Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-05-01

a liberal gentleman with fat wad, or
several liberal gentlemen with several
fat wads. s."-COlumbia State.
Just why the State should feel called
upon to make reference to liberal gen.
tlemcn with fat wads." we do not
know
If there is anybody out to buy white
delegates to the Democratic nominating
convention as black delegates to the
Republican nominating conventions are
bought. we do not know of it, and
furthermore we will say that if
there is anybody who thinks that any
man who is likely to go from this
state to the Democratic nominating
convention can be bought with a
"wad." that man is an idiot.
OF course, we are not so unsophisti-
Gated as to be unable to understand
that in the event of the election of Mr..
Bryan or Mr. Johnson, the influences
that brought about the nomination will
come in for consultation in the dis
penSatiOn of administration favors.
We know also that this fact often ac-
counts for the activity of individuals
and newspapers in the interest of par
ticular candidates. But we do not de-
sire to be understood as making any
|insinuations or reflections in this con-
nection.
When the State asks, rs it the pol
icy or practice of Democrats to have
no opinions no convictions, no deter
minationS?" we are more or less anus
ed. There is not one man in ten thou
sand who would not resent the sug-
gestion that he is without opinions,
convictions or determination; but as
we see it, the white people Of this
country are tied hand and foot in ma
tional politics as completely as if they
We're absolutely denied the attributes
50 banterlngly thrown out by the
State.
The people Of the south have but
little Say-SO as TO what the Democrat
ic party should stand for; but 1t is
the only party to which they can at
tach themselves and keep their self
respect, and therefore they have to take
whatever is measured out for them.
Why even our contemporary, the Co.
lumbia State, seems to be on record as
having reflected on the motives of
those who have been disposed to sug
gest a desire for the nomination Of
anybody except Mr.. Bryan. calling them
assistant Republicans. Just what it
meant can be variously explained
But in schoolboy life, what might be
regarded as the equivalent of that
term applied by one boy to another,
would likely bring about hair pulling
bee.
AS we have said before, we make no
question of the fitness or ability Of Mr.
Bryan, He is both able and fit for
the presidency. We believe he is a
better man than Mr.. Roosevelt, and we
would not dispute that he is an ADLER
man than John A. Johnson. But we
do not believe that Mr.. Bryan is avail
able. He has been twice defeated, and
we are unable to see that he would
SlttHu any pellSI SliON HON 'toii iiS
stood the last time he was a candi-
date.
Mr.. Bryan is unable to carry his own
state of Nebraska. He is not very
has even lost states that previously be-
longed to the solid SOUTH" and to us
| it looks as if it would be worse than
folly to put him up again.
We do not pretend to say that John
A. Johnson is the only other man the
Democrats have available for a pres
idential nomination. but the argument
in favor of his availability seems to
be as strong as the argument against
the availability of Mr.. Bryan. John
son has carried his own state, nomi-
nally Republican, against Republican
candidates, and that seems to prove
something. A man who can carry
Minnesota can also carry other Repub-
lican states, or at least we would
think so.
There is good reason to believe that
Mr. Bryan cannot carry New York or
New Jersey, and it is practically GER
tain that he cann0t win without New
York. The chances that Johnson can
carry New York seem to be better, and
there is reason to suppose that he
would stand a better show Of being
elected without New York than Mr..
Bryan would stand.
While The Enquirer is very desirous
of Democratic success, it is not over
enthusiastic in its hopes along that
line. We would be glad of Democratic
success with Mr.. Bryan, Mr.. john
son or any other creditable candi-
date in the lead. We do not know that
Mr.. Johnson can be elected. 1t will
be uphill business for him or any 9TH
er Democrat to win out; but somehow
we are quite set in the conviction that
Mr.. Johnson would come nearer being
a winner than any other candidate in
sight.