Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-31
SPRECHER TO SUPPORT TAFT
Populist Editor Announces This as His
Purpose.
BRYAN ONLY AN OFFICE SEEKER
Convinced Democratic Candidate Ad-
heres TO and Drops Issues
Merely for Votes They
VIII Bring.

Taft and Sherman" is the title Of a
leading editorial in the current issue of
the Schuyler Free Lance, IN which its popu-
list editor, John c. sprecher, announces
his determination to support the republican
candidates for president and vice pres-
dent
Mr.. sprecher says he is disguised" with
Mr.. Bryan for the way he supports and
deserts issues and he is convinced the Lin
coin candidate is out after the votes and is
willing to adhere to any policy that Will
bring them.
The Schuyler editor IL a populist leader.
He was twice elected to the lower house
OF the Nebraska legislature by his party
in Colfax county, and in the leading ses-
sion he was the recognized floor leader,
taking an active part in debate, seeking to
keep the record straight for the political
element he represented. Mr.. Sprecher,
during his participation in the legislative
councils was an active partisan and his
decision has always been regarded as fol-
| lowing a thorough consideration Of any
question upon which it was offered
Mr.. sprecher tells Of his decision to sup
| port the republican national ticket in the
following words:
The editor of the Free Lance Is not
republican and does not expect to be. This
editor is a populist in belief, and endorses
| the principles OF that party which has
nominated Tom Watson again for presi-
dent. He is for the platform that Tom
Watson runs on and is an admirer of Wat
sons, and voted for him four years ago.
But this year in Nebraska a populist can
not vote for Watson owing to the manipu-
lation of the electors by the machine ele-
ment of that party, which is made up of
lot Of masquerading democrats. In Ne
braska this year a populist cannot vote for
Watson and must be disfranchised or else
choose from the other nominees.
sprecher Dissusted with Bryan.
Above all else this year, the Free Lance
editor is opposed to the election of w. J.
Bryan TO the presidency because he is
simply disguised with the standing candi-
| date, who is apparently for or against
any proposition that will net him votes
In 1896. when Bryan ran for president
the first time, this writer was enthusiast
tisally for him and was a silver" advo-
cate not that we considered his bime-
talism a solution of the money question,
but because we were opposed to the single
gold standard ana looked upon free sill
/ yer" as a step in the right direction of an
| increase Of currency. But 1t was a part
| OF the ''instrinsic value" sophistry was
the gold standard idea and a makeshift
at best
In 1900. when still standing by his free
silver ideas. Bryan made the fake OF
| ti-impeF1allsm and anfi-nnilitarism his
chief issues. He based his charges of
! imperialism on the Philippine policy of the
/ government. after he was to a great ex-
tent responsible for It, and his cry of the
dangers of a large standing army was bum
combe. While not a warm supporter Of
his. still he was voted for that year be-
cause we were not Mckinley advocate.
But Bryan's actions since 1900 and his
present campaign work and talk are such
that we cannot support him and feel it q
duty TO oppose his election and in the most
effective manner.
"On Ice'' fer Four Years.
In 1904. in the national democratic con-
vention. he was not a candidate-that is, he
had put his candidacy on ice because he
realized that no one could defeat Roosevelt,
so he stayed back and let Parker get the
benefit, so that he could come forward
again in 1908 as a greater and apparently
stronger leader than ever. All he did in
that campaign was to keep himself in line
and regular. the while he saw to It that
Parker and Parkerism were killed off. In
that convention, as the Nebraska member
Of the committee on resolutions, he made
the fight of his life to have free silver
endorsed in the platform, and failing there
he carried the fight to the floor of the con-
vention and went down to defeat. But in
so doing he alienated a certain element
from Mr.. Parker that would insure his de-
feat On the other hand. had he gained his
point II would have meant defeat No bet
ter proof of his insincerity in that need be
pointed TO than the fact that this year.
when he wrote the democratic platform
and could have anything In It he desired.
he fails to mention silver. although It is as
live an issue as Il was in 1904. But In 1904
he was killing Parker and relegating that
element to the rear to be the one candidate
sought by the democratic hosts in 1905
Iasaes Passed BY.
This year he has little to say on i'm
perialism, although the republicans have
not changed their policy. but It is a cold
issue and Bryan avoids all such regardless
of his past expressed ideas. And he even
fails to tell of the dangerous tendency to
militarism our enormous standing army is,
because that is not a winner.
His professed belief in governmental
ownership of railroads is dropped because
he saw that it would not do and would
lose him votes so 1t is dropped. as is all
things that DO not bring net results.
The tariff is again made one OF the
main issues, after being neglected for sew
eral campaigns, but in that he will not find
a great issue, for the republicans are de-
elaring for a revision the while they hold
to the principle of protection.
His main effort will be to gain the vote
of organized labor with his H"n-iniunetioH
piaNk, which simply means that labor ID
not protected in any legitimate rights, but
is licensed to commit outlawry In time OF
strikes or riots and that the courts are
powerless TO protect life and property at a
time when protection Is necessary. Labor
ana capital must travel hand in hand and
one can not be permitted 10 unjustly treat
the other and be OF permanent benefit Il
itself. The anti-injunction plank smackl
too much OF demagogy for q man TO aspire
TO the high office of president on.
Bryan has deserted free silver h,
dropped government ownership he is veal
on imperialism and he is not frantically
calling attention OF the American people Il
the dangers of our enormous standinl