Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-09-11
MR.. BRYAN'S TOUR.


Mr.. Bryan is now on what is called
his 10000 mile tour. He will speak in
many States, and if times and circum-
stances do not change he will speak to
more people, and look into more faces,
and possibly shake hands with more
persons, than any man has ever done
in the same length of time. If Mr..
Bryan's friends, or the friends of the
Democratic party, would only do their
part as he has always, and will in this
campaign do his, there would be no
doubt about the success of the party in
November. 1t is only from Democrats
we hear doubt The Republicans are
alarmed. They do not admit real dam
ger, but they do admit that Mr.. Taft
will not have a walk over. They think
they have cured the trouble in many
places, notably in Ohio. But they
know they have not cured it in West
Virginia. West Virginia is "a small
State with only say seven electoral
votes, and it will not count for much,
but Ohio would have counted heavily.
They think they see everything in the
way of sore places healed there since
Mr.. Taft and Gen. Foraker shook
hands at the Toledo G. A. r. reunion
last week. We know such things do
not always cure sore places, espec-
tally when they are old and very seri-
GUS. In our own town we have wit
messed the glad hand shake, the loving
arm clasp, the joyful reconciliation,
made on the stage in front of the gull
lible votes by leading Republicans only
to forget them the next moment. But
the leaders, the great men, are nothing
more than children at play-indeed
when their toys are broken, their feel
ings hurt, they are less disposed to for
give and forget than children. Ohio is
not counted on by Democrats, but
there is such fear in that State by Re
publicans of defeat, that many of their
spellbinders and good hunk of the
campaign fund must be kept at home
to insure success. When we look over
Indiana, Minnesota, Iowa, North Da-
kota, Nebraska, and many other States
where the Republican leaders have
been wont TO claim certain victory, we
see alarm. In New York Governor
Hughes has been driven to take the
stump to denounce Mr.. Bryan. Moth
ing can stay his carrying of that State
this time. Our readers will do well to
read and ponder the account of "Mr.
Bryan in the West" published in an
other column.
Mr.. Hitchcock, National Republican
chairman, has been obliged to trot Mr..
Taft out and put him on the stump.
Taft must go to work." says Hitch
cock. He gives as his reason that there
is such a strong demand to hear Mr..
Taft that he must speak in the doubt
full States. ''Demand" is good word
1t is easy here to read between the
lines. Something must be done to
counteract the wonderful effect of Mr..
Bryan's speech making. No rates, it
will be recalled, have been given by
any of the railroads to Bryan gather
ings, but the people have come by the
thousands despite this railroad dirty
Unrk &c admitted hot of
point where Mr.. Bryan has spoken the
largest crowds have assembled ever
seen at political gatherings there.
Now Mr.. Taft must quit his fishing,
he must go to work; he must offset this
dangerous condition, he must nullify
the effect of Mr.. Bryan's tour. Can he
do it? This remains to be seen. But
it is admitted that "Taft he amt no
orator. He can't speak little bit. ;"
We have men right here in Staunton
who can beat him speaking, so said
an ardent Republican to us after the
Hot Springs fiasco of few weeks ago.
Possibly nothing could more please the
Democrats than this order of Boss |
Hitchcock that Taft must go to work.
1t smells of danger, it is significant of
fear, it is almost an acknowledgment |
of defeat.
The speech of the Hon. Harry st. |
Geo. Tucker here on Saturday night |
last before the Bryan and Kern club,
was splendid political talk, and
should bemade by Mr.. Tucker through
out the State. 1t will greatly strength
en- the cause of Democracy, and if Mr..
Tucker wants it that way, will surely |
strengthen him as candidate for
Governor.
The Republicans of the West know
that Mr.. Taft will never carry out |
Roosevelt's policies. AS many of these
policies are the same Mr.. Bryan has
inveighed against for years they know
he will carry them out. Hence they
are going to support him.