The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1908-02-20
SPLIT INTO FACTIONS +!
Gloomy View Taken Of Political
Situation in Washington.
Bureau OF the Capital News. Room
s2l, Munsey Buildlng).

question that the democratic party Is
more nearly united than 1t has been
for years past; that the republican
party Is more nearly completely split
into irreconcilable factions than IL
ever has been since It's establishment
half century ago.
In writing this, one Is merely re-
ilecting the consensus of opinion
among skfllful politicians ut the
national capital. 1t Is not the chance
view OF a few, hut absolutely the
conceded innermost thought Of the
men whose opinions are worth while
thought, however, not openly ex-
pressed for publication, but reserved
for heart to heart" talks with news
paper no. tot instance. around the
dinner tables, &uera 50 ,naac- Truths
are uttered which do not often get
into print Producing n composite
picture OF conditions as they appear,
and as obtained from numerous
sources, both radical and conserva-
tive, republican aud democratic, the
result Is to warrant these assertions;
The nomination OF w. j. Bryan by
the democrats Is foregone conclu,
sion. Mr.. Bryan has maintained con-
sistently his attitude OF former years,
merely pursuing the course he map.
ped out In 1896, and in no essential
particular altering his expressions
and insistences. The movement to
defeat Mr.. Bryan's nomination has
virtually died and been buried. The
New York World, the Washing ton
Post, the New York Evening Post.
the New York Sun. the entire cote.
rie OF professedly democratic but
antii-Bryan and precautionary news.
papers now admit that Mr., Bryan
will he named at Denver.
| Which Is tantamount to saying
that only comparatively small por-
ton OF the oldtime democratic party
remains opposed to Mr.. BIyan's for.
ward march program.
Contra, the republican party is In
the midst OF political CONFUSION.
Mr. Roosevelt and Senator La Fol.
lette only among the real leaders re.
present the radical program. They
are bitterly opposed to Fairbanks,
Foraker, Cannon, Knox and Hughes,
and, " intimations now made prove
to be correct, Mr.. Taft Is aggrieved
at the .latest- utterance OF the pres
ldent.
Each has a considerable follow Ing.
No one knows exactly how large is
the following OF each OF them. But
that they are elements In the coming
republican national convention, Is
conceded.
The practical unanimity OF the
democratic party In It's demand for
Bryan's nomination, and the coin
cident tendency on the part OF the
republican party To draw back slight
ly from the radicalism OF d Roosevelt,
dawned ON the president, when he
realized that the anti-Bryan move
ment had been carried back to New
York City In coffin; that Hughes
had begun 10 gather more and more
strength and real question existed
as TO whether or not radical could
get the Chicago nomination In June.
Convinced OF these two facts, the
president produced his message.
II was the call 10 arms, II was an ad'
mission that "A call TO arms was neces.
sary, II the Roosevelt idea was TO re.
: main supreme In the republican
party.
There is, then, already settle
ment In advance Of the action Of thu
J Denver convention there Is no settle
, ment Of what will transpire at Chic
ago. The democratic party Is Writ
7 ually unit In Organism; the repub
ican party Is rent asunder into tw
armies, one OF which the leader
the militant Roosevelt, supreme 4
command, unquestioned as TO his nh
solute authority; OF the other arm
! no acknowledged leader, no one pei
y son is supreme command, but the so
=, diers thereof divided into severi
army corps owning no COMMANDER. II
chief. merely making common eau;
because Of common hatred Of I'll
d leader OF the opposing army.
n These are cool facts, shorn Of verb
r aye. expressed In plain Anglo-SaxoI
'e They state the private views OF e
ID perienced politicians. II IL be asks
;. why are not these men quoted in u
e, tirst person, the answer must be:
Is harder to get an open expressit
from an anti.Rooseyelt politician
" Washington now than to induce u
y Sphynx In Egypt to delivera 1890
word grafton, although the pro- Roos
welt people talk volubly enough.
But these anti-Rooseyelt men oil
cuss affairs conlldentially with new
I'D paper men with whom they are ",
IL acquainted. and the foregoing Is Il
OF composite product OF expression
ne from a score Of public men inte
10 viewed by the Capital News corr
C. spOndent