Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-16
AN ABSOLUTE LEADER.

For the third time William Jennings
Bryan has been named by the dele
gates of the Democratic party as the
leader of the organization, the candi-
date for the Presidency. Twelve years
ago he talked his way to fame. He
was borne in upon a wave of enthu-
stasm and nominated because his ora
tory had enthralled his auditors. He
was defeated in the ace for the Presi-
dency and four years later he met q
second defeat, being beaten both times
because of his too radical views,
which weaned away from him many
of the men who had helped to make
the Democratic party powerful.
After two defeats the conservatives
gained the upper hand through the
disaffection in the party growing out
of the rivalry between William r.
Hearst and Mr.. Bryan. Alton B.
Parker was named as the leader, but
did not make a strong race. And
now, after all these experiences, the
Democracy has again named MI. Bry-
an for the Presidency.
Mr.. Bryan has been called superb
cial," and it is claimed that his
theories and tissues" are not
sound and that he caters to inn
pulse rather than to reason. Judging
by ome Of the ideas he has raised
up as standards, this is true. His free
coinage scheme was not practicable,
his "anti-imperialism" issue was IN
reasonable, his more recent schemes
may be called radical and they have
the disadvantage of following in the
wake Of others Of his schemes that
have been d%iscredited.
There are many admirable traits in
Mr.. Bryan's character. Not the least
Of personality. No man can hold a
following great enough to make him
the candidate of a great party a third
time after two defeats without pos
sessing a powerful personality. Mr..
Bryan Is an orator. He is justly de-
noted "silver-tongued." He is well
learned, is a good husband and father,
an able writer and a fnancier who has
turned his natural abilities into cash.
In addition to the above character
istics, it can also be added that as 4
real czar, as an absolute dictator over
a political convention, Mr.. Bryan's
record is unequalled. In the conven-
ton just closed, he stood for no sug-
gestions, no counsel and no intima-
lions from any one He personally
nominated the temporary chairman.
the permanent chairman, the sergeant
alarms, the chairman of the commit
tee on credentials, the chairman of
the committee on resolutions, the man
who made the nominating speech and
those who seconded the nomination.
The possible preferences of the con-
vention were never by him for one
minute considered. The names of
Bell, Clayton, Callahan, Haskell and
Dunn are almost unknown to the
country.
In the convention just closed, the
Democrats of the old school could look
all over the house and call in vain
for men like Thurman, Baird, Tilden,
Beck, Hendricks and David B. Hill.
The records Of this convention do not
show the INT Of many men well
known to ever those who follow clos
est the workings Of the Democratic
party. Men like John w. Daniel, John
Sharp Williams, Culbertson, Carmack
and Tillman had no place in the work
ings of the meeting just closed at
Denver. Murphy of Tammany and
Murphy of Pennsylvania were both
practically ignored. Judge Parker cut
no more figure than the most OBJ.
.scure delegate. James Guffey, one OF
the strongest Democrats of the East,
was bodily ousted through a stained
glass window and the whole Penn.
sylvania delegation we're shown the
closed door. In the Guffey case, ii
was evidently a proposition of might
against right and does not inspire
confidence in what Mr.. Bryan might
do II he were to become President
of the Tinted States.