Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-14


originally an element which was not
friendly to Bryan, or which, at least,
was doubtful about the wisdom of Sc
lecting the Nebraskan for a third
time to lead a hopeless race for the
great prize.
In 1906 when Bryan slit up the
Democracy Kern went back to Indi-
n from the Chicago convention in
a perplexed frame of mind. He came
of a conservative element of the Indi-
ana Democracy, and the socialistic
crowd which was in control at Chi
cago had shocked all of his ideas of
public policy.
Gradually Warmed to Bryan.
For a time it seemed likely that he
would ally himself with the anti-Bry-
an Democracy in the state. Up to
the time of the Indianapolis conven-
ton, when Palmer and Buckner were
nominated as figure heads for the gold
Democratic movement, Kern was I'M
deniably on the fence. He climbed
down gradually, however, and during
the campaign became an active and
ClDlS duNOtdIc VI DlS oil . SlSCLlOll.
Even his views on the silver ques.
ton seemed to have been modified,
and before the end of the campaign
most people had apparently lost sight
of the fact that Kern came near drift
ing into the anti-Bryan movement
which resulted in the election of Nc
Kinley by such a triumphant major
ity.
Since that time John w. Kern has
been put forward with more or less
regularity as the standard bearer of
the Indiana Democracy. Four years
ago he was mentioned p~ersistently as
a vice presidential possibility, but, il
l remember it rightly, his name was
not presented to the convention.
Since the advent of Bryan, Kern has
been twice a Democratic candidate
for governor of Indiana, and of
course, has been twice defeated.
Private Life Above Reproach.
In his own state he represents more
than the average strength of his par
ty. He is not immensely popular, but
he is properly respected and he is Of
the type of mar who would appeal to
Democratic voters in Indiana, espec-
tally in the southern tier of counties.
He lives in Indianapolis, has a good
law practice, ranks above the average
in his profession, and is altogether a
genial, courteous, sociable gentleman.
His private life is clean, and the Re
publicans will find little to attack in
the personality of John w. Kern as
far as | can learn.
He is just under 60 years of age,
has a short, well kept, iron gray beard
and, on the whole, the Autographs of
the vice presidential candidate are
gross libels, as Mr.. Kern would be
picked out in any assemblage as a
good looking, prosperous business or
professional man.
Kern Outranked by Sherman.
1t will be natural, from this time
on, to compare the two vice president
ial candidates put into nomination at
Chicago and Denver. AS between
them, | should say that Sherman was
of a much higher type than Kern.
Neither one of them has a national
reputation as yet, but if I were called
upon to pick a man for the presidency
l should select the New York candi-
date without hesitation.
The trouble with Kern is that he
has never had any experience in great
affairs outside of his own state and
even there his experience has been
confined to a term or two in the legis-
lature and some years in executive
Offices. Whether he possesses the
capacity for executive work or not,
no n knows positively. He may be
familiar with the problems which con-
front a national government, but if
so it must be as a student and not as
one who a speak with authority
from personal experience.
Sherman, on the other hand, has
had a much wider training, and If
called upon to fulfill the duties of the
presidency would meet them with per-
sonal familiarity. He has had a long
and varied experience in the house OF
representatives, has frequently acted
as presiding officer, and as chairman
of the congressional committee, has
acquired a minute knowledge of the
conditions in every congressional dis
trict OF the United States. On the
whole, Sherman is probably much the
better campaigner, but Kern, on ac-
count of his whiskers, would appeal
to the buccolic mind more than
Sunny Jim" of Utica.
-.#-.-e aa.-.