The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-07-08
DENVER THE
BIC OBJECTIVE
Walkers Reflections on the
National Democratic
Campaign.
By Ernest G.. Walker.
mail Special to the Advertiser.

Gals are laundering through the city
from neighboring states that can reach
the great west only via the Federal
capital. Up over the mountains the
travellers go, full of perspiration and
some of them full of something besides
enthusiasm, although the day of the
full delegate of either political party is
passing.
In other words the Democratic Ma
tional convention is near at hand
Other men are now pulling out for the
west, than were pulling out two weeks
ago. They are not so numerous, the
individuals of this Washington exodus,
because there are fewer Democratic of.
fceholders in Washington and fewer
Democrats than Republicans who rem
devious here. But the outgo of polit-
zeal population is sufficient, and the hub
bub they stir up is sufficient to make
the federal city fully aware that the
National convention is coming.
hHu w bOi-OulCIdl anu uHOIll'
cial-nearly all of both classes being
intensely political, if not intensely
partisan-begins to breathe more rapid
~ when National convention is about
to convene. Such gatherings are his,
toric. There is always a delightful un,
certainty about what a National con-
vention will do, even if it be the con-
vention of a minority party. Then
there is always an uncertainty about
presidential campaign. No one can tell
just how the masses of voters are going
to 'ssize up the candidates. No one
can tell what little jar is going to loosen
a landslide. Many a presidential cam,
paign that promised to be an exceed
ingly fairweather affair for one party
has proved the contrary. The storms
have gathered to obscure sunny sky.
Tornadoes by the score leap funnel
shaped on the horizon and go furrow-
ing devastation through political
Gibraltars.
Therefore it is that, long as the
Democratic party has been in a hope
less minority, long as it has been UNI
able to carry elections in the North,
there is keen interest in its National
convention. This year there is quite as
much interest, from the Washington
standpoint. in what Denver does as
there was in what Chicago did. For
while Chicago may have done well the
opinion grows that it might have done
better and that the hands who guided
might have guided more skillfully, at
least did not guide as skillfully as has
been done in other National conventions
of the Republican party Of course the
ticket ana the platform may grow upon
the country Wise men in politics say
this will happen and probably they are
right But the hard times continue;
business men say the hard times are
going to continue through the summer.
The West is having one of it's periodic
upheayals. How intense this is, no one
can vet tell.
However, politicians are proverbially
timid. They jump into the ceiling ev-
cry time the walls creak and this is the
stage of the campaign when they be-
gin to get nervous. So the Repub.
Leans. while the Democrats are very
doleful, are anxious to see ''the Demo,
Gratis make fools of themselves at Den
yer. The Republicans will not rest
easy about that till after the Denver
is over. Possibly, they will
not rest then, for there is no telling
that this will not be the year when the
Democrats may be little wiser than
usual. 1t is all cup to- Mr.. Bryan,
for his nomination is assured. Since
the Republican leaders returned from
the West, where they have observed
the popularity of some of Bryan s ideas,
they are talking less about Bryan being
the weakest man the Democrats could
nominate, but they hope that Bryan
may do something that will enfeebIe his
own cause. that the wild colts at Den
yer may run away with him and execute
convention. program which will dis
credit him further with the country.
Therefore the new interest in the
Denver convention, newer than ever
since the Chicago convention adjourned.
For when the ticket is made up at Den
-er. the issues will be joined Taft
md Sherman can then talk back at
Bryan and 2 Up to date Bryan
las been sailing in about the platform
he Republicans adopted for their can
lidates to stand on. Bryan has been
,inging the changes about the Repub |
lean party being in full retreat from
he Roosevelt policies. He has been !
lacking the planks of their platform,
coffing at their labor planks. their cor. |
,oration planks, their tariff planks, |
making fun of their praise Of Roosevelt |
n the platform as a cloak for refusal |
o cordially support his policies. Taft
las been hitting back little He has /
sked Attorney General Wade Ellis. of 1
ohio. to put in few ticks in defense \
f the platform. But Mr. Taft can not !
ght back geographically because the !
Denver platform has not been built. I
he Democratic candidates have not |
zen nominated The most he can do,
When Bryan runs up to dare HIM to
rordy encounter. is to defend himself
After the adjournment at Denver it