Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-06

CITY OF MEXICO. July 3l-TO the Edi-
tor Of The Bee: The one great CRITICISM
Of the present campaign in the states Is
the fact that both the old parties are
giving too much attention to the personality
OF their candidates and not enough 10 the
principles that they represent We are
constantly hearing Of Bryan and Organism,
as IL there was nothing before Bryan. as
II the great democratic party had not been
led by liberty loving patriots, had not
met ard settled important questions In
volving the rights OF all the people long
before Bryan was ever heard from. The
fact is Bryan is preaching no new doc
trine. The writer a quarter Of a century
ago heard General Weaver advocate most
earnestly every political idea enunciated by
Mr.. Bryan.
The same is true Of Mr.. Roosevelt. We
are constantly hearing Of Roosevelt and
Rooseveltism. Many so-called republicans
are saying l am for Taft because ! be-
lieYe he will carry out Roosevelt's policies.
Some are even saying they are for Bryan
because he will more nearly represent
Roosevelt than will Mr.. Taft. The Amer
lean people are naturally hero worshipers.
They surround their popular public men
by a sort Of divine halo, a dazzling light
which seems to cloud their reason. They
listen to the enthusiast who deals in gilt
terins generalities, and accept as true the
grossest misstatements without stopping to
inquire into the facts. Roosevelt did not
get his antitrust ideas from Bryan,
though all democrats ard a very few weak
kneed republicans are saying he did
Charles n. Van Wyek was elected to the
senate from Nebraska on an anti-monopoly
issue while Bryan was still wrapped In
his political swsddling clothes, and Theo-
dore Roosevelt was still wearing political
knee brooches. The late Edward Rose
water was fighting the trust as a repub-
lican long years before Roosevelt had beer
made collector of the port of New York
A republican senate, led by the great Sher'
man of Ohio. supported by a republican
house and a republican president, enactet
the antitrust law, the enforcing of which
is one of the things which has made Roose
welt the idol Of the American people. VIII!
not give the credit where It rightfully be
longs, TO the republican party and the mai
whom Bryan viliifIed and abused twelv'
| years ago because he was one OF the prin
/ cipal actors In the commission Of the grea
/ crime Of ID" / would not pluck a singh
laurel from the brow Of President Roose
y welt, but l must insist that the republican
5 party is older and greater than he is. Tha
he is great, not because ne preached an,
> new doctrines, but because he enforced re
I publican laws as he found them, not be
: cause he borrowed any political capita
I from Bryan, but because ne has been
u good republican. The republican party wi
gain much in the coming campaign II the
y will dispel the foolish notions that Roose
= Yel.ism is not republicanism-that Roose
= welt got his inspiration from Bryan. A
. a matter of fact, Bryan never advocate
q single political idea which Roosevelt an
the republicans have made an aceomplishe
: fact. II Taft deserves election at the hand
Of the republicans It is because he Is
republican and will execute republica
: laws, not because he Is the choice OF NJ
Roosevelt. FRANK M. CURRIE.