The Democratic advocate., 1908-08-21
NEWSPAPERS AND RAILROADS.
Bryan's Cause Being Strengthened by
Their Opposition.

. Lincoln, Neb., Aug. 15.-TWo OF the
alleged elements of the opposition to
William j. Bryan's candidacy for
President, which his friends out here
insist are Strengthening him all
through the trans-Mississippi coun-
try, are the railroads and the metro
politan newspapers. 1t is pointed out
by Mr.. Bryan's friends that he has alb
sOlutely no newspaper representing
him in New York or Chicago, and that
with the exception OF one daily paper
in Philadelphia, another in Pittsburg
and two in Buffalo, the press of the
entire North is arrayed against him
They complain that he is not getting
"a fair show" by that large section
of the press that is opposed to him
but which for the most part asserts
it's independence in politics.
The Democratic newspapers in the
West are commenting bitterly upon
this and the popular mind in this
region is apparently being infiamed
against the East. Sectional feeling
is being aroused, and in the judgemnt
of many of the most conservative men
one meets here from all parts of the
West the Bryan cause is being
strengthened.
The action of the Western Passenger
Association in refusing outright to
give a special rate to the Bryan noti-
cation meeting, although a rate was
granted to the Taft notification, is
being used by the supporters of the
Democratic standard bearer with
seemingly good effect.
The criticisms of the railroad in
terests on this account have been in
tensified since the Bryan notification
by the declination of the Western Pas
senger Agents Association to give
special rates to the Nebraska State
Fair, which opens it's gates here Sep
tember 1. Ever since the fair was in
stituted the railroads have sold tickets
to Lincoln at reduced rates on its ac-
count The last Legislature cut the
passenger rate in this State from
to 2 cents mile, and it is in retalia-
tion for this legislation that the rail-
roads are refusing the usual special
rates to the fair. Republican as well
as Democratic newspapers and poll
ticians all through the West are fam
ming the flames of discomfort against
the railroads, and the Bryanites are
confident that their cause will profit
at the polls in November, because of
the renewed anti-railroad agitation.
Mr. Bryan's belief in his advantage
over Judge Taft in all the country
from the Mississippi to the Pacific is
daily strengthened by reports made
to him by friends or casual visitors.
Typical of these reports is one
brought to Fairview yesterday by c.
G. Crittenden, of Lincoln, who con-
trolls chain of grain elevators
through Nebraska, Kansas and the Da-
kotas Mr.. Crittenden is said here to
control the elevator trust" He is a
New Englander by birth, and has al
ways voted the Republican ticket,
but he has announced that this year
he will vote for Bryan and Kern. Mr..
Crittenden returned yesterday from
his summer home in Northern Mimi
esota, where he ha. been for two
months.
81 was surprised" he said, to find
so strong Bryan sentiment in Min
nesota. Men of large affairs up there
whom l have known for years and
who are lifelong Republicans are with
Mr. Bryan in this fight. Unless some
thing is done by Judge Taft's friends
to check the tide, he will lose Min
nesota What is true of Minnesota
seems to be equally true of the Da-
kotas and Kansas. 1t goes without
saying, of course, that Mr.. Bryan will
carry Nebraska. 1 am not a politician
and, of course, 1 may not be able ac-
curately to judge of political condi-
tions, but l do know that great
many men within the circle of my
acquaintance in the West who have
voted the Republican ticket all their
lives are going to vote for Mr.. Bryan
this year. If his cause is as strong
east of the Mississippi as it is west
of that line he will certainly be swept
into the White House on landslide.