Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-12
BUsIyrss avn BRYANrsM


Business men Of the nation will find
something TO demand their sober
thought and consideration in the state
ment Of Colonel Henry Watterson that
Brysn's candidacy for the presidency
will find its chief source of strength
in the fact that a republican senate
would prevent him, in case of his cleo
ton, from doing any harm. Mr.. Bryan
has confirmed Colonel watterson's
view Of the situation. In a recent pro-
nouncement at Buffalo Mr.. Bryan said
1t is probable that we shall have a re-
publican senate for the next two yea s.,
since 1t would be well-nigh impossible to
make enough changes in the pei sonnet Of
the senate this year to give the democ. ats
a majority, but we can make a beginning
this year, and then by presen ing tariff
reform measures, measures against ~trJsts,
measures for more effective railroad rtgu-
lation, measures for the insuring of bank
deposits, measures carr! ing out the labor
reforms, measures declaring for the ulti-
mate Independence of the FIlip.nos, and in
other measures outlined In our platform,
measures recommended by a democratic
president and endorsed by a demo- ra tic
house, we can compel a republican senate
either to accept these reforms or present
a definite issue upon them two years hence.
II Is reasonable to assume that the rep b
licans in the senate will recog ize the force
OF public opinion and see the folly of put
ting themselves on record in opposition to
the deliberate judgment Of the voters.
This is a fairly accurate reflection
of the conditions which would con-
front the business interests OF the
country during four years under
Bryan. The candidate himself admits
that he could do nothing for the first
two years other than to present lei
ures" on trusts, tariff, railroads, the
Philippines and like questions and
compel the republican senate to
either accept these reforms or present
a definite issue on them two years
hence"
Mr.. Bryan must know that he could
not secure democratic tariff legislation
with a republican senate, yet he has
promised, IL elected, to call a special
SCoDAbh vi bOh6i - " ldhV up lndl
question. How many business men
will enjoy the prospect of a certainty
of two years of futile agitation of the
tariff question, without hope Of legis.
~lation? How many interests and en-.
terprises already established would EN-.
bark in new ventures. make new ex.
tensions or invest additional capita.
during the two years that Mr.. Bryan
would be keeping the country in al
uproar and business unsettled by tariff
uncertainties, and how many new en-
terprises would be launched under
such conditions?
The business man who is Indifferent
to the political situation or who thinks
that Bryan's fangs would be pasteur
lied by a republican senate is maxim,
an error that nay prove very costly
The country could better adapt itsel
TO a change of policy on finance, tariff
and other public questions than sub
NIT to two years of Bryan agitation
without the possibility of results. MI
Bryan is authority for h statemen
that he could not hope to accomplish
anything in legislation along the line
OF the Denver platform for at least tw,
years. AS a matter of fact, the com
plexion of the senate is certain to re
main republican for at least fou
years. The election of Bryan, then
would simply mean a calling of a bust
ness halt during his term of office.