The Delta independent., 1908-10-23
Democratic Leaders from, Coast to
Coast Reject Vagaries of the
Nebraska Weather Vane.
William Prentiss of Chicago Says
Bryan as President Would BE \
Failure-SOuthernL Lifelong Demo-
Gratis Repudinte the Candidate
Catch Votes.


nounced their desertion of Bryan and
have advised their friends to vote for
Taft and Sherman is matter of grave
concern to Mr.. Bryan's managers. In
Richmond. Va, always a rock-ribbed
citadel of Democracy, a Taft business
mems club has been organized. with
hundreds of members, and in Baltimore
the defections of leading Democrats
has become the subject of daily Sc
rial in the newspapers. These illus
trations are given not because they are
exceptional in this campaign, but be-
cause of their geographical location.
In Chicago sensation was caused
by William Prentiss, who announced
that he will support Taft instead of
Bryan for President and Deneen in
stead of Stevenson for Governor. Mr..
Prentiss has been a Democratic lead
er in Chicago for several years. He
was Civil Service Commissioner under
Mayor Dunno and has several times
been Democratic candidate for judge.
In 1898 he was chairman of the Demo
cratic State convention. He was for
merly an ardent Bryan partisan
In letter made public recently Mr..
Prentiss charges Bryan with betraying
his followers and forsaking the prin-
ciples for which he stood prior to the
present campaign.
Mr.. Prentiss says:
Bryan claims that he is the man to
continue and extend Roosevelt's work,
claiming much of it as suggestions of
his own Less than three months ago
| preferred Bryan as Roosevelt,s sue
cessor. He was my party leader, in
whom | then had full confidence But,
as before indicated. my faith in Bryan
is n relic. Bryan. not the ideal Bryan
of the past, but the real Bryan of to-
day, surrounded by the Macks, Muir
phys. MeGraws, Taggarts, Sullivans
day Democratic party. at the best could
be but a dismal failure"
California Democrats for Taft.
4 John ]. Barrett. for years one of the
most brilliant orators of the Demo
cratic party of California, has regis
tered this year us Republican. That
registration has given the Democratic
managers a shock only second to that
which they felt when they learned that
! NJ F. Tarpey had deserted the shift
ing cause of Bryan.
My registration speaks for ITSELF"
said Mr. Barrett. When asked to
state my politics l said l was Re
publican. That tells the tale
Barrett preached Democratic doc
trines from all the stumps of Califor-
| mia.
Reasons of North CaroIinnn.
Regardless of past affiliations, stu
dents of affairs, delivers and thinkers.
are fast lining up for Judge Taft. A
recent example is that of Silas McBee,
I editor of the Churchman, of New York
In an interview he says:
u am North Carolinan by birth and
a lifelong Democrat. l shall vote for
to bring my people of the South back
into absolute union with the national
/ life and to their historic place as con-
trolling force in the nation. and TO do
which would immortalize him as
statesman.
II shall vote for him because he more
nearly represents my ideals of govern
ment of social order and economic pol
icy than any living Democrat. or any
man before the people to-day, save
alone Theodore Roosevelt, who is the
only Republican President l have ever
voted for. Mr.. Taft has administered
every trust committed to him by the ma
ton with an eye single to the nations
good and for the highest interests Of
the people that compose the nation"
The Roster In baltimore.
Mr.. George Il. Willis, former presi-
dent Of the Police Board OF Baltimore
and Democrat OF the old school will
cast the first Republican vote since he
attained his majority. Mr.. Willis will
vote for Taft.
"Jnder no circumstances could vote
Cor Bryan" said he. for the reason
that l do not believe he is since =. and
If sincere. is not good man for 2 es'-
dent of the United Sfates,"
How do you gauge public senti
ment?" Mr.. Willis was asked.
Among my clientele l know OF no
one who will vote for Bryan. There is
not a Democrat who favors him."
Another prominent southern Demo-
crat who will vote for Taft is Mr.. W.
A. Garrett. chief executive officer to the
receivers of the Seaboard Air Line
Railway Company.
Mr.. CARROTS reasons for supporting
the Republican candidate are that he
is the candidate of the business men
and his election would be for the bent