The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1908-10-28
HARRISBURG LETTER.


given the credit for one of the clevcrest
cartoons of the present campaign. 1t
is squirrel in one of the usual round
cages, the little creature adorned with
the face and features Of Bryan. The
squirrel was going at top notch speed.
Gazing at him was q son Of Erin, who
exclaims: ''lIc niver gets anywhere,
but isn't he a great runner?" Bryan
cxcels at that, though, lire the squirrel
in the cage, TO no purpose.
In his way Mr.. Bryan is most re-
markable man. No other Democrat in
the country to-day, with the stigma of
two defeats, could so arouse the hopes
of the Democracy and make them be-
lieve he was the real Moses to lead them
out of the wilderness where they have
been starving, into fat offices, as Bryan.
He has the faculty Of tickling the ea,
of the unstable and the power to sNay
large audiences to a remarkable degree.
| He turns from one issue to another with
rapidity that is dazzling, and repu-
diates during campaign doctrines he
strenuously advocated few years be-
fore. In the opinion of Grover Cleve
land, the greatest Democrat of recent
years, Bryan is dangerous man, and a
menace to the Republic.
Unstable as water, he would hinder
and prevent the return of prosperity,
which now seems waiting only the cleo
ton of Taft t. the Presidency. His poll
ces are unknown, even to himself. The
proverbial bull in a china shop would
be lost to sight, for the mischief that
would be done. The attitude of the
manufacturing interests will be one of
waiting until it shall be definitely seen
and known what amount of revision the
tariff shall undergo. With very few ex-
ceptions the larger manufacturers, even
in the South, are for Taft, and hoping
and working for his election, and next
to the farmers, this class of labor is the
most numerous and important. The la
Dor vote should be cast for the party of
protection.
There must be considerable Irish in
the makeup of the President, for he
dearly loves fight. Whether it is dig
nifed for the President to mix it up in
political campaigns or not, Mr.. Roose-
welt has not hesitated to deal some very
telling blows for his party. Haskell's
knockout, and later his remarks on the
attitude of Bryan on theinjunction ques-
ton, show that the President is alert to
the various issues. He is still very pop
ular with the average man.
Governor Hughes has rapidly taken
rank among the foremost statesmen in
the Republican party. He showed up
Mr.. Bryan as shifty, evasive politician,
who lacks constructive statesmanship
and executive ability, but appeals to
class prejudice and discomfort for his
support. Senator Knox, of our own
state, has also made some excellent
campaign speeches, while the Governor
will d, some work along the northern
tier next week.
Over against Bryan's record as a talk
or must be placed the record of Taft, a
man who does things. Whether on the
Bench, in the Philippines, in Cuba, at
the lsthmus of Panama, or in charge of
the Cabinet office he so ably admins
ters, he has record that cannot be as
sailed. He stands for all that is best in
the Roosevelt policies and promises to
carry them forward. Judged by what
he has done, and taking him at his
word for what he will do, in the event
of his election, the country will be i'm
measurably safer with him as its Presi-
dent than with Bryan. 1t is not an ex-
pertinent with Taft. Since the founda-
ton of the Republic no candidate for
the office of President on any ticket has
had as good record of service and ad-
ministrative ability, fitting him for that
high office, as Wm. H. Taft.
Col. Pratt continues to make gains
through the district, and looks like a
winner. He has the support of the
party and in district normally Re-
publican by 5 900 he need have no fear.
He has made good, manly fight, and
: deserves hearty support. With his
knowledge of the needs of the district,
his wide acquaintance among inhuen-
tial men, and his desire to be of service
to his constituents, the Fourteenth need
have no cause to fear that its interests
will suffer. Were the two men, Pratt
and Kipp, equal in every respect, ex-
cept politics, We should choose the for
mer, for We want Republican at
Washington. Republican constructive
policies are to heightened and strength
ened, currency questions settled, the
Panama canal dug, free silver buried a
little deeper, corporations curbed and
regulated, and we want that done under
Republican rule and management.
Pratt should be the man to send.
w. f. Perham may be handicapped
somewhat by lack of hot air, such as
candidates often hand out, but he will
. fill i'm all right as worker at Harris