The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-09-25
Mr.. CANNON BUNGNS
New Orleans Times-Democrat.


By his attack upon Mr.. Bryan,
Speaker Cannon has seriously i'm
paired the reputation for sagacity and
practical common sense with which
his friends have endowed him. Also,
and no less plainly, he ConfeSseS his
Inability TO readjust his habits of po-
1ulcal thought and action to meet the
changing political conditions The
speakers attack had not even the
merit of originality His charge thai
the Nebraskan had made a million
dollars selling wind and ink" is an
antique, relic of the campaigns in
which billingsgate was hurled from
many republican platforms. in order
10 divert attention from the more eff
fectlve work undertaken by the prac-
teal Mr.. Hanna and his TRUSTEES.
Some of the speakers who were en-
cOuraged to great lengths of personal
abuse of the Democratic candidate in
those campaigns probably imagine 10
this day that Mr. Bryan's defeat was
comprised largely by that very means.
Mr. Cannon appears TO be one of them
There is good reason to doubt the
correctness of that conclusion. in the
light OF disclosures regarding corpo-
ration campaign contributions. But
even were it correct, political fashions
have changed, and the most effective
campaign speakers no longer consider
1t either necessary or desirable to as
sumo the role of qUaTreIing fiShwives
Legitimate argument is having it's day
The public mind is less pTejudiced
more attentive to logic than for years
The leaders upon both sides have
taken some pride in the fact that the
campaign has been remarkably free
from abuse and Mr.. Cannon's outburst
may be charitably considered as mere
ly an exception going to prove the
rule.
From the partisan viewpoint, how
ever, the democrats should be grateful
10 the speaker for giving Mr.. Bryan
an exceptional opening, which he-has
seized with telling effect. The silly
canard about the democratic leaders
wealth. with the equally stupid insin-
uatlon that money earned upon the
lecture platform was in some way
tainted, has been circulated so long
that perhaps a few voters wearied by
Its iteration past the power of reason
ing, have accepted the view of its dis
seminstors- Mr. BTyan's candid state
ment OF the value of his estate. with
the confederation which comes from
the official record in his home county,
VIII set the matter once for all At rest
ANC tS. uOt d I1fiEO0dlfe- He mas MADE
money on the lecture platform and he
Is worth not TO exceed S150 600. Those
who contributed to his earnings by
purchasing tickets to his lectures did
so voluntarily, and the fact that they
got value received" is attesteJ by
the other fact that Mr.. Bryan has re
tanned 10 this good day his power to
attract and to interest enormous au.
dienCes- The suggestion that Iectur-
ing IS discreditable OF dishonorabIe
ayocation Is so absurd as to be pa
thetiC
Instead of injUrfng the Democratic
candidate by attack. Mr.. Cannon has
merely helped him TO a firmer hold
upon the respect and confidence OF
the voters. Incidentally he has prob
aoly bettereG Mr.. BTyan's chances be-
fore people at present impatient of
personal abuse. Progressive repIfhli.
cans. already chafed by the platform
which yokes them to the reactionaries
OF the Cannon school, will be more
than likely TO regard the speakers at
tack upon Mr. Bryan as an exception
ally strong argument In the Nebras-
kan's favor