The Washington herald., 1908-07-22
POLITICAL COMMENT.

The Philadelphia Press thinks that 4
whatever appeal 10 the public Mr- Bryan 1
makes is based on a vague but wide /
spread discomfort; It says
In the face OF far-reaching constitu- /
tional. conservative reforms. now in prog /
ress. enacted or proposed BY the Re 1
publican party, Mr.. Bryan appeals TO a I
vague but widespread disooatent- He 4
tells the man Of low wage that high I
wages can be had by reducing another 1
mans profits. Control aud influence IN |
the administration OF the Federal govern /
ment. he tells labor. will increase its I
earnings Again. as in 1896. 8lr. Bryan 4
turns from the direct discussion Of the |
great issue uppermost. to urge the many 1
to make a short cut to better conditions [
by sudden and headlong change IN the I
existing order and again. as in 1895. he /
viii find that when the American people /
/ have heard all the facts. their verdict is
for the laws. the Constitution. and the
vast mechanism by which prosperity has
4 been won in the past"
1 The New York Sun does not think that
/ the intelligent labor vote IS likely to mis-
understand Mr.. Taft's latest bid for pop
ularity. It says:
80 Mr.. Taft has become a member Of
| the International Association or Steam
ShOveIlersi Wen. It is only a step from
/ the steam roller 10 the steam shovel. and
i we suppose il Is becoming that we con-
I gratulate both the union and its new
beneficiary. All the same We wish that
I Nj Taft had not taken this step He
! can have had no motive in doing so but
/ to get votes, and we think he would have
got more votes had he declined the honor
/ we mean more union votes We think
that sensible and self-respecting wage
earners all over This country are tmps-
tlent with being coddIed and wheeled by
politicians who want their suffrage"
The Philadelphia Record. adverJing 70
| Pennsylvania conditions as affecting the
national political situation. says
| II Bryan could be elected President the
I BryRnites would naturally come 70 the
I front and a new party organization would
result without much effort For this
campaign. however. things are likely 70
I 90 on much ss before. Guffsy viii re-
main IN command. while the Bryanites
viii 60 the shouting for the candidate
and give GufIey as much trouble as they
/ can As nobody expects Bryan 10 carry
/ Pennsylvania, the vote will not greatly
matter. and the congressional and Iegis-
I latlve districts viii be expected 10 take
/ care Of themselves II Bryan. On the
other hand. shall be defeated. there viii
be a chance for some young Democrats
OF character and reputation-and there
I must be some stiH left-wh0 have not
I been trading upon Bryanism nor engaged
! IN deals with Republican factions. 10
come forward and make a new attempt
T 70 build Up an honest party organize
I tion upon honest principles Meanwhile
! the proceedings OF the State committee
I at Harrisburg this week will excite but
Z lahgUid interest outside the small circle
| Immediately concerned
The Buffalo Times points out that
f''SIr. Bryan has been a persistent ad-
/ vocate Of publicity of campaign contri-
buttons for years. Il was HIS agitation
I OF the subject that Put the matter UP 20
( President Roosevelt and Influenced him
I TO recommend appropriate publicity laws,
I a recommendation that was ignored ny
I Congress Il appears that 5Tr. Taft has
! declared himself IN favor Of publicity.
F but his opinion 81 the matter has had
as little effect on the Republican Con
gress as TIE reccnmsndacon OF M
/ Roosevelt The Republican party does
not want publicity"
/ The Rochester Herald says;
Patrick II. McCaTreR has ratified the
[ nomination q Nr. Bryan Il VIII be re-
I membered that he also ratified the nomi-
nation OF William P Hearst
( The New York Tribune thinks that
/ neither candidate need hope TO have the
/ labor vote come 10 him IN its entirety. as
workingmen will vote as individuals. It
says.
{ There IS 10 labor vote 10 be delivered
+ In q block. because the laborilE classes
are not set apart from the rest OF the
voters They vote, not as Uniouisrs, but
Z as citizens. The demands which NJ
I Goupers said were la5ors demands. and
I which Mr Bryan. listening 10 him. put
I into the Democratic platform, prove 10
have only an academic interest TO the
Z laborers generally and are not OF enough
. consequence 10 cause them 10 change
. their habitual party allegiance They
know that no law interferes with their
I effective organization OF checks the rea-
( sonabIe use OF their power They are con
scious Of the fair and enlightened treat
ment which their organized activity re
/ ceives under our government. and they
are naturally Teseutful al Dir. Gonpsrs'
/ premise 10 sell their votes n a body for
his own personal aggrandizement"
/ The Richmond News Leader speaks of
q lack OF enthusiasm for Bryan n some
Z Southern cities. and points out
I Nearly every large Southern city has
a large number Of influential citizens
/ classed as Democrats who oppose Mr.
Bryan bitterly and at heart desire the
election Of Mr. Taft. Probably a major
I ity OF the daily newspapers Of the larger
Southern cities are anti-Bryan. Yet all
/ these newspapers south Of the Potomac.
I so far as we have had the opportunity 10
/ observe. take about the same position oc-
/ cupied by the News Leader. They de-
cline to be enthusiasts over Mr. Bryan
( OF the work OF the Democratic national
Z convention. but VIII advise their readers
TO vote for ne Democratic nominee"
1 The Kansas City Times tries its hand al
summing Up the possibilities for the
/ Democrats this year Il says:
I II Bryan carries every State he carried
/ in 1886, which includes Kansas, Colorado.
South Dakota, Washington, Nebraska. 7
! and 4 few others, the Democrats have
no chance TO carry this year: and Il
l Taft fails 10 carry New York Indiana.
and Illinois, which the Republicans stand
/ no chance 10 lose, then Bryan could win
l It's a long shot, Of course. but why
/ discourage the Democrat WhoSa cheerful