The Washington herald., 1908-06-14
REPUBLICANS WILL HAVE
A FIGHT TO BEAT BRYAN

Edward B. CLARK. IN Chicago Post.
Every Republican header now In the
city makes 1t plain in what he says pri-
vately that he realizes that the party.
even with the stalwart, progressive Taft
leadership. is this year to have a fight.
There Is no intention to 20 into the mat
ter Of Vice Presidential possibilities, but
the somewhat stern fact is that the chiefs
think that the ticket must be an out-and-
out progressive ticket If II is not 10 be
open TO the sharp and possibly success
ful assaults OF the Democratic enemy
Much has been written about the plat
form. what Il is 20 be. and whether or
not there should be In Il any suspicion Of
an attempt 10 appease those RePJbli-
cans who are not yet i'm the fun uniform
OF the new Republican army. There
have been conferences over the plat
form: this man and that man have come
with drafts of pronouncements IN their
pockets. and yet II is entirely probable
that the strength Of the plauks viii be
greater than any man "a yet openly has
suggested.
Must Fight Hard 20 Win.
Bryan IS 20 be beaten, and he can't be
beaten by the use OF blank cartridges.
which make great noise, but do no exc
cution. The conviction seems 10 be strong
among the men who do things IN politics
and who are now in Chicago. that the
ammunition 10 be used this year must be
Of a kind FOR which the pri"ates OF the
Republican army have shown a liking
during the last eight years. In other
words. the party. by its assurances to
the men n the ranks, must make certain
that no battalions and regiments are 10
desert 10 other colOrs.
Precious little is heard from the leaders
in Chicago to-day about tho absolute GER
tainty' OF carrying New York as against
Bryan. OF course. If the party chieftalnS
were TO mount a housetop 10 proclaim as
surance Of victory. they doubtless would
express. loud voiced. a full assurance that
the Republican party would carry every
thing before it in New York and in some
OF the other States where the people are
supposedly so conservatlve-ninded that
there any one can defeat Bryan. The same
party chieftains privately. however. Will
tell another story. They believe that they
can carry New York. but they have no
absolute faith. Every one Of them real
ICES the change that has come over the
people All the leaders here except the
most hidebound Of the stand-pat element
seem to feel. do feel. and in fact say, pri-
vately. of course, that the platform Of he
year must be as no other Republican plat
form OF other years has been.
Vast Change I'm Eight Years.
If a man had gone TO sleep eight years
ago and had walked up to-day in the mid
die Of the big crowd in a Chicago hotel.
and before asking any questions had
listened 10 what was being said. no thought
would come TO him that he was among
men preparing the way for Republi-
can convention. He would say the things
didn't sound natural. and perhaps II he
were OF a certain political mind he would
say that they didn't sound right" Ap-
parently they do sound right, however, 10
the Republican leaders OF to-day and,
moreover, they seem 20 sound safe.
Secretary Taft wants a strong plat
form; It needed nothing but his knowl-
edge OF general conditions throughout the
country-the mental conditions OF the
voters-to assure him that any other kind
OF a platform would be delusion and folly.
Mr.. Taft knows that the people are COM
mitted absolutely TO progress. and TO
progress at a rapid pace. He has told
his friends so. He Is willing 10 lead the
way as long as II seems 10 him 10 be n
safe way. When II ceases 10 be safe. he
Will be the first one 10 call halt, and
he is willing to pay no heed 10 the cries
OF those who would crowd on regardless.
Bryan Foe to Be Respected.
William Jennings Bryan has been max
ing good many speeches recently, and
as a Republican of national note said
yesterday In the Coliseum. che hasn't