The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-08-20
slow Progress of the Hat.

Slow Progress Of the Hat.
Things are not moving as rapidly as
Mr.. BRYAN's informants and advisers
bad hoped in the matter OF gathering
money for the campaign. At the South
certainly they exhibit leaden heels. In
Texas a year or so ago on q certain dull
and dreary Sunday the people Of Dallas
and Q neighboring city put up as much
n q 1000 to hear Mr.. BRYAN deliver his
lecture on ~The Prince Of Peace This
year those two towns are contributing
worry meagrely to the eloquent and
yswnIng hat. The lecture gave them
something for their money, something
emotional IL not really filing, whereas
sending away real cash to some invisible
person who gives nothing in return, not
even . thrill, must seem an unremunera-
tive strain upon the imagination.
30 far rs we a hear the hat Is not
threatened with q dropsy In Louisiana,
Georgia, Alabama, the C%arolinas and
Virginia, to say nothing Of the other
Southern States, any more than in Texas
and-shall we say Arkansas? The Hon.
MosEs CINCINNATUs WETMoRE Is full OF
enthusiastic forecast and fraught with
designs upon other peoples pockets.
An Oklahoma person has promised half
Of the net results Of a lecture tour that
may turn out to be as thin as a Febru-
airy snake. DooKERY of Missouri fairly
bourgeons with radiant prophecy, and 30
II goes. But nobody comes forward with
q "wad.' The hat exhibits no bullying
sides and sagging bottom. In Virginia,
q In North Carolina, the editors who
doubted the wisdom Of Mr.. BRYAN's
nomination are calling upon the Bryan
or bust" editors Of three months ago to
celebrate their hysteria with a tangible
oblation. In Alabama they are printing
lifelike woodouts Of the Prophet and
handing them around with captivating
fluency. In Georgia they are 30 busy
comparing Springfield of this year with
Atlanta OF two years ago they cannot
think Of sordid business for the present.
Meanwhile the hat goes on with shrunken
ribs.and gaping o%riice, a thing Of empti-
ness, q VISION OF neglect.
The Charleston Netrs and Courier,
which frankly opposed the leadership Of
BBYANi and prophesied the dearth Of
fervor now patent to the naked eye, is
furiously jogging the one time enthu-
siasts:
"Mr. BRrAN has appealed 10 the farmers for
contributions, he has appealed to the newspapers.
end his Is b~esieeing Democrats Of every
kind and condition to give the money that Is abso.
iutsiy necessary 70 conduct the campaign. A
nonth has passed since tho convention adjourned.
end although the party managers have made It
plain 70 the people that they look to the people
themselves 70 supply the funds for the campaign
the response 70 their entreaties has been 90 feeble
and 20 scattering as to force the conclusion that
not one man In d thousand In this part OF the coun-
Try csress rap whether TAFT Is defeated or not.
Such pitifui contributions as have been re-
ported from South Carolina have come from four
or Ave cities and towns In one city with a popu.
lAuon Of 1000 forty or nifty persons have given
sums OF d to 80 cents each. and we have seen no
sAngle contribution from any Individual In this
state Of more than IS
And what will come Of it2 Maybe
when the farmers shall have gathered in
their hay and other forage, filled their
smoke houses, laid up the winters stock
of kindling wood and pocketed the price
of their cotton-maybe then, with pres
ent abundance and a sense OF future
security expanding their Wristbands,
they will dig up their wallets and pro-
coed to fill the hat. Maybe not. For
the present, however, the News and
Courier filings at them this calling and
richly earned remembrance:
The South Carolina B~ryanites have q glorious
opportunity to rebuke the Naos and Courier, 10
show II that IL did not know what Il waa talking
about when It insisted during the spring that there
was no real enthusiasm for Mr.. BRIAS's nomlna.
ton, and we sincerely wish that they would not
let tie opportunity pass
Alas for the rarity Of Christian charity!
For, really. it appears to have come
to that.