Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-20
Mr.. HEARTS, ArrnrpE.

The chaff Of compliment tossed by
the editor of the Commoner has failed
to lure william Randolph Hearst, the
head Of the national independence
party and a former active force in the
democratic party In several states. In
1896 ana In 1900 Mr.. Hearst's news
paper chain, extending from Boston to
San Francisco, fought Mr.. Bryan's bat
ties IN Mr.. Hearst personally made
liberal contributions to the democratic
campaign fund. In the 1904 conven-
ton Hearst was a candidate for the
nomination and failed to get 1t. While
Mr.. Bryan fought Parker for the nomi-
nation he made no effort to help
Hearst, who had 40 persistently and
consistently helped Bryan in the
former fights. Then Mr.. Hearst went
into the political field on a new line
and organized a series OF independence
leagues throughout the country and
has now merged them into a national
organization.
As candidate for mayor of New
York City and for governor of the
state Hearst has demonstrated his
ability to control enough democratic
votes to make the election OF n
other democrat out of the question.
Mr.. Bryan appreciates this fact and
has beeA making all kinds of friendly
o%vertures for the purpose of securing
Hearst's support. The overtures have
been spurned in no uncertain words.
Replying to some Of the Commoner's
words Of wheedllng adulation Mr..
Hearst's New York American says;
We are bound to add. with regret, that
we have lost confidence also In William J,
Bryan, who by we'll manipulated bossship
has compelled this nomination.
No reliance can be placed on the demo-
cratic platform OF on Bryan's declarations.
The democratic platform declares for one
set OF principles at one election, and for an
entirely different set at the next election,
while Bryan is apparently without perma-
nent principle or sincere conviction, or even
honest attitude.
A note is a promise to pay. II is valuable
according to who makes 1t, and who in
dorses Il. A platform Is a promise to per-
form, and a platform made by the demo-
cratic party and Endorsed by Mr.. Bryan is
not worth the paper it is written on.
That rebuke would have been suffi-
Client to satisfy the average man, but
Mr.. Bryan, evidently approaching the
desperateness of the situation, made
another effort to secure some endorse
ment from Hearst, He induced Samuel
Gompers to cable Mr.. Hearst at Paris
urging him to endorse the democratic
platform and not to run a third ticket,
as it would elect Mr.. Taft. The cabled
reply from Hearst is explicit, emphatic
and leaves no question of his positive
opposition to Bryan and Organism. He
cabled:
1 do not think the path Of patriotism lies
In supporting a discrcdited and decadent
old party, which has neither conscientious
convictions nor honest Intentions. nor en-
dorsing chameleon candidates who change
the color of their political opinion with
every varying hue of opportunism. l do
not think the best benefit of laboring men
lies in supporting that old party because
Of a sop of false promise, when the per-
Torrance of that party while in power did
more to injure labor than all the intunc-
tions ever issued before or since. l have
lost faith In the empty professions OF an
unregenerate democracy. l have lost conf
dence in the ability, in the sincerity and
even in the integrity of It's leaders.
Mr.. Hearst has a pretty Iona
memory for sights and grudges' and
he has a big supply of ammunition to
use against his enemies. His determl-
nation to place an independent party
ticket in the field ends IN prospect
that Mr.. Bryan might otherwise have
had of success in New York, New
IerseY or Rhode Island.