The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-10-31
What Mr.. Bryan Offers.

As the campaign nears its close, it
seems likely that the election will be
decided largely by the view held by
On business conditions When we con-
slider that the votes of labormg men
and of business men - who are not
thorough-going politicians are inau-
eneed more by this consideration than
anything else, it is not surprising to
see the Republican party seeking to
demonstrate that Mr.. Tatt's election
means prosperityg and the Democratic
party seeking just as earnestly TO repel
the idea that Mr.. Bryan's election
means business depression.
What does Mr.. Bryan offer this vote
If it is right to assume that it is
the determining factor in the election
in return for its supports At this
time, when the fight is raging furiously
in the close States, it is difficult to de-
eide exactly what is his chief claim.
No need to blame Mr.. Bryan for this.
He is STUMP speaking" and is saying
the thing that seems best calculated
at the moment to catch the crowd.
But Mr.. Bryan began his campaign
with the expectation of capturing
Roosevelt's followers with the plea that
he could carry forward the Presidents
policies better than Mr.. Taft. In other
words, he asked first for support on
the ground that he would be more
earnest in attacking trusts, more Sc
rious in regulating railroads, more Wig
OrOus in prosecuting big aw-breakers,
and generally more eager to put the
screws on predatory wealth" than Mr..
Taft would be- Surely, there IS no mis-
representation Of Mr.. Bryan in saying
that this was the program upon which
he started to wage his fight for the
Presidency.
In a few weeks, however, the logic
Of events compelled a change in tactics.
Mr.. Bryan's campaign managers pre-
vailed upon him TO adopt another line
OF argument, pointing out to him and
gradually convincing MIN that it was
absurd to pose as "ROosevelt's heir"
when the President was violently re-
pudiating him. Then Mr.. Bryan began
to lay stress on the plank in the Demo
cratic platform declaring for the guar
Rntee of bank deposits and the plank
urging his so per cent trust scheme
and the anti-injunction issue. Up to
~
which Mir. Bryan plainly considered the
most important of the campaign.
The issue of the Presidents activity
In naming Mr.. Taft as the Republican
candidate is nof of real Importance, be-
cause no great number Of votes are
going to swing on that point, though
many citizens undoubtedly resent the
Presidents prominence IN advocating
Mr.. Taft Neither is il worth while
70 discuss executive usurpation," be
cause-th0ugh many persons strenu-
Ously oppose the President on this
Rround-it can hardly exert much in
fuencs on the result. Moreover, it is
plain that this objection will not hold
against Judge Taft, man trained to
respect the courts and the constituted
authorities
Leaving these issues to the side, the
man whose vote is determined-iH the
absence of an overshadowing issue-by
the elections effect on business must
ask himself what Mr.. Bryan offers
him in return for the risk a change
in the national Administration Ger
tainly involves. To make "a change
for the sake of a change" is an argu-
ment which never appeals strongly to
business men. There is the argument
of the need Of an opposition party-a
desirable end, but possible OF being
bought at too high a cost.
These are not reasons enough to
swing business men to Bryan. The
voter is brought, then, to the argu-
ments upon which Mr. Bryan himself
has laid most stress namely, guar
antee of bank deposits, the absurd prop
Osition of letting no trust sell snore
than half the product of any article
that enters into interstate commerce,
and the curtailment Of the use of writs
of injunction in labor disputes. They
are their own answer