Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-06-03

OF the representatives ana Senatok1s -
the people who carried Alabama four
to one for him, who carried South Car
DINA almost unanimously and Who
have already given evidence that they
will carry the other southern states,
believe in the cause which Bryan
breaches why should the Democracy
Of the nation take its creed from Office
holders who do not represent their own
constituents?
The Vice Presidency.
But, If the presidency seems to be as
sured, there will be lively contest for
the vice presidential nomination, and
, 1t has been the misfortune of the Dem
ocratic party for several campaigns to
err grievously in the selection of the
man who should hold second place on
the ticket. Both elements Of the De-
mocracy have been equally unwise, and
if there was blunder in 1896, when
/, the radicals were in the saddle, SO, too,
was there one in 1904, when the con-
servatives were in power. Sometimes
/ the search has been for a man with a
barrel, which, II the Democratic party
=
thought of. Sometimes, again. 1t has
been urged that the views of the nom-
inee who heads the ticket should be
! qualified by the quiet opposition of the
man whose name ends the ticket. In
this particular campaign which Is
coming neither of these arguments
!, will be likely to carry weight. As to
(, the second one, it is absolutely de-
!, stroyed by the reiterated statement of
! Mr. Bryan that if he should be presi-
!. dent the vice president will be invited
to a seat at the cabinet table and give
a voice in the counsels of the cabinet
equal to that of any cabinet officer.
This is one of the progressive reforms
which no legislation is necessary to ac-
complish. Furthermore, it is reform
which will make it well worth the
while Of man of force and character
and of convictions and a desire TO give
those convictions effect to be willing to
accept what has hitherto been thought
to be a thankless task.
Even without this statement on the
part of Mr. Bryan / do not think that
any American. however great his am
billions may be, should look on the
vice presidential nomination as, some
thing to be avoided. 1t is true that
Mr.. Roosevelt did. but probably today
he recognizes how great was the for
tune which overcame his reluctance to
take the position.
| Among the men, loyal, true and
fighting Democrats. whose names have
been mentioned us possible vice presi-
dental nominees are these: John w.
Z Kern. Indiana; Charles A. Towne, New
York; Governor Charles \. Haskell,
Oklahoma; Governor John A. Johnson
Minnesota; Representative Francis Bur
ton Harrison, New York; Senator
Robert l.. Owen. Oklahoma; w. G.
Conrad. Montana: John Mitchell, Hi
nois: Mayor Brand Whitlock, Ohio.
Doubtless there will be other names
mentioned before the convention be.
gins its session. But for twenty years
there has never been Il time when the
feeling was so strong among Demo
cratic public men that with a militant
and inspiring leader at the head of the
ticket the second place should be Civ
as nearly as possible would equal
in political talent the chief and who
certainly without question would stand
squarely and forcefully for the princi
pies which the Democratic national
convention will lay down for the guild
ance of both
crumpacker and Corrupt Politics.
When the bill pressed earnestly by
all the Democratic members of the
house of representatives providing fol-
national publicity of campaign contri
buttons had gained such strength
, among the people that the Republican.
in the house dared no longer openly
oppose 1t, one Crumpacker of indiana
devised a plan to destroy it. He at
tached to the bill as originally present
ed an amendment which implied tn,
reduction of the representation in con
gress of the southern states. OF cours,
the amendment was not germane, Blu
went far enough to make it impossihl,
for southern Democrats to vote for an,
part of the publicity bill. That was 1T
purpose, and 1t succeeded.
Il 1t may have succeeded too well fo
the intentions of Mr. Crumpacker ant
the Republican ring in the house VIII,
put him up to the dodge, for it ha.
put the house Republicans in the posi-
ton of not saying only to the southern
states which have DISTINGUISHED the Tilt
crate and thriftless men of the coloret
race that their representation in con
gress shall be reduced, but it hits will
equal force the states of the Pacific
coast, where the increasing Monaghan
immigration constitutes peril aImos
as great as the African peril in til,
SOUTH. Several of the Republican rep
resentatives from California, Oregon
and Washington have openly expressed
their disapproval Of the Crumpacke
project. 1t is matter of the NOR,
Importance to them because, in thei
effort to limit oriental immigration an,
to prevent the admission to citizenship
of the Japanese, they have AWAY,
heretofore had the friendship and til,
cooperation of the Democrats iron
the south in both house and senate
r.. ! -