The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-09-03
THE OUTLOOK IN THE WEST.

A very interesting and highly I'M
portant question is raised by the Gin
cinnati Enquirer. That newspaper
makes the point that the Republican
party of the entire country, west OF
the Ohio river, has officially divorced
itself from the reactionary element;
that Bryan himself can offer the
radical element mo greater induce
ments than are now offered upon the
bargain counter of the Republican
party in the west" Taking this for
!, granted, the Enquirer reaches this
conclusion: ut does not look so fav-
orable to the Democrats in the west
as it did month ago, fortnight ago,
or week ago. The past few days the
western Republicans seem to have cor
rallied their voters"
Our Cincinnati contemporary never
blundered into a saddeT mistake. 1t
has reached a conclusion directly con-
trary to fact.
The plain truth. as it is known to
every reasonably close observer of
political conditions in the west. is>that
Mr.. Bryan's candidacy is today much
stronger than it was the week of his
nomination, and is growing stronger
every day.
Another plain truth, a corrohary to
the first. is that the radical, progress
sive Republicans of the west are to-
day more kindly inclined to Mr.. Bryan,
and in larger numbers. than it was
thought possible they would be when
Roosevelt won" at Chicago and Taft
was placed in nomination.
The reasons are not far to seek, nor
difficult to detect when found.
president Roosevelt has instilled
into western Republicans a profound
dislike for predatory wealth. and en-
nifty for the great industrial trusts.
These same Republicans now see every
leader of predatory wealth, and all the
trust influence in the country, lined up
solidly back of Mr.. Taft.
2.-They know more about School
craft Sherman, Tafts running mate,
than they did the day of his nomina-
! ton.
| 3.-They see men like Sheldon, Boise
! Penrose, Frederick w. Upham and
their like in charge of the financing of
! the Republican campaign. They know
what that means; where the Republi-
can funds are to come from. Their
knowledge is made the surer by the
refusal of Mr.. Taft and his managers
to promise TO disclose before election,
the source of their campaign funds.
4.-They noted, with the keenest in
terest, that all railroads made reduced
rates and ran numerous excursions 10
the Taft notification, and exacted full
rates and did everything in their
power TO discourage the attendance at
the Bryan notification.
5.-Their commendatiOn has been
won by Mr.. Bryan's unqualified pledge
that, If he is elected. he will call i'm
mediately a special session of Congress
to act on the popular election of sena-
tors and the other so-called la Fol-
lette planks" of the Denver platform,
which were brutally turned down at
| Chicago.
| 6.-That plank in the Denver plat
| form which declares for guarantee of
| bank deposits appeals to them every
! day with increasing force.
7.-SenatOr La Toilette has been ad-
dressing Chautauqua assemblies daily
| throughout the west since the conven-
tions, speaking to immense audiences;
| in every speech he has lauded Bryan,
| been silent as to Taft. and held Re-
publican senators and congressman up
to public scorn and detestation.
S.-SenatoT La Toilette is but one of
the instrumentalities through which
western Republicans have been
aroused to a white heat of anger over
the record made by the last session of
Congress, strongly Republican in both
! it's branches.
9.-Western Republicans are by
large majority for tariff reform and
the Iowa Idea" and the more they
study the platforms and the attitude of
the candidates. the more they incline
to the Democratic position.
IN NcDIdshd, W Jdkc u Bp0CluC 6G-
ample, it is doubtful II there is
single precinct which has not its
Republican voters who have openly
declared for Bryan. Almost every
Bryan club that is organized is made
up of from to 20 per cent, and in
some instances more. of such voters.
Preliminary polls, made carefully and
conscientiously, indicate larger ma
jority for Bryan in 1908 than he had in
1898.
And, as we have said, Bryan strength
is growing; 1t shows every indication
Of continuing to grow. In this respect
It differs materially from what was
true in his two former campaigns.
The Republicans are distinctly OF the
| defensive. They cannot beat a clarge.
They have nothing with which to
frighten or delude the voters, as they
had in 1896 and 1900. Their cam
paign, to date, sonsists In iterating and
] reiterating the idea that Taft is as