Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-04-14
MIR. Bryan's Endorsement BY The
State Committee.

State Committee,
Hon. John J. Cornwell. who was pres
ent at the recent Democratic State Com
mittee meeting and was cognizant of the
true inwardness of its procudings. says
editorally in the last issue of his paper,
the Hampshire Review:
1.-THE action of the State Committee in
endorsing. officially.the candidacy of Mr..
Bryan. for President. at Parkersburg on
Friday last was ill-advised and. in our
humble judgment. grave political mis-
take. If Mr.. Bryan has had more loyal
supporter in this State than the writer. or
a warmer admirer. we cannot now name
him. Months ago we declared. IN these
columns. that we favored his nomination
and advised against any effort to obtain
delegates from this State hostile to him,
because we believed him the most avail
able candidate. We admit that since
that time his availability has been greatly
lessened by the action of the Populists
aud Hearst's Independence League.
which means that the progressive or rad
deal vote of the country will be divided
between three candidates. which will
certainly lessen Bryan's chances for
election.
However, that is neither here nor
there. If Mr.. Bryan had been the only
Democrat eligible for nomination it was
admittedly not within the province of the
State Committee to officially endorse his
candidacy. 1t was an unwarranted
assumption of authority. which will be
resented by many loyal Democrats who
have twice voted for Bryan under protest
and will do it again if fool friends do not
make it impossible for them to do so
without sacrificing their self respect and
their votes are essential to Democratic
success.
Further. the manner and purpose of
the passage of the resolution was such
as BODIES no good for the party. 1t evoked
a rather heated discussion and had it not
been for desire to avoid party discord
aud to save the rending of personal friend
ships. the veil would have been torn aside
and the motive and purposes of the in
PRODUCTION of the resolution disclosed :
A repetition OF that kind of politics vii
bring some plain talk, i. we can preserve
our powers of speech. 1t was the kline
of politics the Review long ago expresse
the hope would be abstained from in thi
campaign.
The writer knows. from personal ex
pressions, that majority of the commit
tee were opposed to the introduction ant
passage of the resolution, but because .
| political alignments and because the,
| did not feel they could afford to accep
the responsibility of defeating it. ma
jority of them voted for it. A large au
dience of noisy Bryan shouters, who wer
in attendance at the committee meeting
contributed materially to the passag,
of the resolution by their enthusiastic
and noisy demonstration. However. W,
have not forgotten that it is votes Mr.
Bryan will need when nominated, an,
not noise. If shouts and hurrahs woul,
elect him he would have been presiden
in 1896 and 1900 and votes can not be oh
tanned by hypocrtical endorsements 70
selfish or personal reasons. by committee
who are embezzling powers not givel
them by the people. Mr. Bryan has neve
asked any committee. state or national
to endorse his candidacy. He has ap
pealed to the people to express themselve
a to their choice, but committees ar
| created for specific purposes. one o
which is not to nominate candidates TO
Office. Republican committees, at tn,
suggestion of Republican bosses and of
! fee AholdeIs. have been in the habit o
boosting certain candidates by official en-
dorsements, either to please the presiden
or insure seat in pie wagon, but tn,
Republican party is party of boss and
committee rule while the Democratic
party has long been popularity supposed
to be a party Of the people. and until the
people speakin conventions duly called the
committees should know no favorite.
among candidates. 1t IS contrary tc
Democratic principles. contrary to pre-
| cedent and is an example that viii arise
Ike a ghost, at some future time, at some
Democratic love feast, to strike terror
and create havoc.
1T has ever been a serious haudicar
to MIR. Bryan in his past campaigns thai
in the forefront of his professions have
appeared too conspicuously two classe:
of leaders, the socialistic unreasoning en-.
thusiast and the demagogue and political
time server who will endorse ANYTHING
and everything to be in control and in
popular favor. In both of these the sane
and patriotic people of the country stand
in awe and if this campaign is to be by
and for these two elements the result can
be easily foretold."
Shenandoah and Culpeper counties 10
Virginia have gone dry. and in Illinois
the anti-saloon leaders are jubilant over
the fact that 20 counties voted on las,
Tuesday to become absolutely anti-saloon