River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-10-01
Newspapers and Men with Him in
1896 and 1900 Now Urging
Taft's Election.
All Find Judge Taft Admirably
Fitted for the Presidency and
Have Been Unable to Follow
Bryan's Political Shell
Game.


voice TO opinions which have alienated
many newspapers and men who once
found something in the man and his
changeable doctrines to uphold.
The Baltimore Sun, for instance,
which for years has been the mainstay
Of the Democratic party in Maryland,
turned squarcly against Bryan and
positively for Taft early in the cam
paign.
1T is our deliberate judgment" said
the Sun,
''That for the next four years the
material interests OF the people Of this
country would be safer with Mr.. Taft
at the head Of the national government
than with Mr.. Bryan
The backsliding Of William Randolph
Hearst and the Hearst string of news
papers is we'll known. 1t is not dis
puted that the Hearst support formerly
was one of the strongest factors of
Bryan's strength Mr.. Hearsts present
opinion Of Mr. Bryan is scathing. Here
is part of it:
"He is the peerless prestidigitator
oi lnc>lcri politics, whose hand is quick
er than the eye, who causes his prin-
ciples to disappear and changes his
politics in full view Of the audience.
A Snowman at a county fair, conduct
ing a shell game with his political
opinions.
where is the little ball Of free
silver? Under the first shell? Not at
all. It was there once, but it is not
now, and the confding voter loses.
Where is the little ball of public own
ership? Under the second shell?
Wrong again, and the confiding voter
loses again. Where is the little refer
endum ball? Under the third shell?
Wrong again, and once more the con-
fidlng voter loses.
"My friends, Mr. Bryan has no set
convictions. He has changed his opin-
ions at every election, and if he has
been wrong so often we are justified
in assuming that he is wrong again. Mr..
Bryan's definition of a fundamental
principle is a proposition that will help
to elect Mr.. Bryan. If 1t fails to elect
him it ceases to be an eternal verify
and becomes an exploded theory.
"Mr. Bryan's substitute for perma-
nent principle is perpetual speech. He
talks well, but he thinks badly and he
acts worst of ALL"
Revolt Is widespread.
NJ. f. Farpey, of Fresno, Cal, for
years one of the most prominent Demo
cratic National Committeeman, one of
the most popular and best known Dem
ocrats in California and once candidate
for Governor, has announced through
the press his support of Taft, saying
al feel it is for the best interests of
the nation and our State to elect as
President the man who represents not
only President Roosevelt's policies, but
his ideals, and who will be able to get
the best civic results out of the awak-
ened public conscience"
How widespread is the spirit Of re-
volt among the former followers of
Bryan may be judged from the defec-
ton of the Santa Cruz Surf, a Cali
fornia newspaper of considerable influ-
ence which has supported the Demo
thick and thin under the editorship of
Arthur A. Taylor. In a four-column
editorial in the issue of August 26 the
SURF sets forth it's reasons for discard
ing Mr.. Bryan and advocating Mr.. Taft.
Mr.. TaylOr's conclusion is that Bryan
lacks 1.-THE most essential requisite for
the residency-wisdOm.
Ex-senator George l.. Wellington of
Maryland is open and enthusiastic in
his support Of Taft, in great contrast
with his attitude Of eight years ago.
when he appeared on the rOstrum with
Bryan at the greatest political meeting
ever held in Cumberland. Md, and when
he stumped the Northwest for the Ne
braskah. His attitude has entirely
changed, and he states that he considers
Taft an ideal candidate as representa-
tive of Republican policies.
Nebraska PopuliSt and Rhode Island
Democrat.
John C. Sprecher. a prominent Ne
braska Populist and editor of the
Schuyler Free Lance. has repudiated
Bryan and warmly urges the election
of Taft and Sherman. The change in
Mr.. Sprecher's political views was an
noumced in a recent issue of his news
paper The editor was twice sent TO
the Nebraska Legislature by the Popu-
lists and has upheld that party and its
views for many years. In his editorial
committing himself to the Republican
national candidate, Mr.. Sprecher says:
above all else this year, the Free
Lance editor is opposed TO the election
of w. J. Bryan for the Presidency, be
cause he is simply disguised with the
standing candidate. who is apparently
for or against any proposition that will
net him votes
Perhaps the most notable Democratic
detection in Rhode Island is that of
DR.. James E. Sullivan. of Narragan-
sett. a Democratic Presidential Elector