Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-21
SEE THE BRYAN B0GEY,
Confidence of the Republican
Management Jared.
A RUDE AWAKENING COMES
Leaders Considering Best Policy to
Adopt.
SEEKING NEW LINE OF ACTION
Glider Statesmen" of the Party Will
Be Called Upon for
Greater Activity.
A RUDE AWAKENING COMES
SEEKING NEW LINE OF ACTION

NEW YORK, September 21.-EventS
and developments of the past two weeks
have given the republican national Or
ganization a severe jolt and rude
awakening from the state of blissful con-
fidence and apathy in which for time it
seemed to be reposing. The Bryan scare
which has been foreshadowed for some
time has materialized, and with ven-
geance.
What line of policy shall we pursue to
counteract the Bryan campaign?' is the
question the leaders are now asking. 1t
into consideration the various elements
of embarrassment which compose the
situation confronting the republicans.
These are found to be:
Elements of Embarrassment
Acute factional difference in many
states. none of which has yet been COM
posed.
A wide divergence of views upon sew
eral issues of the campaign between diff
ferent sections of the country. For ex-
ample: The western idea of tariff revi-
sion, which means tariff reduction, and
the eastern view of it, which contemplates
shifting of schedules without touching
the protective principle.
A difference of opinion on the catchy
Bryan plan of guaranty of bank de-
posits, which, it must be admitted, is
making headway with the masses. Kan
sas and some of the western states de-
mand support of the idea, while the
financial circles Of the east are against
it,
The problem of raising campaign
funds without calling upon corporations
prescribed by law and which are gladly
taking advantage of the hue and cry
against corporations to keep their
money in their strong boxes.
The pronounced sentiment in the west
against Speaker Cannon and the House
managers which is reflected in hostility
to the candidate for Vice President Mr..
Sherman. who is held to typify the
stand-pat element of Congress in the
national organization.
All these and number of minor con-
siderations serve to give the republican
managers uneasy nights and busy days,
and to render imperative a change in
the method of conducting the campaign.
Or, rather. it could be more correst to say,
adoption of a definite plan of campaign
along positive and aggressive lines, for it
is fact that up to this time there has
been more ''conferring' than campaign
ing"
Elder Statesmen Called On.
The first evidence of the change that
has come over the national organization
will be manifested in the new plans of
National Chairman Hitchcock. He is to
be in closer touch hereafter with the elder
statesmen of the party, who up to this
time have held positions in the manage
ment of a nature more emeritus than
active.
Complaint is made by leading republic
cans who have noted the rapidly ad
vancing Bryan campaign. and who have
inquired what the republican manage
ment is doing to offset 1t. that there is
lack of aggression and definite policy in
the republican compaign. These COM
plants have reached the President and
Mr.. Taft, and the result is that these old
wheel horses of the party, men who have
gone through many campaigns, Will be
asked TO lay out some plan of action.
1t is probable that the advisory commit
tee of the national committee will be
very active from this time on. and that it
Will submit suggestions and directions
which will be announced and carried out
DS NUdiilIl I1ItCICOCh
There will be a board of strategy,
composed of the grayheads, and Chairman
Hitchcock will be the executive o.--cer,
with his staff of hustling young assist
ants, to put the plans into operation.
If one desired to make guess to
some lines of policies likely to be 4ol-
lowed, he would not be far wrong in pick
ing these:
Issues to Be Pressed.
A positive stand for revision of the
tariff. not by reducing schedules inds-
criminately. but by keeping steadily in
view the protection of the American Ia
borer and farmer with total disregard of
the democratic cry for free trade on
trustmade articles.
\ positive and exceedingly aggressive
stand against Organism, not alone what
Bryan advocates now, but calling atten-
tion TO what he has stood for in tue past
and which he admits now error.
Point out Bryan, the free silver man OF
1896 and 1860; the anti-imperialist of 1860
and 1904, the government ownership of
railways advocate of 1904, and the popu-
list always.
Possibly a vigorous opposition to the
guaranty of bank deposits, although the
method of handling this must be the sub
ject of further consideration.
But it is a certainty that within the
next few days the republicans will
awaken into life and energy and that the
men who have been standing at arms rest
in the ranks. watching the Bryan forces
gather in battle array on each flank. viii
hear the bu~le note and will find some
commanders, whose flags they have fol-
lowed heretofore, canter to the front.
Taft to Come to the Front.
For another thing Mr.. Taft himself will
be urged into more activity. Bitter com
plant has been made that he has been
too prone to allow things to drift on the
calm tide of Roosevelt popularity. There
is demand that he get out and show the
people that there is Taft, with ideas
of his own. with a personality of his own
and that he is something else than
shadow of big stick and steam roll
er. This is not to say that there is to
be disregard of the Presidents personal
popularity. Far from it. for the Roose-
Welt sentiment will be drawn upon lib
orally wherever 1t exists in volume
This is shown by the latest move of the
republican congressional campaign COM
mittee. which found it expedient today
to publish a letter from the President
calling upon all good republicans to rec