The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-03-24

ernor johnson. who would poll the con-
sentative as well as the radical vote OF
the party, for he is a faithful partisan as
we'll as patriotic citizen and is jealous
for his party's success because ne Ieels
it is for the country's good.
That a fair count of Democratic voters
the country over would show Mr.. Bryan
a weak candidate ] firmly believe. II you
don't think so just ask say twenty or
the most intelligent Democrats you Know
not the fellows who whOOp en- up on
convention day and legiSlate on the street
corners, but the kind who understand
Democratic principles and actually believe
in them. and see how many there are VINO
will refuse to vote for Mr. Bryan. You
will find at least three out of the twenty.
or | miss my guess, and several more who
will reserve their decision until after the
Republicans make their nOmina ton. Party
names are coming to count for less and
less each year; indeed but for the tariff
question. many Democrats could almost
be Republicans and lots of Republicans
could easily be Democrats.
The people are almost ready to divide
on conservative and radical lines and the
conservatives are going to be represented
in the next administration unless all signs
fail.
We have had several years Of strenuos-
ity now. The icOnOclast has been at work.
On the whole he has probably done more
good than harm up to date, but the peo-
pie are beginning to ask what the outcome
will be with four years more of IL De-
stroying bad things is good work. but
it isn't by any means the whole duty Of
government.
The candidate who is regarded by ali
the people as the conservative, Will prob
ably be elected next November. more es-
pecially if he is the Democratic candidate.
The majority of the American people
really believe in the fundamental prin-
ciples of Democracy.
If Mr.. Bryan were nominated against
would be the conservative. But if nOmi-
mated against Governor Hughes. or Mr.
Knox. or even Secretary Taft, il might
be different. He would then be looked
upon as the radical.
Mr.. Harmon, or Governor johnson. or
any one of a dozen good Democrats one
could name would probably beat any Re
publican that can be nominated; "a least
either of them would stand a better
chance than Mr. Bryan. if what believe
about his losing Democratic votes is true
There is no danger about the reforms
already started going backward, or stop
ping. They are not Roosevelt reforms
He has favored everything calling itself
reform and undoubtedly accelerated some
very much greatly to his credit. but re-
forms are in the air. They have come
and are going to mature because in the
progress of events they could not be put
off any longer They will be carried
forward Just as effectualiy and more
saneiy and legally if one of a dozen or
more Democrats. or if any one of a half
dozen Republicans for that matter, IS
president for the next four years. as if
Mr.. Roosevelt or Mr. Bryan occupies that
exalted position.
/ don't believe the people are so much
afraid just now of reform stopping as
they are of its running mad.
MI. Bryan is regarded as a radical
and bright man, as he is; sterling pat
riot, as he is: eloquent campaigner and
popular candidate, as he is. strong and
successful candidate he is not and will
not be. Yours truly.
LIFELONG DEMOCRAT.