The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-10-09


courage, the honesty, and the per-
sistence Of Theodore Roosevelt has
wrought during the present admini-
stration.
sTn the campaign of 1904 and IN
previous campaigns, Mr.. Bryan has
denounced militarism and imperial.
ism. but this year he was advised
that the visit of our navy to the Pa
cific coast had aroused such an inter-
est in the navy, had made it so pop
uIar on that coast that his Pacific
friends persuaded him to approve a
plank in the platform for an ade-
quate navy for the protection OF the
Pacific coast. Just what he means
by this is little difficult to tell.
What the Republican party means by
it is clear. 1t means an increase In
the forces of the navy, and yet with
characteristic incensistence Mr. Rry-
an, as already said, attacks the Re-
publican party for making suitable
appropriations for the increase Of our
naval force.
an 1906 Mr.. Bryan went around
the world and his return was her
aided with the statement that In his
visit around the world he had SO
gained information and knowledge
that he had become safe and sane;
that he was a conservative, and all
the Democratic party awaited MS
| coming with great interest. Imme-
diately upon his arrival he dispelled
this erroneous impression by declar-
ing that he was convinced that the
| only solution of the railroad problem
ultimately would be government own
ership. He had previously declared
4 in favor of a national initiative and
referendum and also in favor OF the
election of federal judges. All these
most radical propositions have now
been excluded from the Democratic
platform. They do not meet SUCH
popular approval as to justify them
being brought forward as a means OF
acquiring Office in this campaign. but
thew illustrate the character OF the
man who proposes them; they show
the instability and variability OF his
views and they justify the fear that
SO many people of this country have
in respect to the danger to which the
public veal may be exposed should
he be put at the helm Of the pilot.
"And now, with the record OF
promises and prophecies unfulfilled
for a period of IL years, with this
record of hunt for an issue upon
which to achieve the presidency
with this record of reputation, Of
negation and of running away from
national responsibilities, Mr.. Bryan
comes forward and asks that the PEG
pie now give him an opportunity tt
put into operation new reforms II
respect to trusts and in respect tt
: guaranty of bank deposits, wholly
untried, wholly theoretical and OF
their face bearing evidence OF theil
impracticability and Of having beer
devised by the ready brain OF yore
| looking for plausible arguments ra
Their than real reforms. He only
in qualified way approves the post
al savings banks recommended by the
Republican platform, which is triec
and proved means of encouraging the
wage-earner and small farmer t.
make deposits in a bank absolutei!
secure; but much prefers a system
which takes a mans money to pa!
and mans default, and which insteat
of STRENGTHENING our banking system
will break it down by destroying tn
value of the banking character ant
experience and capital, and Offering
? inducement to reckless and specula
/, tive bankers without character 0
capital.
1.-THE record of Mr.. Bryan and nj
character as it is understood by l
years acquaintance with him, hav
), impressed the business communit
q of this country and those whose jude
) ment determines whether or not car
ital shall be invested, that he Is no
! a safe man with whom to try expert
, ments in government; that he love
: financial theories that are full OF sc
; phistry and are impractical; that D
. advances propositions with but littl
sense Of responsibility as to how the
: may be carried out In practice, an
that he gives but little attention
!, the welfare of the conservative bus
! ness community in his suggestions
!, reform. Certainly his record Just
! fed this judgment Of him by tn
business men. If he were to be cleo
= ed, unquestionably because OF his re-
ord, however much now he may see
IN nora nc a conservative, heCaus