The Washington herald., 1908-09-04
POLITICAL COMMENT.


display Of verbal pyrotechnics in the Re
publican campaign as an Offset TO Mr-
Bryan's activity. The Times says:
TO Offset the influence Of Mr.. Bryan's
vigorous, enthusiastic campaign making
we look to see the Republican managers
put forth their best efforts. Some OF his
arguments are plausible, all are made
effectively. They need to be met Not
all. or nearly all. the people who hear
Bryan and applaud him are going to vote
for him. Of course. But he is out for the
votes. We do not believe he viii get more
than his normal share. which is the
smaller share. but the Republicans can
not afford to let their opponent do all the
spectacular campaign work Political ira
ditions here favor a lively campaign, with
lots of oratory and music. Mr. Taft did
well 70 pause on his way TO the fishing
grounds TO make a few lucid. forceful
speeches. His arguments always carry
greater weight than Bryan's."
OF like tenor are these observations
from the Baltimore American:
1T is questionable whether the people
viii stand for that front-porch pro-
gramme. The desire to see the man who
viii be, as pretty much everybody be
lives, the next President Is universal.
There's good fishing in other parts Of the
country besides Northern Ohio"
An example Of the independence Of
Western Republicans appears in the ad-
vice of the Kansas City Star TO repudiate
all candidates for Congress who display
reacionary tendencies. 10 matter what
their political persuasion-
1T is far more important 70 elect the
best candidates than It is 70 elect Demo
cratic or Republican candidates And for
this reason the records OF some Of the
men who are up for denomination and
reelection viii be looked into with IN
usual scrutiny For in spite Of the many
good things the present Congress has
done. under the compelling force Of pub
lie sentiment and President RooseveIts s
persistent leadership. there are many men
in the House VINO are no better than the
obstructonists in the Senate-men who
serve the interests rather than the people
These, and new candidates Of similar sym
pathies. alliances. and obligations. should
be repudiated whenever they are opposed
by more desirable candidates, no matter
70 which party they belong"
Taking issue with The Washington Her
aids remarks on the bank deposit guar
antee issue. the Baltimore Star asks.
When Bank A closes its doors because
the owners cannot pay their debts or de
Posit0rs. why should the depositors and
stockholders OF its competitors 90 down
in their pockets 70 meet Bank AS bius2
No more than the money making grocers
Of Baltimore should be compelled BY law
TO foot the debts Of one OF their trade
who goes to the wall"
The New York Herald. apropos OF 1Ir
Bryan's assertion that no real tariff re-
form can be had from the Republicans
now in control Of the Senate and House.
propoUnds this interesting question:
What chance would Mr.. Bryan have.
If elected Of securing such tariH reform
as he proposes with these very men in
control in the Senate and the HouseZ"
This is the Independence League view
Of the old parties. according 10 the New
York American
At the same time the Republican party
unQUestonably has become divided be
tween its progressive and its reacriOuary
clements And there Is the peculiar and
dangerous condition Of e radical Demo
y
dictionary galleries and OF a resctionary
Republican candidate seeking the applause
OF the radicals"
The New York sun sees trouble for the
Democrats IN the South on account Of the
scramble for tbs labor and negro votes
T. ironically says
What VIII our Southern friends think
OF the spectacle OF NJ B-yaa's campaign
manager deep IN conference with Com
pers and q negro bishop2 The dynamite
the murderous shotgun. and the deadly
arnbUshes connected with the Birming-
ham strike are not likely 20 incline Ala
bama or any other Southern State 10
dallisncs with union labor Of which
Gompers is the head and front, while as
concerns the negro connection. the South
VIII have none OF il Gn any terms. Al
ready a number OF Southern newspapers.
beginning with the Baltimore sun. have
been assailing Nr. Bryan with interroga-
tories on this subject. and Il IS row
openly declared that the Suns detection
was largely prompted by Mr.. Bryan's re
fusal 10 explain
An adverse opinion OF AIr- Bryan's trust
remedies is expressed by the New York
Journal OF Commerce. which regards
them as visionary and uavorkable-
This idea Of licensing corporations en-
Gagged in interstate commerce originated
with the head Of the bureau OF corpora
tons. under the present administration.
and has been favored BY the head OF the
administration. but it has been condemned
by Democrats as centFalizing power in
the Federal government II IS certainly
{ "a F-a~ OBJ E-r-4 F- 20 -
done # should apply TO all alike regard
less Of amount OF capital OF extent Of
business. Such system might be made
consistent with the power 10 regulate
commerce and would possibly be work
able under a general law. but g compul-
sory licensing Of something defined as a
trust because Il controlled a certain pro
portion OF some article used in this couu-
try would be just as open 10 eonstitu-
tional objection on the score Of centrali-
zstion OF power. and would have the
further objection OF setting up discrimina-
ton in the regulation and supervision of
corporations engaged in the same busi-
ness. and Of being quite unworkable IN
practice Can any one imagine M Bry-
ans antitrust scheme in actual operation
and so enforced as to do away with the
abuses complained OFF,
A more important issue than any in
the campaign thinks the Philadelphia
Ledger. IS obedience to law
There IS 10 issue in the political cam
paisn TO compare il gravity with the Is
sue OF law enforcement in the United
States. and the rigid and uncompromis-
Ing march Of justice The right spirit
cannot be thrust upon the people sudden
ly by force Of arms They must be born
and bred 20 a respect for the law. they
nlust be traine5 and edHcated 10 q -ararl