Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-11-24

Fund NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of the
Democratic Party-The Danger Of
socialism-culberson of Texas-col-
lapse of Hearst's Party-Tariff Not
Likely to Be Revised.
BY WILLIS J. ABBOT.
The defeat Of Mr.. Bryan means, In
my judgment, tremendous injury to
the Democratic party, because that
party has believed in Bryan, has be-
lieved in the principles for which he
stood. When 1t appears, as 1t does this
time, that the American people. or al
least a majority of them, stand fol
principles opposed to popular govern
ment, stand for principles which seer
to be those that will intensity the
power Of the federal government, we
who believe in absolutely popular gov
eminent are necessarily discouraged.
Mr.. Bryan and those who pressed his
campaign have urged his candidacy on
the principle that he stood for all the
people all the time. We have not said
at any moment that he stood for pro-
tecting the steel trust or the oil trust
or the harvester trust or any other
trust We have eaid that If he should
be elected we knew he would conduct
an administration for the people. We
have been notified by the people, why
l do not know, that they did not care
for such an administration. We have
been informed that the voters Of the
United States very much preferred
man who has never through his own
efforts earned living, but has all
through his life been drawing fed
eral salary. The people have said to
US that they are more enthusiastic
about Taft, who has done nothing and
promised less, than they are about
Bryan, who has done much and prom
Used through his platform more 1t is
too late now to discuss any issues of
the campaign. 1t is not too late, how
ever, to say that the way In which the
Republican party wound up the cam
paign was disgrace to that party and
a serious reflection on the electoral
system of the United States.
This election may have been honestly
i
but 1t may have been. There is GER
tain mystery about what happened in
New York, what happened in Ohio
and In Indiana. But, more than all,
there is grave mystery enshrouding
the utter refusal Of the Republican ma
tional committee to print prior to the
election the contributions which were
nado m n 7 S1nnooo tbof rban fho
thoroughly righteous Mr.. Taft may be
inaugurated and 1t comes out in a
later investigation that there was not
less than three or four million dollars
contributed to his campaign fund and
spent not for pamphlets or ordinary
methods of publicity. but for the Gu
rious and devious ways by which pol
iticians carry an election, he will be. as
Theodore Roosevelt was, absolutely
silent on the subject. He will follow
the Roosevelt plan. He has no doubt
dragged all the money that could be
obtained out Of every corporation,
trust or financial magnate, and then
when the facts are exposed he will sit
placidly and fatty In his chair as pres
ident Of the United States and regard
It as beneath his dignity to respond.
That is what Mr.. Roosevelt did. That
seems to be what Mr. Taft will have
to do.
The Future.
The Democratic party does not die
through defeat. It is sure to recover
from this undeserved disaster four
years from now. The one danger is
this-that the national committee as at
present constituted may possibly be
so reactionary in its personal convic
lions that it will encourage the Social
list party to go fast to the front. That
Is something which the national COM
mittee must look out for. The Social
list party is growing continually. If
Mr.. Bryan had not been nominated
this year, in my Judgment, it would
have been very close to second place.
Now that he has been defeated it is
very liable to win that place. Without
exaggeration / may say that right here
in Chicago I have heard not less than
ten men in the Democratic party, the
name Of each Of whom would be known
almost everywhere in the United
States, say that the collapse Of the
Democratic party in this campaign
ended their connection with 1t and that
they would sign statement assuring
their entrance and their utilization with
the Socialist party. This seems to be
rather striking political event. Per-
sonally am not a Socialist. but one
1c% ot> IN ~ tan1
changes. Weeks ago I made 1t clear
in this letter that the defeat Of Bryan
would greatly strengthen the Socialist
party. and today the prophecy is com.
ing true.
Nobody knows who is likely to be
the next nominee Of the Democratic
party. When Governor John A. John
son carried his own state of Minnesota
by carefully refraining from saying
one single word in behalf Of Mr.. Bry
an some people thought he might be
able to secure the Democratic nomina-
ton. Personally l don't think he can.
The man who doesn't play fair in one
vital campaign is not going to get the
enthusiastic support Of his own party
In the next campaign. Governor John
son has ability and strength In his
own state, but 1t seems probable that
his attitude in this campaign is going
to injure him through the country at
large. The Democratic party believes
In Mr.. Bryan even though he Is de-
feated. The voters love him. and they.
will look with great deal Of suspicion
Oh a man who, holding a prominent