New-York tribune., 1908-08-30
THE "OLD BRTA An.

Eastern newspapers of 4 conservative turn
like "The Philadelphia Record and The Ne"
York World" which have heen supporting Ar.
BRYAN on the theory that he mas pun on 'he
old man of Populism and put on the ne" man
Of caution and conservatism. find 1t hard 10
swallow some Of the Democratic candidates
recent radical utterances for the benent OF sup
posedly radical Western audiences The ne"
man. nose lasted only long enough to lure
few Eastern doubters inro the fold Now 'he
veneer of moderation is peeling off and the ac-
chalmers of the new Bryan" of 1905 are left IN
the awkward yredicament of those eminent con-
servatiyes who two years ago took overserioIs'y
an article on "Individualism versus Socialism.
which the Democratic leader bad written iof
The Century Magazine" and had their ruoe
awakening when he went on the platform at
Madison Sauare Garden and advocated govern
ment ownership and operation of all the instru-
mentalities of interstate commerce.
Mr. Bryan made speech at Indianapolis
last Tuesday in which he developed his plan
for curing the abuses of the trust SYSTEM of
production by bringing the trusts under the
sunervision and management Of pateTnalisuc
central government. When trust grew large
enough IFS affairs would be administered. under
Mr. Bryan's scheme by federal department
lust as under his theories interstate transpoF-
tation ought to be made an exclusive federai
function We are not surprised that this social
istic propossl does not excite the enthusiasm of
.sThe Philadelphia Record" which has long
maintained LOYALTY to strict .Iefersonian Ideals
in politics and political economy. Says The
Record with an appearance of impatlence:
There may be dispute as to the propriety or
the efficiency of the means proposed IN the
Democratic platform for the eNtirpation OF the
trusts should these monopolles prove able 10
maintain themselves in spite Of due enforcement
of n iT1aTarl SOM
knocking away of the props on when they
stand. Such dispute, however. is of no imme-
diate consequence.
The indianapolis speech. with all its brilliant
Utopian plans for conducting the business OF
the country from Washington, is brushed aside
&C of mo Immediate CONSEQUENCE TO the voters
whom Mr. Bryan is trying TO dazzle and capt
ure-
Similarly "rThe New York World" cannot see
any great virtue in Mr.. Bryans plan of COM
pelling the national banks of the country 10
contribute TO blind pool TO guarantee one an
others solvency. @The World" is also Jeher
sonian enough TO hold that the banks ought 10
be allowed to operate without such communisuc
restraint and that each bank ought to stand
and fall on its own record for integrity and ef-
fciency. The World" remarked on Friday
last:
Mr. Ervan saws ali that is to be said in favor
of guaranteed bank deposits. His most con-
spicuous error is In assuming that he has FOUND
in this idea an important principle, whereas the
suggestion is at best but expedent In the
second place he is seriously mistaken in be
lievfne that great and winning issue is in
voIved in the contention.
There has been no such loss of national bank
denosfts as to call for a guarantee of this kind.
Since the establishment of the system the fan
ures and crimes Of national bankers have cost
deuositors only fraction Of l per cent. Com
pared with the real wrongs from which the peo-
Die suffer such plutocracy, privilege. pro-
lection and plumber. what could be more trifiins
than this and how can any gravely propose
to make an issue Of it?
1t is hard for the Democratic candidate TO
live up 10 his double role 'the old Bryan"
and ''the new Bryan" It is harder still for
those who have been advertising his regenera-
ton as political thinker 10 square what he
saws when he lets himself go with what he
ought TO say as sober and chastened convert
10 conservatism.