The Washington herald., 1908-07-23
POLITICAL COMMENT.

The New YORK sun seems 70 lIilnh llldt
Mr.. Bryan's appeal for funds is a shame
less one, and asks:
can any one imagine James Buchanan
or Stephen A. Douglas OF John c. Breck-
inridge OF Gen. Mcclellan or Horatio Sey-
mour. or Gen Hancock. OF any other
Democratic candidate for the Presidency
save and except William Jennings Bryan,
demanding money from the farmers Of
the United States in order 10 put him in
the White House?
Isn't It pitisble spectacle?
Not only does Mr.. Bryan. with the
concurrence OF his Indiana associate on
the ticket. solicit contributions from S
upward, but he has evidently made
careful computation OF the number Of
farmers who are able to pay. pay. pay
The Philadelphia Public Ledger thinks
It is TOO early TO predict much about the
labor vote n the coming campaign. It
says:
TT IS too early TO count upon the ef-
feet Of the Gompers example on politics
The masses Of labor union voters viii not
be concentrated on one candidate. IN the
majority OF cases. perhaps. they viii fol
low their previous party attachments.
The present sign CT the times is that
there is no Taft enthusiasm IN labor
union circles; on the contrary, a dispOsi-
ton 20 take kindly 10 the Denver plat
form The Republicans viii be called
upon for energetic action II they are to
hold their own. Unless they can make
gains from classes which are militant IN
support Of the courts there VIII probably
be a net loss on account Of anti-injunc-
tion platforms and sentiments But there
is no indication that anybody has au-
thority OF power TO turn over the labor
vote TO one side OF the other
The Pittsburg Post. speaking on IN
creased freight rates. says
Note is taken that q Lincoln CSebr.)
telegram to a Wall street journal. which
is now obeying its master By opposing
Bryan. represents the Democratic candi-
date as temporizing about explaining how
predatory corporations have damaged
farmers since ISs5. while freight rates on
wheat have decreased Did the CORE
spondent OF this paper, who pumped this
question al Mr. Bryan. know anything
about il himself OF expect 10 have a
detailed answer he probably got what
We cali a rush query from the home
Office, and simply repeated the question
II Mr.. RoOseyelt's policies. then have re-
duced wheat rates thus. why the OBJ
streperOus criticisms upon him for months
IN this same organ of Wall street, Is Il
not the recognition that the enforcement
of Democratic ideas makes rates fairer.
and does It not leave open the further
reform Of subjecting other predatory cor
porations 10 equity that they may not
compel farmers 20 sell at foreign prices
and buy al trust monopoly charges?'
The Boston Herald thus puts It's view OF
an issue between the two candidates:
The Anti-Imperialist executive COM
mlttee's advice 10 members 20 support
Bryan has yielded immediate and most
important results. Winsiow Warrea-s
statement OF his refusal 10 accept any
such advice puts the difference between
Taft and Bryan and the issue Of the
election IN most lucid and convincing
fashion The question IS OF the safety
Of intrusting Mr- Bryan. with his variable
notions and dangerous Cuackeries with
any such position Mr. Warren's answer
is sufficient indication cf the attitude OF
the thinking men and the Democrats who
In IS and 1906 rejected his unsound IDEAS. %
The Springfield Republican thus dis
eusses the handicap against which 0Ir
Bryan must work:
''AIr- Bryau-s handicaPs are very serious
He must encounter the hostility OF the
conservative wing Of the Democratic par
y. and his two previous defeats tend 20
destroy his prestige among ali those who
Ike 10 support a winning candidate Il
is also palpable that. however strong a
character he may be. within his special
limitations. his long career as an agitator
has tended 20 unit him for actual govern
mental work and has developed the orator
and dOctriHsire al the expense OF the
practical. well-p0ised administration IN
personal fitness for the Presidential Of
fee. Mr. Taft offers by far the superior
qualifications but a certain period must
yet eiapse before one can say whether
the question OF personal qualifications
VII be the decisive factor n the minds OF
many progressive independent voters"
The New York Post does not think fav-
orabIy OF the chances Of Mr.. Bryan 20
capture the Hearst following Il says.
Bryan After Hearst Party-Plsns 20
Get Independence League Endorsement
thus rams the heading over a press dis
patch from Lincoln That Bryan would
be glad 70 get these votes Is uIdeniable
Mr.. Taft himself would not refuse them
That NJ Bryan VIII succeed in captur-
ing Mr.. Hearst's private following is far
less certain A few of the men who have
been looking 10 Mr. Hearst as sthe.r
prophet and leader have already come
out FOR Bryan; a few OF the local o-gani-
zations-several IN Brooklyn, for ex-
ample-have passed resolutions favorinE
Bryan. But We venture 10 say that the
party as a whole viii not break away
from Mr.. Hearst until he IS ready 20 let
90 Of g. In the history OF American poll
tics there has been no more TemaTksbl
example Of a party paid for and p0cketed
by a single man
The Philadelphia Ledger speaks about
the alleged Bryan scare" and thinks
that the election OF a Democrat would
not disturb business II says:
Many hold that there will be 8
Bryan scare IN September Others. AIr.
ingalls, among them, think that Il Bryan
were elected there would be a few days
Of disturbance. but no rejecting man
fears a real upset IN business. The
Senate Is Republican. and would be Re
publican at the end OF the Bryan term.
There are conservative Democrats to OBJ
struct unwise measures Finally. quoting
Mr.. ingalls, again, II Mr.. Bryan once took
the oath Of the Presidential Office he
would naturally be sobered and steadied
somewhat
The sensible course for business IS the
course it is now pursuing Il Is building
up a revival snd trusting that there is
no danger OF a serious kind In politics.
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