The Democratic advocate., 1908-08-07
FOUND BRYAN STRONG.
What James CIendenin Saw of Senti-
ment I'm the West.

The National Hay Dealers Associ-
alton met at Cedar Point, Michigan,
last week. The convention was at
tended by delegates from nearly all
the leading cities of the country.
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, being in
close proximity to the meeting place,
were especially we'll represented.
James Clendenin, one of the dele
gates from Baltimore, said he was
astonished to note the strong Bryan
sentiment which prevailed in the
West. His advocates were not only
among thoseTof prominent Democratic
proclivities, but many Republicans
expressed their intention of support
ing him, while most of these were
wholly lukewarm toward Mr.. Taft.
"The preponderance of the Bryan
sentiment among the Westerners could
not fail to be impressed on ALL said
Mr. Clendenin yesterday i am a
Democrat and usually vote the ticket
as handed out by the conventions.
But | have never been enthusiastic
fer Bryan and have felt that this time
the party made & mistake in nominal
ing him. When l talked to those West
ern farmers and grain dealers, how
ever, l almost became convinced that
the whole of that section is for the
Peerless One This hay gathering
was made up of men Of intelligence
and of affairs, whose welfare depended
upon prosperity and the proper man
agement of governmental affairs. They
were not Socialists, or radicals, or
Populists in any sense, but were safe
and sane on all subjects pertaining to
national advancement.
"Why, one Ohioan, a Democrat, it
is true, but conservative one, said
that Bryan would carry Ohio by 10000
majority. When asked if this was not
onstrate his opinion by facts and
the farmers were prosperous, it was
this very prosperity which caused
them to think and reason cut the pend
ing political situation. found that
this reasoning had opened UP their
minds to two important factors, on
both of which they must be either
further enlightened or further clouded
before supporting the Republican
other is the firm conviction that Mr..
alt, IL 0lGClSu, Will Uut NOlCS MI
Roosevelt.
LAS regards the tariff they know
that just across the lake in Canada
all classes of manufactured farm i'm
plements made in this country can
be bought 40 per cent. cheaper than in
the United States. Heretofore they
have been told that these were only
the surplus of the mills and were sent
fho 70 hot
American workmen could be kept busy
in the factories and foundries. This
argument will not hold good now, be-
cause the panic has closed many of the
factories, and yet the Canadian price
of farm machinery is as much below
that on this side of the lake as ever.
Another thing brought up against
the Republicans is that the Western
agricultural class is tired of being
dominated from New York. The COM
plant is that if Taft is elected he will
be dominated by Roosevelt, who is a
New Yorker and not in touch with
the farming element. To break away
from this influence seems to be pre-
vailing sentiment, and these people
do not hesitate to say this can best be
done, by voting for and e1ecting Bryan.
II discussed politics with an Indiana
He expressed the same
sentiments about the tariff and the
New York influence. When l told him
that many Eastern Democrats were
Indifferent about Bryan he was sur
prised.
"I an Republican and have al
ways been,' said he. I may vote the
ticket this time, but 1 an certainly
not enthusiastic for it. l find the
same sentiment throughout the en-
tire section in which | live. Mr..
Bryan is going to poll an enormous
vote in Indiana and will come near
to carrying it If the local troubles do
not intervene. Why any Democrat,
East or West, should vote against him
at this election is beyond my compre-
hension and such statements are re-
ceived with incredibility by u.s."
Mr. Clendenin came back convinced
that Mr. Bryan is stronger than he has
ever been in the West, and his opinion
is shs red by many of the local hay
merchants who attended this conven-
ton and who had the opportunity of
gauging political opinion In that sec