The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-11-01
BY 7. c. WELLIVER.

,
NEW YORK. oct 3t.-A campaign
almost il not quite unique in modern
political history is drawing to its close.
The issue is now in the hands OF the
voters. II will not be long after S O. clock
on Tuesday night when the whole world
will know whether MT. Bryan has been
for the third time defeated, or whether
he has at last proved the virtue Of per-
severance. Election returns this year
VIII come earlier than ever before in
Presidential election, because OF the in
creasing use of voting machines, and
also because in some important and
crucial communities the number of
votes TO the election district have been
reduced by recent redistricungs.
Al the opening of the year there
would scarcely have been doubt that
the Republican party was certain TO
elect the next President overwhelming
~. Whatever doubt now exists on that
point is directly attributable 20 the
financial panic Of year ago, But for
that, all the other Influences which to-
day make up the remarkable aggre-
gate of elements contributing TO uncer-
tainty. could not possibly have made
the results seriously doubtful.
Panic Never Survived.
The Republican party goes to the polls
facing the fact that never in this coun-
try's history has a party survived a
financial panic. Beginning with Jeffer-
sons succession TO Adams on the
heels. OF the "Federalist panic" there
has been no exception 20 this rule.
The Republicans had the panic of 1873,
and Rutherford b. Hayes became the
next President; but nobody nowadays
questions that TiIden was elected. This
is the one and only apparent exception.
Il probably is not unfair TO say that
the second most unfortunate feature Of
the political situation as concerns the
Republicans was the widespread preju-
dice against the recent conduct Of the
National House of Representative. Not
only did the Canp0n regime in the
House balk the efforts of President
Roosevelt during the last session to Sc
cure reform legislation, but thar same
regime turned up TO the surprise OF
nearly everybody as one of the most
powerful factors in the national cOnVeU-
ton.
Dictated Platform.
Cannon and Cannonism We're strong
enough practically TO dictate the plat
form and absolutely TO name the Vice
Presidential candidate of the party. u
is hard TO tell which was the more I'M
fortunate Of these two achievements Of
the conservative wing at the Chicago
convention. Both have injured the party
and both put clubs in the hands Of the
Democrats.
The Democratic situation in the be-
ginning was worse then the Republican
Nobody who was anybody in the Demo
cratic party wanted Mr.. Bryan nomi-
mated. Democrats in Congress-HOuse
and Senate-State leaders. publicists Of
all classes, agreed that new leadership
was necessary. Absolutely nobody was
for Mr.. Bryan except the people But
the people nominated him. the poll
ticians accepted him with such grace
as they could command, and the cam
paigu has been a series OF revelations
confirming the accuracy Of the peoples
Judgment. and the inaCcuTaCy OF the
politicians diagnosis MI. Bryan has
proved stronger than anybody dreamed
he would be. and today it is the almost
uniform judgment of those who opposed
him for the nomination that he viii
have been a stronger leader than John
son. Gray. or any other man whose
name was considered at Denver
Forced by Masses.
Mr.. Bryan was forced upon the leader
ship Of his party, by the masses. The
leaders accepted him and from the be-
ginning there was manifested a deter
mined purpose to rehabilitate the party
and bring all its elements into harmony.
Mr. Taft was forced upon the leaders
OF his party by President Roosevelt.
There has not been so hearty and sin
cere an acceptance OF him by those who
opposed his nomination. as has been Civ
en- 20 Mr.. Bryan by the anti-3ryan poll
ticlans. With the Democrats it has been
q matter of life or death. They must
pull the party together and make the
best fight possible. or else accept that
the party was hopelessly disintegrated.