The Washington herald., 1908-07-18
POLITICAL COMMENT.

The press does not seem to take kindly
to Mr.. Bryan's project Of making the
White House a sort Of common ground
for both President and Vice President.
The New York Sun. Of course. takes a
fling at it II says;
Mr.. Bryan opens up 10 US a truly
idyllic prospect when he says that in the
event OF his election he viii ask the Hon.
John ". Kern 20 share the White House
with him. Il is an arrangement OF long
standing, proposed By Mr.. Bryan when
both he and Kern were bleeding outside
/ the breastwoTks, and renewed now that
he at least sees the Presidency within
easy reach There may be no precedent
for It, and again Mr.. Bryan may not
have the premises al his disposal this
year or next: but it shows a neighborly
spirit Moreover, IL viii introduce into
Official life at Washington a much-needed
shirt-sleeve simplicity and mark an era
Of new observances in the higher walks"
The Kansas City Times finds fault be-
cause Mr. Bryan does not make his White
House plan more comprehensive Il says:
Mr.. Bryan's simple Democratic pur-
pose OF sharing the White House as a
residence with Sfr. Kern, IN order TO re-
duce expenses for the Vice President.
suggests other gracious and kindly minis
tratiOns OF a similar sort Doubtless Mr..
Bryan Is right in saying that any man
who is good enough 10 be elected Vice
President is good enough TO live in the
White House But how about the other
noble characters sOjourning in Washing
ton who are worthy OF being elected Vice
President VIII not Mr. Bryan consider
the hOspitable project Of putting them
up for the night or making them COM
Portable for as long as they may wish
to stay In the Capital City?
Take the case Of the Cabinet members
who have a good deal more 20 DO with
being President than the Vice President
has. Why not crowd a bit Il necessary,
and take the Cabinet members and their
interesting families in 10 board with the
President and the Vice President and
their interesting famiIies2-
The New York Post thinks Mr.. Bryan's
suggestion an interesting one, but de-
clsres il has fits drawbacks. II says:
Mr.. Bryan's avowal Of his intention.
II elected. OF making his running mate.
Mr- Kern, an unofficial member OF his
Cabinet, is an interesting suggestion
formed with a proper idea OF enhancing
both the dignity ard the usefulness Of
the Presidents understudy. bat aimed,
we fear. n the wrong direction. II Mr.
Bryan's proposal hardened into habituai
usage, We should discover its drawbacks.
IncOmpatibility OF temperament between
the Chief Executive and the Vice Prssl-
dent might be cited in large number OF
recent instances"
The Springfield Republican thinks M
BTyan's plan IS. at least. pictuRsque. It
says:
The picturesque suggestion comes from
Lincoln Nebr-. that in the event OF the
election Of Bryan and Kern Mr. Bryan
might ask the Vice President 20 share the
White House with him. in order 10 save
the Indianapolis lawyer the expense OF
setting up a separate establishment
When asked about the matter. Mr. Bryan
is reported 70 have replied. Any man
who i good enough 70 be Vice President
is good enough TO share the White House
with me such a possibility Is calculated
% appeal 10 the people Of the Middle
West who are being especially wooed 10
vote the Democratic ticket All VIII agree
that II Is desirable TO make the Wee
Presidential Office more important and 20
bring the occupant Of 81 into closer reIa-
uons with the President The result OF
residence in the White House would be 70
bring about closer connection than has
hitherto been maintained between the
President and the Vice President
saws the Hartford CoUrant.
"One OF the things the New York
World can't understand is why Afr. Bry-
an and his Denver Convention dropped
the dear old income tax Ike a hot Do
tatO- Mr. Bran hinSaIf voted for an in
come tax while a member OF Congress
i muses. The democratic party ought
70 have taken strong position On this
question What excuse can Il make for
surrender
have more force IL Il did not ignore the
fact that. while the Republican platform
IS quite silent on the income tax cues
JiOn. the Democratic platform has 4 spe-
cifc and decided utterance on the sub
jeet.