The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-19
MIR. BRYAN's oBLIVIoUSNESS.

MIR. BRYAN's oBLIvIoUsNEss.
Mr.. Bryan for the most part has
taken in manly fashion his defeat for
the Presidency; and yet there are some
things in bis explanatory review OF the
campaign and its results that show his
mind to be still in the fog. In consld-
oring the question Of thc outlook at
time Immediately preceding election
day, Mr. Bryan says: cit is the sim
ple truth that neither political man
ayers, nor writers, nor candidates, nor
counselors, foresaw the result of the
Presidential campaign as it was writ
ten in the returns of November 3rd. -
We do not see how Mr., Bryan can say
this, because there was not an esti-
mate from any source from the time two
weeks before the election until cleo
tion day, that did not forecast the re-
suit practically as it occurred There
was not an estimate, either. III any can
did newspaper in the East, no matter
whether that paper was supporting
Bryan or not, that did not give tho
election to Mr.. Taft We speak now of
such estimates as were based on req
son, probability and some real inquiry
into the state of mind of the public.
The Literary Digest. a paper which,
while holding the balance of independ.
ence fairly as between the two par"
ties, was really we'll disposed toward
the Democratic party, made canvass
and estimate Of its OVID, this being
printed some ten days or two weeks be-
fore tho election, which showed great
triumph for Mr.. Taft. The New York
World, which was supporting Mr.. Bryan,
also gave detailed estimates which
showed Bryan IS defeat and Taft,s tri-
umphant election, The Cincinnati En-
quirer, also q Democratic paper, arrived
at the same result. OF course the esti-
mates of all the great Republican pa
pers were to the same effect. There
was, III fact, no estimate that we recall
from suy intelligent source, that indi
Gated the least likelihood Of Bryan s
election, or, in fact, that pointed 10
any uncertainty as TO the outcome Of
luG ITSS.uSnIldl NOle-
1t seems indeed curious, in view of
these we'll known facts, that Mr.. Bryau
should come now aud undertake TO show
any such uncertainty AS 10 the eypecta
! tion of the result, as his language above
quoted would indicate. There was not
The least uncertainty about it, so far as
reasonable probability went. There was
such a unanimity of sentiment on this
point that The Salt Lake Tribune, re-
viewing these estimates, concluded a
number of DAYS before election that Mr.,
Taft; election was not in the least dan
ger. We pointed out that Mr. Taft wss
certain to carry Utah, because the in
fluence and COUNSEL of the hierarchy
here were all for him. We pointed out
the fact that all of the Eastern est
mates that were based on tangible, can.
did inquiry pointed 10 the same result.
And from that we undertook 10 show
that Mr.. Taft election was absolutely
certain and that, therefore, there was
no reason for any American Republican
in Utah TO have the least fear lest the
ldllbIe ~ FdsI MS hoIt lpT MI. IHlI
would imperil the Taft chances. On the
contrary, Mr.. Taft was absolutely sure
of election and needed DO help from
Utah; and, further, that as Utah was
absolutely scheduled for Taft by per
fcctly safe majority, there was no rea-
son for any one TO sacrifice his local
preferences or to put these preferences
in The least jeopardy in ap effort to vote
for Taft because Taft needed no votes
hcrc, Utah being absolutely sure for
Taft without any such votes, and be-
cause the country was absolutely sufc
for Taft without considering Utah
at all,
1t is singular that Mr.. Bryan should
blind himself 10 these leading facts aud
now say that peither political mana
gers, nor writer's, nor candidates, nor
counsclors, foresaw the result As a
matter of fact, they All foresaw it, and
they united in proclaiming that the re
suit would he practically as it WAS Mr..
Bryan should not ignore. facts that arc
perfectly well known and SC recent as
these Indicated He should open his
mind TO tho facts, and recognize them
IS recorded.
THE KAISER GIVES I'M