Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-26
AN INTIMATE vIEW OF BRYAN

From Lincoln Neb., comes the following,
addressed to the editor OF the Courier
Journal:
The Omaha Bee Of this date. in an edl-
torial under the heading Planning a stand
stlll.' says that GU. speaking for the old
conservative school Of democracy, argue
that with Mr.. Bryan and a republican con-
grets affairs ate more likely to be kept
more In statu aus than Il Mr.. Taft should
occupy the presidential chair. This edl-
torial declares this is the sole basis Of your
support. In most Of the arguments l have
met you are quoted. I-wouid IKE to have
you answer this and say whether or not 1t
is true. Very respectfully.
&C. c. sTIvERs, ". D."
II is not true, as these columns will
abundsntiy attest. Answering the charge
that Mr.. bryan would prscip.tate ruin upon
the country, it has been said truly that
Mr.. Bryan. with a republican senate, can
pr eCipitate'' nothing. That is very far
from saying that his election would mean
"a stand still" HIS election would mean
moral movement, II nothing else; but 1t
would also mean moral progress toward the
ultimate ends of better recommendations
Vile Courier-Journal, September q, 1sOS.
Colonel Matterson Is as unfortunate
as Mr.. Bryan when 1t m to the
matter of Inviting attention to his
record. Always pointed, always enter
tanning, Colonel Watterson's editorial
utterances usually make an impression
that warrants their preservation and
republication. For instance, on Feb
ruary g., 1908, Colonel Watterson
wrote:
Now. for our part, we see in Mr.. Bryan
an agreeable lay-preacher who wants to be
president and has shown himself willing to
take any old thing for a paramount issue,
promising TO gain votes enough, all the
way from free silver to government own
ership Of the railways
Early In February Colonel Water
son went down to Florida. where he
spent several weeks. He wrote weekly
letters over his signature from Naples
on-the-Gu1f. The following excerpts
are from these editorial letters, as
printed in the Courier-Journal on
February 10 and February "a, 1908:
As one OF the guilty in 1895, though not
IN 1860, l am so sensible OF my lack OF
desert that, whilst in the coming campaign
/ shall labor TO elect him-sttfi greatly dis
trusting him-I should not expect any Other
than negative results from his advent tc
power, nor dream Of crossing his threshold
after his election.
Just before Mr.. Bryan's return last sum
mer a year ago and his bad break at Madt
4 son Square Garden. Mr.. John O.. Carlisle
: said to me. Il know Mr., Bryant know
him vsll-and I like him, but he has nC
= more idea Of the responsibilities Of govern
= ment than a child"
Mr.. Bryan seems to me TO carry a yer!
:. narrow and grudging spirit. This may b
: natural. but II is unfortunate. I hav,
watched him closely and 1 think withou
prejudice and l can Bee nothing OF large
mIndedness OF manly generosity about hin
mot an iota OF self-abReg on tn
contrary, the relentless, unfoFsiving pur
pose of an implacable, who has Learned
nothing and forgotten nothing since 1895.
zee
il In the south they have no consuminl
l. love for Mr.. Bryan or confidence In hi
70 star. Generally they, agree that he canno
be elected. They simply proceed on tn
ie iineb OF least resistance and submit TO
stahd.and-deiiver attitude from whose de
mands they see no immediate means OF eX
8. trscation. Yet IL the condition OF the coun
| Try SuCn Iftal, NnCIC n piNiuNS -
s. Using would in ,ordinary times insure DIS
TO aster, with hard times upon us and reput
e. ncan dissension before us, It looks like
winner, and, as l said in the outset, II
strongest argument will be the claim tha
n Mr.. Bryan for all his vasaries can do n
harm, while a continuation OF Roosevelt
IN ism to many great interests and masses {
~ men spells revolution, II not ruin.
Colonel Watterson is In position
to sympathise with Governor Haskell,
that he has been caught with tn
n goods. He is on record as insistin
~ that the strongest argument 10
Bryan's election is that Bryan, oppose
1T by a republican senate, could do n
of harm. Then. to add to the complies
OF ton. Colonel Watterson insists hat
=" continuation of the Roosevelt policie
OF would spell revolution or ruin to man
interests, while Mr.. Bryan has bee
pleading and insisting that he is tn
sole heir to the Roosevelt policie
Colonel Watterson has been as unto
tunate as Mr.. Archbold in falling I
hVrn hia Iettera.