OF the party
to which he claims to belong, and the
result Is not favorable to Bryan. In
the view of many Democrats he has
grown worse instead Of better, and
his free silver folly OF twelve years
ago has not been improved upon by
his free trade, bank guarantee and
nifty per cent. business Limitation vag-
aries OF more recent date. Bryan is
not exactly like the person In the
Scripture who got rid OF one evil
spirit only to let seven more take its
place. He has a warm corner yet for
the first devil, besides the later ar
rivals. and there Is no telling what
new schemes for turning things top
ey-turvy are being conjured in his
volatile brain.
No wonder, therefore, that many
sane Democrats are for Taft. All of
them do not speak their feelings;
most OF them, probably. are silent,
except when circumstances make 1t
Imperative that they should speak.
For Instance, Ferdinand Strauss, of
Boston, and Charles s. Davis, Of Ply
mouth, Massachusetts, were so quiet
about their intentions to vote for
Taft that they were named as Presi-
Dental electors on the Bryan ticket.
Then they spoke out and said they
were for Taft, and their places on the
Bryan ticket had to be filled by 9TH
ers. Messrs. Davis and Strauss
doubtless typifed a very numerous
class of Massachusetts, Democrats
who prefer the Republican candi-
dates, policies and principles to a
witch's caIdron of Organism.
Rhode Island was never more Sc
cure for the Republicans than In the
present national campaign. The real
Old-fashioned Democracy, typiied by
men like Charles Sisson and DIR.
James l.. Sullivan. is either out
spoken for Taft like the gentlemen
named. or quietly waiting for election
day, when many Democratic votes
will be given to the candidates who
represent the policies which have
made Rhode Island a great little
State. In New Hampshire, also, the
old-line Democrats are largely for
Taft. Among the more prominent
who will vote for the Republican
candidates are Kirk s. Pierce. of
TJtl1ut<>~D ~A~hA-r ,.I EAt. ~ n-Au
ident Franklin Pierce, and Alvah w.
Sulloway, OF Franklin, formerly DEM
ocratic National Committeeman.
IN New York City and State the
number of Democrats who refuse to
accept Bryan and Gompers IS very
large, as the vote on election day will
prove. They are not, as a rule. doing
much talking, but they are talking
enough for 1t to be an open secret
that they want Taft, and will vote
for him. Many of the leading mer-
chants are Democrats, but it Is said
on good authority that n~inety-nine
In one hundred are for Taft, because
they" regard his election as necessary
to business interests. Among New
York Democrats who have come out
resolutely and actively for Taft, Mr..
John Miles deserves honorable men,
tion. Mr.. Miles has sent out many
thousands of circulars. to all parts of
the United States. favorable to Taft,
with excellent results. Nearly all re-
plies have been most encouraging.
Mr.. Frederic r. Coudert, the noted
New York lawyer, is also for Taft,
and Major-General Daniel e. Sickles,
one Of the heroes of Gettysburg, and
heretofore a stanch Democrat. has
come out for Taft. Among other
prominent New York Democrats who
put Principle above party In national
affairs Is William B. Davenport, for
merly Public Administrator, a noted
lawyer OF Brooklyn, New York; Ed
mund Wetmore, ex-president of the
Harvard Club; John r. Dos Passos. a
noted lawyer, who voted for Alton B.
Parker; and Edward J.. Maxwell, a
leading member of the bar, formerly
captain in the Irish Brigade of the
Army Of the Potomac, counsel for
General Wade Hampton In his con-
test for the governorship OF South
Carolina, District Attorney and DEM
ocratic chairman in Colorado, and
later city attorney at Amsterdam,
New York. and chairman of the DEM
ocratic City Committee. Many others
might be named who have spoken out
LOT idIt, ana very many VINO speak
only to their intimate friends. 1t is
a shameful truth, also that many
Denpcrats intend to vote for Bryan
who would be appalled, at the thought
OF his election, and who regard the
very suggestion of Bryan's success
as q nightmare to be shaken off as
quickly as possible. 1t is to be hoped
thatall in this category will conclude
to support Taft, and thereby help in
averting the danger of Organism,
which is so clearly apparent to their
Intelligence.
In Maryland Taft sentiment APP
pears predominant among the better
class of Democrats, those who are
sufficiently we'll informed to grasp
the issues Of the campaign, and to