The Delta independent., 1908-10-30
Leaders in the Party All Over the
Country Quit the Nebraskan
Office-Seeker and Como
Out for Taft.
"CIeveland Democrats" Refuse to Be
Whipped Into Line and Organize
to Eight the Man Who Disrupted
the Party-Solid South Shows
Signs of Breaking Up.

Ia1t ana sherman TICKET Will sweep eHN
country In November is found in the
continued numerous defections 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 mortifying 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
c. H. p. Gould. OF Lyons Falls. both
business men OF the first rank. Mr..
Strauss. especially, has been prominent
in the Massachusetts Democracy for
long time Their declination to serve
as Bryan electors caused a sensation in
the old Bay State and throughout the
country.
Democratic ConEressmnn 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 II. Taft. Though he has
been a stanch Democrat all his life. he
Is bitterly opposed to William Jennings
Bryan and 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 Mt Republican rallies through
out the Eastern States
Democrats Organize 30 Fight Bryan.
That the sentiments felt by these men
are shared by many in New York is
shown in the organization Of the "Cleve-
land Democracy" an association whose
principles are anti-Bryan. and which
has been formed. according to the arti-
Gle. OF incorporation. "to revive the true
spirit of Democracy among the voters
of Harlem and of the whole city"
Headquarters have been opened and the
club is doing active work. not. II is al
most unnecessary to say. in the inter
ests of the continuous Nebraska office
seeker.
John r. Dos Passos. leading New
York lawyer and author. who has al
ways been a Democrat. has come out
In n long statement announcing his al
legiance to Taft and denouncing Bryan
ism and the remnants Of the party which
Bryan controls. Il am Democrat he
says, II expect to cast my vote for Mr..
Taft" William Il. Davenport, n we'll
known Brooklyn Democrat. for many
years Public Administrator of Kings
County, has denounced the Democratic
platform and Is now vice president Of
the Taft-Sherman Lawyers Club
Antt-Bryan Sentiment widesprcad.
Former Special City Judge Irving
X. Baxter OF Utica. y. Y. who has
always been 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
minority are supposed to be hopolessly
bidebound. there is detection. w. IL.
Mclaughlin. of Scarboro. for instance,
announces that he has become SO dis
gusted with Bryan in the Haskell con
troversy that lie has swung over 10
the Republican party.
After hearing Judge Taft speak at
st. Louis. J. u. Houseman. of Denver,
Colo. a well-known railroad builder,
announced his conversion to the Re
publican party and Its candidates Mr..
iIouseman bad been loyal Democrat
for many years. This incident OF
course, Is n direct tribute to Judge
Taft's powers as campaigner. OF
which many evidences were produced
on his now famous western trip
"Conver.ions" in the West.
At st. Joseph. Mo-. one OF the feat
ures was the conversion" OF w +.
Davis. prominent Democrat. who
went to meeting at the stock yards
TO see Mr.. Taft After sizing up the
latter MIR Davis declared: II
thought | would vote for Mr.. Bryan.
hut this man surely looks good to me"
Another Missouri Democrat, T.. Il.
Haywood. a Burlington Railroad con
ductor of st. Louis. evidently was
similarly impressed; at any rate, he
has announced that Taft will get his
vote. Noticeable among the vice pres
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
clRred their intention of supporting
Taft.