The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-05-28

scI woulu De. equivalent % committing
political suicide. Roosevelt has said
he wants Taft, and that settles It.
Taft it win be.
| AS Tor Bryan, his nomination has
been certain so long that it is hardly
worth while discussing it. Ever since
he returned from his jaunt around
the World-aye, ever since the political
steam roller passed over a gentleman
named Alton B. Parker-Bryan has
had the Democratic candidacy for the
asking. Why he should want it at all
may De an enigma, but not the fact
that ne can grab it if he desires. Prob
ably running for president has grown
into habit with him, or he may fig
ure that being yet a comparatively
young man, he may keep on running
long enough to slip in some time when
the other side Is not watching. How
ever these things may be, it is appar-
ent that in this year of our Lord he
has pre-empted the Democratic man
| sion and has chased all the other would
be candidates into the back lot Bryan
is now only forty-eight years odd, and
II he Keeps on running till he is
eighty he has nine or ten good races
in him yet.
Bryan's friends say that he actually
expects to be elected this year and that
II he is he will never run again What
temptation he places before the
country!
Possibly he figures that in a fat
mans race the man with the least en-
| bonpo1nt-pronounce it If you dare
| should win out. Bryan has some flesh
himself, but Taft makes him look like
living skeleton. If Taft should be
elected he would make the hencoop
that Is used as an executive building
bulge out at the sides.
Let US suppose now that it is the
middle Of July and that William How
ard Iaft Is the nominee Of the Repub-
Ian party and William Jennings Bryan
is the standard bearer of the Demo-
cratic party. Which shall we pick for
winner? Neither looks much like a
champion, but we have had homely
presidents before. Consider all points
carefully before choosing your favor
1te or course you may decide to vote
for the one you. think will lose. Some
Of US do that frequently. This may be
on the principle that we favor the un-
derdog or on the general idea that
we are "agin the government or SIM
ply because the prospective loser be-
longs to our party. This is not an in
quiry as to how we intend to vote,
however, but as to the man we think
will win.
In comparing the two candidates the
first thing apparent is that Taft has
held Office all his life and Bryan has
tried to. In this connection it is not
| fair to charge Mr.. Bryan with lack Of
executive experience. That is not his
fault.
Another point in common is that
both have Travelled extensively, but
each is willing to forego the pleasures
Of leaving the country for four years.
Both Are 0ptimists.
But here resemblance as we'll as
friendship ceases. In other ways the
two are no more alike than an ele-
| phant and an owl. Taft claims to be
the only simon pure Roosevelt candi-
date, and Bryan says he was like
| Roosevelt before Roosevelt was like
himself. Taft lacks eloquence, and
Bryan has plenty Of it Both are
about the same age, but Taft has more
to show for it and is larger for his
years. Taft laughs like an explosion
of dynamite, and Bryan smiles like
crack in a melon. Both are natural
optimists, but Bryan manages to con-
| ceal the fact when talking about Wall
street and the trusts. On the railroad
question Taft is for government regu-
lat1on at cabinet meetings and Bryan
| favors government ownership when no
| one is listening. AS for tariff revision,
Bryan wants it right of and Taft
wants it as soon as the stand patters
will let him. On the money question
Taft wishes the banks to issue the
money and Bryan would have the gov
eminent issue the money and distrib-
ute 1t through the banks. On other
questions Secretary Taft's views may
be determined by consulting my poll
cies' and Mr.. Bryan's by reference tc
the Democratic platform.
But all this does not determine which
one will be elected. The country might
do better by defeating both and elect
Ing Tom Watson, but it never will.
Watson Is getting almost as much in
the habit Of running for president as
Bryan and gets more fun out Of it. He
knows he never can be elected, and
Bryan does not but may learn.