The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-06-27
BY gibson GARDNER
Special Correspondence to The Pres,


DENVER, June 27.-With the
democratic national convention al
most upon us, the presidential sit.
uation looks thus:
Taft VS.. Bryan.
Platforms, similar.
Issues, similar.
Outlook something like that OF
1900, when Mckinley was a candi.
date for another term and Bryan
was a candidate second time.
1t Is easy to tell what the demo-
cratic convention will do. 1t will
see the republican convention and
go 1t one better. In other words the
platform will declare for all the
things embodied in the Chicago
conventions platform and then will
add three good planks:
1. Physical valuation of rail-
roads.
2. Publicity for campaign con-
tributions during the campaign.
8. Election of United States SEN
ators by the people.
In addition to the above there are
likely to be declarations in favor of
government ownership of railroads
and telegraphs and possibly some
form of the initiative and referen-
dunn and general primary election
Endorsements.
Also it will be strange if the
democrats do not draft a sitter
plank on the subject of the regula-
ton of the injunction power and
amendment of the antitrust law.
In the last ANALYSIS, however, 1t
will be the personality of the can
didates rather than the official plat
form declarations which will make
the issue in the peoples minds. 1T
will be Bryan on the one hand, all
he stands for, ell he has said and
done since the Zig speech of 1896,
and on the other hand Taft with
Roosevelt's backing.
There are two weights which
are balanced in the scales.
The largest element in the COM
ing struggle is Theodore Roosevelt.
Hc HSAI ldIStSl ClClDCIlI ID llS
inertia of business.
Bryans strongest claim on the
people will be his part in the first
PRONUNCIATION of the Roosevelt pol
icies.
Taft's strongest claim on the
people will be the fact that he was
chosen by Mr. Roosevelt to carry
on his policies.
Bryan's greatest weakness with
the people will be his inexperience,
the fact that the whole proposition
with him is a theory, something
which he as talked, but not done.
Taft's greatest weakness with
the people will be lurking feel
ing that he may not, after ALL feel
the cause which he has been
chosen to espouse. His tempera-
ment is for peace. The cause of
progress demands constant
battle.
These are the elements which
will work in the minds of thought
full independent voters who have
always followed Roosevelt.
The less thoughtful, but very
numerous class, is that which may
be labeled business" Business
always chooses that least possible
change. AS between two conserva-
tive candidates 1t takes the most
conservative. AS between con-
sentative and radical, business
avoids the radical. AS between two
radical candidates, business takes
what it regards as the lesser of the
two evils-the least radical. &c.
business will drift to Taft. He, with
the reactionary Jim Sherman ap-
pendage. is the least change, the
least disturbance to the man who
wants things to go on without dis.
turbance.
With the live Independent voter
the republican vice presidential
nominee will be handicap.
Whatever may be dug up of Sher-
mans record in his 20 years OF
congressman any man who
spends that many years in con-
gress is likely to have his vulner-
able spots-the fact is, and will be
recognized, that Sherman is re-
dictionary. He never has Endorsed
or helped the Roosevelt policies;
which means that as between the
people and special interests. he is