Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-07-16
Campaign
Who is "Dictator?"
(Boston Advertiser.)

(BOStOn AuNerllStI-)
The Democratic denunclatlon OF
President Roosevelt as dictator
has such rich, rare and racy element
of humor in it, that it must lfre-
sistibly appeal to most Americans a7
one Of the most incongruous features
of the Democratic campaign. For any
man sitting under the Bryan SHADOW
at Denver to talk about the 'dictatlon
of President Roosevelt, while so Su-
premely Indifferent to the mighty dlc-
tatiCn of Bryan, is in itself a UNIQUE
and telling bit of real humor. IL mas
been many years since any great
political party in this country mas
been so completely under the domlnat-
ing rule Of one man, as the Demo-
cratic party is under the RUE oi
Bryan; and the happy unconscious
ness of the facts, simulated by tne I'M
| comfortah BE Democrats who are trying
to effect d diversion by attacking the
President resembles the iiutterlng OF
the timid mother bird which tries to
draw the stranger away from the
| neighborhod Of its nest by STIMULATING
sudden weakness and fright
Up to 4 certain point both Of the
parties this year have shown very
| plain inclination to respect the wishes
of the larty leaders. There is no
question that the support by President
| Roosevelt Of any proposition before
the Chicago convention gave that
proposition great weight with hun
| dreds of delegates. The same thing
is true of the situation between Bryan
ana the Denver convention. But that
II, irt ~
ton And it is precisely because the
President did not insist upon being a
dictator, While Mr.. Bryan has insisted
upon just that position, that the CON
trast between the two men has been
most marked and striking. Even adj
hitting for the sake Of the contrast,
that President Roosevelt could have
been dictator had he wanted to be,
the fact remains that he refused TO DC,
and resisted q tremendous pressure
that was eXerted to allow himself TO
be made the dictator.
Theodore Roosevelt served but one
full term as President. Millions Of
Americans believed honestly and
heartily that he deserved another term.
The movement to insist upon his
nomination would have gained ire
sistible force, many well posted Re
pubicans believe, if the President had
merely closed his eyes to what was
going on. Yet he refused renomi-
nation most positively and in such
terms that no man could mistake his
meaning. ON the other hand, William
j. Bryan had twice been nominated
for President Custom and tradition
in this country was wholly against an
other nomination. Many of his party
believed that another nomination
means the serious injury of the party,
and there is no likelihood that he Will
be elected. Yet Mr.. Bryan would not
listen to the chief men in his own
party, as they besought him not to run.
He knew that by using his power he
could force the party to nominate
him. against the wish Of most Of the
other leaders. And 50 he has insisted,
and has made it his policy to try to
, bring about the downfall of every
Democrat who openly protests. Just
where President Roosevelt refused the
nomination, Bryan insisted upon hav-
ing it, in defiance Of all precedent and
all custom.
This same "rule or ruin" policy has
been followed by Mr.. Bryan in the
dozen years that he has been promi-
ncnt in national affairs. The figures
of the presidential votes in that time
show the results of that policy. The
strength Of the Democracy has fallen
off steadily, showing a loss of loo, 900
votes. altogether. And the loss in the
electoral college has been equally
significant. In 1892 Cleveland pollcd
20 votes in the electoral college In
1896 Bryan had almost exactly 100
votes less-116, to be exact. In 1900
Bryan polled but 155. In 1904 Parker
had l4o. Al his time Bryan was
recognized as the party leader, and
his word was supreme in the party
councils. He is the iron boss. but bv
insisting upon his absolute power he
has driven 4 large part of what was
formerly the Democratic party away
from him; and apparently he is still
engaged in that absorbing but losing
gamo. Theodore Roosevelt has had
honest differences Of opinion witt,
many prominent Republicans. and has
OFTEN beaten them in the party con
tests that followed: buj he has not
tried to read them out of the party
Tor any honest difference Of Wow.
lhat IS precisely why the RepubIicar
pa"ty. today. is SO strong. and the
Democratic party SO weak