The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-06-02
No Lack OF Issues.

There has been a tendency on the part
Of people who get their knowledge Of
political matters at second hand to be-
lieve that the coming Presidential cam
paign is going TO be 'walkover' for the
Republican nominee, whoever he may be.
Dyed-in-the-wool Republicans like TO be-
lieve that the lack OF fighting issues is
due to the entire excellence Of admins
tration given TO the country by the Re
publican party during its twelve years
OF of1ceholding; others. less enthusiastic
partisans. believe, with something OF an
inward chuckle over political smartness.
that there is more than little truth in
the oft-reiterated statement that Mr..
Roosevelt and the Republican party have
adopted all the reform measures OF the
Democrats, made them their own. and left
the Democrats disgruntled and empty
handed.
In view OF this, it may be well to con-
slider the issues on which the Democrats,
no matter under what leadership. may go
before the country. A statement Of the
issues was clearly and succinctly set
forth, aptly enough. by Mr.. w. J. Bryan
in his address in South Dakota. He de-
clared that the Democrats will present a
criticism Of Republican management. and
doubtless there will be no difficulty in
finding things TO criticise. There may not
need. fortunately. to be any recurrence of
the old slogan, Turn the rascals out, '
but enough argument may be presented TO
show that Turn the do-nothings out"
would not be altogether wrong.
Among the specific things that Mr..
Bryan mentions as issues-points on which
the Democratic party may Justly take
issue with the Republicans-are the cleo
tion Of United States Senators by the
direct vote of the people. Many citizens
OF both parties agree that by this means
the will Of the voter would be better
expressed Then the Democrats will
promise more effective legislation against
the trusts, in order that the people may
course, the Republicans will claim that
they have moved as far against the
trusts as was advisable or expedient for
the welfare Of the country, and they may
point to the recent panic as proof that
the countrys interests would suffer II
aggression against monopoly had gone
further. But, az any rate. here is a sub
ject on which there Is room for argument
on both sides. and the people may well
take 1t as an issue
Then. Mr.. Bryan points out that it is
left to the Democrats TO create effective
legislation in the matter Of the railroads;
10 prevent the watering OF stock. so that.
knowing what the railroads really earn
on their capitalization the people may de-
termine the fair rates for transportation.
Add 70 these things the Issue Of imperial
ism. involving, as It does, the creation Of
a bigger navy and increasing expendi-
lures for the army; the problem Of legis-
lauon to reduce TO a minimum possible
friction between capital and labor and
the invention Of plan TO prevent panies
and to protect bank depositors, and Il
would seem. as Mr.. Bryan so ably states,
that there are issues enough and to spare.
Whoever the nominees Of the two lead
Ing parties may be. the coming campaign
promises to be a hot one and hard fought
Let IT be remembered. however. that the
aim and end of it all is not the triumph OF
any individual or the Justification of any
issue or set Of issues. II is simply a friendly
contest among ourselves to do the best
we can for ourselves; TO decide along
what lines OF ethics and industry we. as a
people, have to fight for progress. and to
choose the best man to lead us in the
battle-the battle for continued American
supremacy!
Somebody has M mad ono % on cottfo~.