Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-03
rHE RonsrrELr rnLIcIEs.

aHH hNt'H HAAA ANAatAh's
Mr.. Bryan evidently had the Denver
platform in mind when he made his
claim heirship of the Roosevelt pol
icies, or he may have had his claim
in mind when he framed the platform
to make It accord with the policies of
the president, in striking contrast with
former positions Of the democratic
party on the issues in question. On
the pension question. for instance. the
Denver platform says:
We favor 2 generous pension policy,
both as a matter of justice to the sur
viving veterans and their dependents and
because It tends to relieve the country
Of the necessity Of maintaining a large
standing army
Commendable as the attitude MAY
be. it is in direct conflict with the
long-established policy of the demo-
cratic party, which has always fought
pension legislation bitterly. The pay
ment of service pensions, the increase
of pensions to soldiers widows and
the general liberality in rewarding the
nations defenders have been a part of
the Roosevelt policies.
The democrats are just now in favor
of encouraging better relations be-
tween the United States and Latin
American countries. The Denver plat
form declares.
The democratic party recognizes the Inn
portance and advantage of developing
closer ties of pan-American friendship
and between the United States
and its sister nations of Latin America.
This lis complete and emphatic re-
pudiation of the democratic opposition
to such policies that was started when
Mr.. Blaine, as secretary of state, in
~augurated the pan-American policy
that has borne such ripe reward in en-
larged trade and general world adj
vaneement. Tho policy has been urged
and advanced by President Roosevelt
and Secretary Root in face of bitter
democratic opposition in both
branches of congress. The value and.
merit of the policy has finally forced
eve democratic endorsement
No longer ago than in 1900 Mr..
Bryan stumped the country denounc-
ing the republican party for increas-
ing the navy and army and preparing
for the nations proper place in the
affairs Of world powers. He was con-
WINGED that the nation was scheduled
for destruction unless the army we're
disbanded and the navy dismantled.
He had the support of every demo-
cratic %spellbinder in the country, just
as democrats in congress have opposed
an adequate army and navy since the
days when they declared in their ma
tional platform that the war to pre-
serve the union was a failure. Yet
the democratic platform at Denver en-
dorsed another Roosevelt policy by
declaring:
We believe that the interests OF this
country would be best served by having
a navy sufficient to defend the coasts of
this country and protect American citi-
Gems wherever their rights may be in
jeopardy.
There is some sentiment in the u
try for changing the name of the Pan
ANA canal and calling it the Roosevelt
canal. The honor would be fitting, for
it is known to all Americans that the
president practically forced congress
to order canal construction, after it
had been held up by transcontinental
railroad interests for more than a gen.
GRAFTON. The records of congress show
that an4fno1Iu oil Tho ANAnottfpn IN
the construction of the canal at Pan
anna, or it's construction at all. came
from democratic sources. Yet the Den
yer platform declares:
We believe the Panama canal will prove
of great value to our country and favor
its speedy completion.
The democratic party is following
Mr.. Bryan's example in trying to run
away from it's W record.