The morning journal-courier. (New Haven, Conn.) 1907-1913, 1908-08-13
MIR. BRYAN's ACCEPTANCE.

MIX. BN1ANs AttEfIANtG.
The first impression received Of Mr..
Bryan's speech of acceptance is a
pleasant one and that on account Of
Its relative brevity. The practice has
grown Of recent years with occupants
of executive office and aspirants for
high office to recklessly take the pub
lie into their confidence, without re-
gard to the limited ability of the pub
lie to consume and inwardly digest
Mr.. Taft's acceptance was a model of
sober thought and prudent speech, but
It is very much to be doubted II 1t
has been read by more than small
fraction of the people.
President Roosevelts messages to
congress long outgrew the capacity of
the ordinary newspaper. Public men
have appeared to go upon the theory
that the public was eager for long
treatises upon the problems of the
day, when as matter of fact, what
1t has yearned for has been and still
is simple but effective consideration
Of few carefully selected and ever
pressing problems Halls of legisla-
ton have time and time again proved
their incapacity to dispose of more
than handful of the bills and resolu-
tions offered for their treatment.
Chief executives have since time inn
memorial piled recommendation upon
recommendation only to find them
disregarded in the press OF more prac-
teal concerns. 1t appears, however,
never to have occurred to either thpt
the public is as powerless as they to
absorb what Is so recklessly thrown
at their heads. The pub ic does no!
say tbs; 1t does the only thing It can
dot doesn't read what was prepared
for its consumption.
Upon this sound theory Mr.. Bryan
has all of the public agencies skin
ned mile" as the popular expression
is. 1t is unquestionably true that
more of his own following and more
of the following of other candidates
will read his speech than have read
n af nj Tha o., 4 ,i,
is not to be looked for in the quality
Of the Bryan speech. 1t Is to be
found In the brevity of It. Had he
been as successful in appealing to the
soberer judgment In this speech as he
Is successful in saying what he has
to say crisply and briefly. he would
save scored historic advantage.
That part of his address Is neverthe-
less effective which holds the republi-
can party responsible for the failure
to remedy the evils of which Presl-
dent Roosevelt and Mr.. Taft complain
1t is ineffective in that he says what
ought to be done can be done If he is
elected president There Is a sub
stantial agreement among thoughtful,
men that many things must be done
by halls of legislation which never
occurred to the founders as being
among the possibilities of Legislative
effort, but 1t is not forgotten that ever
necessary things are not always
achieved because the executive favors
them.
The point at issue as raised by Mr.
Bryan Is whether President Bryar
or President Taft would be likely tc
accomplish the most in office for the
things which ought to be done The
point at issue is not as to which o.
these gentlemen is most prolific II
promises f-en1~a front porch. Nor /!
the point at issue President Roose
velts failure to get all he went hunt
Ing lDT. L ne pOlIlL dC ISSUE Is moro
practical and the average man is ap
to meet it from the point of view O
the political complexion of congress
President Bryan would unquestiona
bly, be effective with a democratic
!. house and senate back of him WoulC
President Bryan be as effective will
an assured republican senate agains
him as President Taft would be will
solid republican congress with him
To that question there can be but on,
answer returned So that Mr.. Bryan
speech, while as usual made attrac
tive by an experienced method il
public writing and speaking, fail
where otherwise 1t might convince. H
can promise and he promises well
but there is no likelihood of his per
forming Mr.. Taft can promise
strong likelihood of inducing congress
90 act with him