Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-04-28
Reply of Robert Schmidt.

Letters have been sent out to leading
democrats of Wisconsin from the head
quarters in Wisconsin in which the can
didacy of Gov. johnson, of Minnesota
is urged. One of the democrats who
received such a letter was Robert
Schmidt, who replied as follows and
which answer was published in the Mil
waukee News
Wausau, Wis, April II, 1908. Fred
erick b. Lynch, Esq.-Dear Sir: | am
in receipt of your favor of April 8,
with accompanying printed statement,
Showing Gov. Johnson's availability
as a candidate for the presidency
| must say that | do not like that
word availability" It is an old bait
that has lured democrats to disgraceful
defeat so often heretofore, that it should,
by this time, have lost its efficiency.
You will recall perhaps that Judge
Parker was nominated because of his
availability" To the men calling
themselves democrats, who seem fond
of this word availability" it appears
to mean, in application to proposed
candidate, a man who can get the
votes of persons who are willing to
vote for a man who is labeled demo
cratic" provided he is not democratic
in any more serious sense than his
readiness to use the executive appoint
ing power to place men in office who
are good politicians.
Neither do | like the statement in
your letter that "the democracy of the
nation have been for twelve years los
ing ground" The New York World
asserts that such has been the case, but
the entruthfulness of the assertion has
been proved beyond doubt, and it
seems hardly possible that you can have
missed knowing this.
Ard even if that false assertion were
true, it is not claimed by The New York
World that it is true except in the
sordid sense that the democrats have
not been getting offices during the last
twelve years as much as some of them
deserve, and that those Office seekers in
the party are becoming disheartened
over their long fast.
But if we change the point of view
from that of the chronic Office seeker to
that of the patriot, we find that democ-
racy has gained more ground during
the last twelve years than during all its
previous history. You will need no
proof of this if you will compare the
Chicago platform Of 1896 with the policy
of the present republican president,
and if you will then consider the fact
that the president, in thus adopting the
present democratic policies, is upheld
by the great bulk of his own party-a
party that called these policies can
archy" twelve years ago, and were ably
seconded in that cry by those democrats
who are low looking for an available
candidate.
Put it to the element of patriotism in
your own heart, Mr.. Lynch, this ques-
ton: would prefer to have had the
last twelve years of my country under
such so-called democratic admins
tration as that given us by Grover
Cleveland or would prefer to belong
to the party which though defeated in
the election, has frightened and shamed
the party in power into an abandon
ment of its traditional policy, and an
acceptance of the policy of my own
party as the best one, and the only one
that can hold the voters
just take look, Mr.. Lynch, at what
lies beyond "the loaves and,tishes," and
then answer that question to your own
conscience. | don't ask you to talk out
loud Human nature is weak when it
comes to public confessions of error.
One thing more If we ask what |
man is responsible for placing the DEM
ocratic party on that high plane, when |
its policies have won the approval of |
the best men of both parties, and of a |
majority of the voters of both parties, |
can there be any hesitancy in naming |
as that man William j. Bryan Nom |
mate him and his election is now sure, |
for do not the rank and file of the repub- |
hcan party know that it is Bryan's poll |
cy that is ruling the party in power to-
day. But nominate, not Bryan, but /
some one else, and what will be the /
result The voters will mistrust the |
party who having an opportunity to
nomia ate Bryan refuses TO do 1t. Ii the /
democratic party refuses TO nominate
Bryan the TACT will be interpreted by /
the voters as it was in 1904, as a re-
nouncement of Bryan's policies. And /
this Interpretation, whether right or
not, will be iustifiable Thus the demo
cratic party will be placed behind the
republican party, in the estimation of
the voters, especially If the latter party
nominate Taft. who is an avowed advo
cate of the Bryan policies, as adopted |
by the present administration.
Personally l have thought well of
your candidate, Gov. johnson, until he
was taken up and pushed By the very
men who are responsible for our humil-
iating retreat from democratic prin-
ciples in 1904 and our consequent dis
astrous defeat-the most overwhelming
defeat our party has ever sustained.
The fact that those men are urging the
of Gov. johnson is enough
10 warn all true democrats, for those
men have never been known to do
political act from other than selfish
motives. Yours very truly,
RORFRT SCHMIDT