The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-23

generally. and would go very far to-
ward winning the electoral votes of
some of the Southern States which are
ready to poll strong nucleus of Re-
changes here and there to carry the
election. 1t is doubtless because the
race, as 1t now appears. is the field
against Taft. that no talk has been
heard of a man for second place with
any other aspirants or Republican
statesmen urged for the presidential
nomination. Fairbanks. Hughes. Can
non, Knox, Foraker. are decidedly In
the calculation for the first place, but
with none of these has any name been
discussed for the second place
AT this distance from the convention
itself 1t looks as though there Is no
more uncertain quantity than the
choice of a running mate for the Re-
publican candidate for President. who
ever he might be. The Taft people
are entirely too coquettish with State
sentiment to calculate anything upon
the reports that touch this phase of
their canvass for convention delegates.
So much for the Republican side of the
campaign.
Democratic Possibilities.
The progress OF the sentiment for
William ]. Bryan to be the Democratic
nominee for President is conceded even
by his most distrustful party associ-
ates as now assured beyond doubt. rem
dering useless and wasteful any time
and effort to nominate any other man.
1t is realized that the masses of DEM
their standard bearer. Now they are
just beginning to think that so immi-
nent Is his nomination for President
that 1t is time to consider who ought
to be named with him as the party:s
candidate for Vice President
There has not been much discussion
regarding who would be best to nomi-
nate with Mr.. Bryan. When he was
first nominated in 1896 there was not
a thought of anybody for the second
place.
Sewall, of Maine, was chosen hastily
as the candidate for Vice President.
There had not been the slightest in
formation previously had about him
delegation to the national convention.
This time. along with widespread be-
lief that Mr. Bryans chances of cleo
ton are excellent in any event. there
has begun to be serious discussion of
a candidate for Vice-President on the
Democratic ticket.
There has been some talk of a South
ern man for the place. and in this con-
nection several of those who have been
as good enough for presiden-
tial timber have been named, notably
Governor Hoke Smith, of Georgia. But
every Southern Democrat who has been
agitatad either at home or abroad for
a place on the ticket has distinctly dis
couraged the idea, and in such way
as to cause his friends TO cease efforts.
Governor Smith is attending solely
to his responsibilities as Governor OF
Georgia. and appears SO to be able
to control his friends as to keep him
out of the presidential calculation any
where on the ticket.
w. G.. Conrad, of Virginia,
other names have been vaguely dis
dental nomination, but none seems
to have taken Judgment as a serious
proposition. except one from the West.
That Is the suggestion of a Westerner,
liam G.. Conrad, a staunch Democrat.
of Montana. Mr.. Conrad is native
of Virginia, who early in life moved
to the Rocky Mountain region and
achieved exceptional business success
through tests that stamp superiority
only upon men of exceptional strength
of character. He has been an uncom-
promising Democratic leader, serving
in the State legislature, when large
affairs required his attention. going
to State and national conventions at
the bead of delegations and taking an
unceasing interest In the welfare OF
the Democratic party.
Mr.. Conrad Is now on visit to
Washington. which is convenient to a
fine estate he owns in the Shenandoah
Valley. His presence here has started
serious talk of him as fit candidate
with William j. Bryan on the ticket
to be nominated at Denver next July.
He has numerous friends in the Far
West. who insist that no Democrat Is
near so strong In the intermountain
States. For many years large ON
ployer of labor, his relations with his
employees have been so we'll conducted
that their word for him, It is asserted.
would prove a talisman to unite the
labor vote for the Democratic ticket.
Withal, Mr.. Conrad, it is insisted, is
no radical Conversation with him at
least impresses his charity of view for
all classes of his fellow-citizens u rev.
erence for political doctrines that
marks him as straight Democrat
and a certain positiveness of attitude
on public policies which shows he has
a, clear and definite ideas of what is
hest for the public welfare. So much
may be said for Mr.. Conrad Just now
nomination for Vice President with Mr.
Bryan. He has heard of this use of
his name and treats 1t lightly, but when