Evening journal., 1908-05-22
Friday, May %, 1908.
TAFT AND BRYAN.

TN MANY quarters it is now believed that Tart
i will be the candidate of the Republicans ior
nresident. and that Bryan will be the candidate
OF the Democrats. Among lew kepupheahs
there may be a lingering belief that something
will hapDen to prevent the nomination oil lalt,
but it IS expected even by those who have most
violently opposed Taft, that he is to be nomi-
mated The New York newspaper that has com
den,ned the President and, therefore, art DE-
cause the latter is friendly with the President
nov admits that the game OF the opposiuon IS
on the other hand the fight against Bryan is
cont;nung in the Democratic ranks. This con-
test against the Nebraskan is based on the behei
that as a two-thrds vote is required to nominate
in the Democratic convention, the opposluOh
forces will be able to hold enough votes TO pre-
vent the friends of Bryan from winning early III
the convention Unless Bryan wins on the hrst
ballot. they believe that there will be gooa
chance of defeating him with some other Demo
crat Judge Gray to many, seems the ioglcal
person for the nomination, and the delaware
Democrats will try to impress TINS nouon y upon
the Denver convention. The friends OF Cover
nor Johnson, too have been waging a canvass
in his behalf with more or less success
Despite this opposition to Bryan, among most
of the experts in sizing up the political situation
the opinion is held that Bryan will surely be
nominated If Taft and Bryan, therefore, should
be nominated, the campaign ought to proceed
without undue excitement The country has a
nrettv good estimate Of Secretary Taft. 1t was
sxpressed aptly by Senator DUPONT, OF this state
who has known Taft and the service he has rem
dered to the country The senator spoke IN
highly complimentary terms of him.
AS candidate, Mr.. Taft would stand upon his
own merits He would be regarded as sensible
careful statesman, with a long record OF public
service. a man who has the welfare OF his coun-
trv at heart-determned TO safeguard ITS bese
interests We should look for nothing sensation
al from President Taft.
On the other hand no one is better known
throughout the country than Mr. Bryan. The
nation already has passed twice upon his presi-
dental aspirations, and there is no reason to be-
lieve that the verdict of the two previous cleo
tions in which he.was candidate would be re-
versed
OF course there would be some dissatisfied IN
both PARTIES Some Republicans who do not like
Roosevelt would be displeased with Taft. They
might prefer some other person. But when 1t
came to voting for either Mr.. Taft or Mr.. Bryan,
the hesitating person would be apt to support
Taft There IS little doubt on that score. Busi-
ness really should not be much disturbed by the
campaign, the conclusion of which would be lore
shadowed.
There is no reason why in such a campaign
there should be uneasiness in business. There
would be no excuse for a Bryan scare. During
the summer the stock brokers and others might
start Bryan scare in the hope of making some
thing out of a possible decline in the market, but
it ought to have no effect.
ANY agitation on that score ought to cease. lr
fact the agitation and ill-feeng that has been
engendered recently should Taft be the nomi
nee and probable president, ought soon to be
come thing of the past and the country should
enter upon a season Of unparalleled prosperity.