The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1908-02-20
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THE MAP POLITICS.

| There are many ways of killing of
an opponent. David killed Goliath
with sling and stone, and our en-
terprising and versatile neighbor.
The New York World which seem In
clined to follow David, for it quotes
the old Testament account OF a GER
tain episode In Davids career as a
foreword, has undertaken to Stay the
Hon. William J. Bryan with a map
aud u pamphlet. The World tries to
give geographical demonstration OF
Mr.. Bryan's weakness us vote
getter, and to Illustrate by the sur
veyor's methods the shrinkage :in
territory controlled to which his
leadership has condemned the DEM
ocratic party. 1t publishes a map
purporting to show in black the
states Of the union which SHOULD TO-
day be classified as republican, and
In white the states which should be
CLASSIFIED as democratic and charges
the highly unequal PARTITION result
Ing singly and solely to Mr.. Bryan's
leadership.
Ii Is not our concern to defend Mr..
fryan's leadership. Mr.. Bryan can
attend to that duty himself. Yet In
the interest OF political and geograpn.
ical exactitude we feel compelled to
question the value as deadly weap-
on OF our neighbor's anti-Bryan
chart. On what scientific principle
mas 1t been constructed? Mr.. Bryan
was last presidential candidate In
1900, and 1t would seem obvious that
he should be credited and debited
only with such states as he carried or
lost In that years campaign. He
carried In 1900 six states, Kentucky,
Missouri, Nevada, Idaho, Montana
and Colorado-which he is now cred
tied by the World with having made
republican. He lost one state, Mary
land, which he Is credited with hav-
Ing made democratic. TO establish
case against Mr.. Bryan the chart
constructor has conveniently forget
ten that Ex.Judge Alton h. Parker
was the democratic party's candidate
In 1904, that he was nominated
against Mr.. Bryan's protest and as
the representative of the clements
which were trying to purge the
party Of Organism and that under
his leadership the Democracy lost
Montana, Nevada, Idaho, Colorado
and Missouri, with thirty .one elect.
oral votes, and regained seven out OF
sight electoral votes in Maryland.
Why should Mr.. Bryan he made
scapegoat for the Parker 6ascoY We
read In the Worlds pamphlet:
In 1904, with Judge Parker as the |
but with you (Mr. Bryan) |
IS the actual leader of the party, |
very populist state, every doubtful |
tate and Sc veral democratic states
we're carried by Mr.. Roosevelt.
This Is remarkable rewriting of
iery recent history. The st. Louis
Of 1904 showed no appre.
,iation whatever OF the fact that Mr..
Bryan vas the 'actua leader of the
,arty." Ii rebutfed and defeated
him on every proposal he made but
'ne-the maintenance OF silence on
'hs money issue. But Judge Parker
the convention decision
wen on that lone point. The World
eioiced In the Judges nomination
hieiiy because 1t was supposed to
mean the passing of Bryan and Bryan.
su. Did 1t ever suggest In the 1904
that Mr., Bryan was ''tbe
ctual leaderp" IL Mr.. Parker had
zen elected president would he have
ecognized Mr.. Bryan S leadership"
We hardly think he would; not even
MIR. Bryan had reinforced his now
onceded claim with map and n
One particular mystery OF the
worlds map we have not In the least ,
cen able to solve. Why does IL elias. ,
NY Missouri and Kentucky as repub.
can statesF Mr.. Bryan carried Mis-,
ouri In 1900 and MI. Parker lost in ,
sA. Kentucky was democratic In
9th these campaigns. 1t Is true ,
hat Kentucky elected republican
tate ticket in 1907. But Missouri |
lected democratic state ticket In 4
100. LII Kentucky is republican, Ii
lissouri should be democratic. or {
Ice versa. Again, why is Nevada +,
ounted as republican? 1t voted for
ryan In 1900, for Roosevelt In 1904
nd elected democratic governor in ,
so2 and 1909. Oregon, Montana ,