Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-11
(From The Public.)

Against the background of Ameri-
can public life today, two men stand
out in bold relief as leaders of the
masses of the people. One is Theo-
dore Roosevelt; the other is William
]. Bryan.
No one of intelligence and candor
will deny this, whatever may be his
personal estimate of either man. But
in comparing their popularity, there
lis a factor that cannot be fairly over
looked.
MIR. Roosevelt's floats in tie buoy
ant atmosphere of official power.
whereas Mr.. Bryan's is self sustain
| ing.
No one could predict the effect Of
his return to private life upon the
popularity of Mr.. Roosevelt; It might
| be strengthened, or it might grow weak.
Much less could any one predict the
effect upon it of his being affiliated III
private life with political party out
of power and almost bereft of hope of
Ipower; it might expand, or it might
collapse. All that can be said OF his
popularity is that Mr.. Roosevelt in
powerful Office as the representative
of a powerful party is as popular--poS
sibly a little more popular or little
LESS so; but as popular, let us say~-as
is Mr.. Bryan in private life as the rep
Preventative of a minority party No
comparison can be fair which ignores
this difference
1t is not our purpose, however,, 20
make comparisons between these men.
Were we to do that we should have to
bring into view more subjects for COM
lrarison than their popularity, and more
points of contrast than the Fictitious
advantages in that respect which Mr.
Roosevelt has and Mr.. Bryan lacks
Our purpose is to consider Mr.. Dryen
as an actual prospective figure III
American history.
. Here is a man who at the age 81
As, like Abraham Lincoln at the age
of 81, has held but one public Office
/ the same that Lincoln held, seat IN
: congress. Yet in greater degree thar
Lincoln then, he is the idolized leader
now of men who are making history
worthy of their children's children.
Ipride. There is a reason for this ir
5 Bryans case as there was in Lincoln's
and as in Lincoln's the reason lie:
below the surface and is the same rea
! son.
Bryan's enemies say that he is g;
mere talker." With quite as mucl
truth Lincolns could have said tn,
same of him. Even for a livelihood
Bryan depends no more upon talking
than Lincoln did; for, if Bryan makes
his living by talking on lecture plat
) forms upon public questions, Lincoln
7 made his by talking before juries upol
private quarrels. It is as true Of Bryan
: as it was of Lincoln before his election
to the presidency--no more and nj
less; and whether in professional field
for q living or in political fields for tn,
common good-that he is a talker,
2 mere talker" if you please. But wha
: is mere talker" who commands al
ever widening and deepening respect
as Lincoln did for 10 years before b
became president, and as Bryan ha
! done for IL? Such talker must be
: thinker; an honest thinker; and on
withal who takes his hearers frankl
: into his confidence.
81 In that quality we have the secre
Iof Bryan's otherwise unaccountabl
IS popularity. 1t was the secret of Lii
j. coins. Bryan is commoner, as Lii
j. coin was. He feels with the commo
# people, as Lincoln did. He thinks wit
eI them, as Lincoln did. And because h
d feels and thinks with the common pei
e lple, he talks for them.
n Nor does his talk fall upon unwil
It ing ears. Tie people are tired of tn
81 gum shoe" in politics. They nav