The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-10-23


country In November is found in the
continued numerous OBJECTIONS of here
tofore prominent Democrats from that
party. Practically all of them give as
a reason that they cannot support the
thrice offered candidate and his change
able and unstable theories Of govern
ment They simply cannot bring them
selves to be identified with Bryan.
Perhaps the most notifying incl
dents which the Democrats have expe-
rienced in the present campaign were
In Massachusetts,, where two big men
named as Democratic presidential cleo
tors declined to serve on the ground
that they were unable to support Mr..
Bryan and greatly preferred Mr.. Taft.
These men were Ferdinand Strauss and
G. II. p. Gould, Of Lyons Falls, both
business men Of the first rank. Mr..
Strauss, especially, has been prominent
in the Massachusetts Democracy for a
long time. Their declinatlon to serve
as Bryan electors caused a sensation in
the old Bay State and throughout the
country.
Democratic Congressman for Taft
Eugene Walter Leake, Democratic
Representative in Congress from New
Jersey, called at Republican National
Committee headquarters early this
month to offer his services on the stump
for William III. Taft. Though he has
been a stanch Democrat all his life, he
is bitterly opposed to William Jennings
Bryan aud because he believes that the
election of Bryan to the Presidency
would mean the greatest calamity to
the country since the civil war, he is
ready to exert himself to the utmost to
aid the election Of Judge Taft. He is
speaking at Republican rallies through.
out the Eastern States.
Democrats Organize to Fight Bryan.
That the sentiments felt by these men
are shared by many in New York is
shown in the organization Of the Sleeve
land Democracy" an association whose
principles are anti-Bryan, and which
has been formed, according TO the arti
Giles Of incorporation. Ito revive the true
spirit Of Democracy among the voters
Of Harlem and of the whole city"
Headquarters hYe been opened and the
club Is doing active work, not, 1t is al
most unnecessary to say, In the inter-
ests of the continuous Nebraska office
seeker.
John r. Dos Passos, a leading New
In nd xuh ho nj
ways been a Democrat, has come out
IN long statement announcing his al
legiance to Taft and denouncing Bryan
ism and the remnants Of the party which
Bryan controls. 81 am Democrat" he
says, 81 expect to cast my vote for Mr..
Taft" William B. Davenport we'll
known Brooklyn Democrat, for many
years Public Administrator Of Kings
County, has denounced the Democratic
platform and Is now a vice president of
the Taft-Sherman Lawyers Club.
Anti-Bryan Sentiment Widespread.
Former Special City Judge Irving
K. Baxter, Of Utica, n. Y, who has
always been a Democrat, and was
elected on that ticket, not only has re-
pudiated Bryan, but will take the
stump and advocate the election of
Taft and Sherman. Even up In Maine,
where the members Of the Democratic
are supposed to be hopelessly
bidebound, there is detection. w. H.
of Scarboro. for instance,
announces that he has become so dis
gusted with Bryan in the Haskell con-
troversy that he has swung over to
the Republican party.
After hearing Judge Taft speak at |
st. Louis, J. ID. Houseman, Of Denver, |
Colo, a well-known railroad builder, |
announced his conversion to the Re-
publican party and its candidates. Mr.. |
Houseman had been loyal Democrat |
for many years. This incident of |
course, is direct tribute to Judge |
Taft's powers as q campaigner, of |
which many evidences were produced |
on his now famous western trip.
"Conversions" I'm the West.
At st. Joseph, Mo-, one OF the feat |
ures was the conversion" Of W.. f. |
Davis, a prominent Democrat, who |
went to a meeting at the stock yards
to see Mr.. Taft. After sizing up the |
latter Mr.. Davis declared: ~
thought I would vote for Mr.. Bryan,
but this man surely looks good to me-" |
Another Missouri Democrat f.. d.
Haywood, a Burlington Railroad con-
luctor of st. Louis, evidently was |
impressed; at any rate, he
has announced that Taft will get his |
vote Noticeable among the vice presi-
dents at the Taft reception at ST. |
Louis were James II. Smith, head of |
the St Louis Business Mems League,
and Frederick N. Judson, well-known
lawyer. both Democrats who have de-
rlared their intention of supporting
Taft.
Some readers will remember that in