Potosi journal. (Potosi, Mo.) 1894-1929, 1908-01-15

ing to raid those of Roose.ei: IN
1905, with the hope that he can
carry the socaIied Roosevelt e'e-
ment of the Republican party with
him. Bryan has the faculty OF
shifting his position from, time TO
time to popular ground located and
preempted by others. He is, in
the yernacnlar of the west, a claim
jumper, who insists that his right
to the claim is not that he had beat
others to it, but that be ''saw 1t
first" We have observed lately
that Bryan proclaims party lines
are becoming more and more loose
iy drawn, which is being reiterated
by papers favorable to his candi-
dacy. The object of this conten-
ton is to encourage attrltlOn OF
the Republican ranks and the alb
sorp,ion by the Bryanites Of all
loose political elements, as we'll as
the assumption of those popular
policies that have made President
Roosevelt so strong with the peo-
pie. The elimination of President
Roosevelt, Of his own yolition,
from the presidential race does not
carry with it the conclusion that
Mr.. Bryan is the last and only re-
sort of the American people as a
safeguard from the Vaccinations
of "rredatory wealth. RepubIi-
cans will be found to be just as
earnest in the cause against the
elements that mencae puplic well
fare under another leader as they
would be if Mr.. Roosevelt were
still leading them. There will be
no stampede Of Roosevelt Republi-
cans to Bryan, for the very good
reason that a Republican, Of what
ever distinction, has no confidence
in the Democracy under any leader
ship. Under Republican rule pub
lie matters continue to move for
ward for the betterment of the
people in general. They may not
move as fast as some Of Us would
like to see, bat there is NO
reason to believe that the Republi-
can party will fail in its mission
under new leader. Democratic
capacity should not be judged by
Democratic pretentions. Nation,
ally the party has had but little op-
portunity within nearly two gen.
erations to indicate its aptitude for
governing wisely and well; bu1
the Missouri Democracy, as has
been it's boasts, leads the way fol
the party nationally, indicates tht
way the party would act in th,
event that it were placed in power
at Washington. There is no part
OF the Democratic organizatio,
closer to Mr.. Bryan than the Mis-
. souri, Democracy. ALI the ''Olt
Guard" fairly represented in Scna
{ tor Stone, and which seems to b.
regalning lis ascendency in tn
state over the reform element, ex
pressed in Governor Folk, is shout
, ing for Bryan. Yet it was thi:
y exalted sample of Democracy tha
, betrayed the confidence of the Leo
pie of Missouri and turned th
{ state over to the monopolistic cor
: porations for looting. With th'
. Democracy of Missouri shown!
o us how to do it, should their part,
= get control of the national govern
0 ment, with Bryan or any othe
4 Democrat as President, who Wi
! presume that the policies Of Presi
s dent Roosevelt will be carried out
!. We do not believe that Mr.. Roose
= veit dominates the Republica
O party, but that the spirit of tn
) party dominates Mr.. Roosevelt
1 His policies are only those of tn
organization for which he stand
t. as the representative head. There
Al fore, whomever the Republican
e nominate to lead them in the can
i paign of 1908 will, if elected, shaE
!. his course as Mr.. Roosevelt ha
:. done, by the impulse he has II
- ceived from the power he repre-
q sents, majority Of the people.