Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-04-23
But Bryan VIII BE Nominated.


more or less Democratic, are still
amusing themselves with speculations
as TO how the Democracy might man.
age TO get along without Mr.. Bryan
as its presidential candidate. Several
even make hopeful predictions that
somehow or other the Democracy will
so manage.
Thus we find the New York Sun, the
other day giving the most prominent
place on its first page to column from
its Washington correspondent headed
"Anti-Bryan Movement Grows" From
this we learn that the friends of Gov
ernor Johnson of Minnesota have
opened a literary bureau in Chicago
which we knew beforehand are send.
ing out some very good arguments-on
paper-why Mr.. Johnson should be the
Democratic standard bearer and Mr..
Bryan should be left TO attend to his
publishing business in Lincoln, Neb.
We also learn that the friends of
Judge Gray of Delaware have likewise
opened literary bureau in Washing
ton. and are preparing to circulate lit
erature in his behalf, especially in New
England, New York, New Jersey. and
the South. Also there is "a state
ment' from the gentleman i'll charge
regarding "a league of Gray clubs in
process of formation"
And, that everybody may have a fair
chance, we also are informed that lad
yOcates of the nomination of former
Governor William L. Douglas of Mas
sachusetts are becoming exceedingly
active, and it is apparent that the eff
fort in his behalf is we'll organized in
its publicity branch''-as, indeed it
ought to be, in view of the experience
of Mr.. Douglas in the work of procur-
ing publicity.
All of which is mildly interesting
and entirely harmless There is not
the slightest objection to enthusiastic
gentlemen from Minnesota who spend
their time and money in this way. Nor
is there the slightest objection to other
gentlemen from Philadelphia or it's
suburbs who occupy their leisure in a
similar manner. Nor to gentlemen
from Massachusetts who divert them
selves with the idea that they are
really doing politics. Nor to Eastern
editors who whistle to keep their cour-
age up before taking to the woods.
This is free country. and those
who have the taste and the means are
TO
kind of harmless game And all this
political pussy wants-a-cOrner" that is
now going on around the edges of the
political battlefield is entirely harm
less. 1t is so absolutely harmless to
Mr.. Bryan that his smile doubtless
gains wider benignity when he hap
pens to think about it.
For Mr. Bryan knows-and we all
know when we lay aside the toys with
which we play and really think about
the matter-that all this printing and
posting and circularizing and making
of excellent arguments does not, will
not, and cannot make the slightest diff
ference that all this piping and plead
ing has, will have, and can have no
more effect than a brass band has
upon the course Of a blizzard.
We all know that Mr.. Bryan will be
nominated just the same. Why? Well,
largely because of the Republican par
ty and it's course for the last four or
five years.
With half of the Republican party
gravitating toward the Bryan platform
of ten years ago, the Democratic par
ty naturally sticks to that platform
and the man who made It. This is the
plain tendency Of the times, deplore
who may q
But can Mr.. Bryan win? many ask.
That depends. He certainly is nearer
winning to-day than ever before in a
preliminary campaign, and that is
about all anybody can see or say with
truth up to the present-Chicago In
ter Ocean.