The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1908-10-23

! WeT cOiupleIely CnOSe you may ~redQ
today. The Sun says that Bryan. has
changed his views on public questions.
This is, queer criticism from that
source. When we consider that this
paper has been constantly changing
from side to side, to such an extent
that the average Marylander does not
know where to find it, is it any won
der that it has lost it's influence with
its readers. 1t is amusing to look
I through it's files since 1895. If the
Sun is supporting the Democratic
ticket, you will find column after COL
umn of clippings from editorials in
the same paper in previous campaigns
in which they say exactly the reverse
of what they are contending for n ow
Gratis resort to clipping to show its
positions on former occasions.
AS illustrating the ease with which
past campaigns the Sun was used
to answer the Sun, l came across a
very amusing controversy between
it and the celebrated John K. Cowan
during the campaign of 1900. In 1896
they were both in favor of the election
of the Republican ticket. In 1900 Mr..
Cowan was supporting Mr.. Mckinley,
of the campaign Mr. Cowan made a
speech at Music Hall in which he
charged the B. & o. railroad made a
contract for four thousand cars with
the provision that it should be void
provided that Bryan was elected. The
Sun took exception to this mode Of
campaigning, and proceeded to lam
bast Mr. Cowan in the severest terms.
ci, I'M. tn q
files in 1896 and showed where similar
statements in that year received the
hearty approval of the Sun. In the
course of his letter Mr. Cowan charg-
ed the Sun with having wandered
from it's position in 1896 and said:
I'VE will be glad to welcome you,
the Sun, back from your populistic
spree, but you must go through the
water and be unclean until the even
tide"
The Sun comments on this part OF
Mr.. Cowan's letter as follows:
1--WE thank Mr.. Cowan for his pro-
posed hospitality, but we rather i'm
agine that he will never have the op-
Democratic wigwam and we are not
host under the Republican Empire.
AS to washing, we are afraid there are
some diseases that all the waters OF
oceans cannot cure. The gold itch
strikes through the skin and into the
heart. Four years of Bryan and lib
erty may cure Mr.. Cowan of this dis
ease. Four more years OF Mckinley
will put him beyond the pale of hope"
&c
was not safe to prophesy. Had Mr..
Cowan lived and retained his position
in the Republican party, he would have
had the satisfaction of doing this. year
what he said he would be pleased to
do and what the Sun declared would
never occur-welcome it back into the
ranks of the Republican party.
Some days after the Sun had an
nounced it's intention of supporting
the Republican candidates, and oppos-
ing the Democratic candidate William
J. Bryan whom they so ably supported
in 1900, they thought it necessary to
state editorially that this was not
due to any change of ownership in
the paper. 1t is possible that very few
people in Maryland thought it was.
We have become so accustomed to
the Suns political tumblings that we
do not think of accounting for them
in that way. The following notice in
Sundays ISSUE October A, appearing
in bold black type, placed in the very
center of three columns of political
matter all written with the view OF
helping Taft carry this state, throws
considerable light upon the motive.
''The Sun Selected by the Navy De-
partment."
THE Sun is in receipt Of letter
stating that the United States Navy
Department has selected The Sun as
the medium in which to advertise for
recruits in Baltimore. The letter in
part follows:
I'm reviewing our list and eliminat-
ing the weaker newspapers we find the
results Justify our using your paper
in October. This is flatering to you
for the reason that the statistical
method used this year for judging
mediums is the severest test possible.
When it is remembered that TINS
letter was written at time when
it cannot be denied that the Sun had
lost very many thousands of its regu-
lar subscribers in Maryland and other
Southern states, by reason OF It's
treachery and faithlessness to party
ties, recognized in its desertlon OF
Bryan and support of Taft, the citizen
of average intelligence does not have
to hunt any further for the motive
either in giving the advertisement OF
the results secured.
l want to call your special atten-
ton to the 1imsy,' weak and feeble
efforts they make to justify themselves
for the course they have pursued, and
contrast it with the able, fearless ano
honest fight for principle in the con-
test of 1900. With Taft and other
broad-minded men in the Republican
party testifying to the honesty and sin
cerity of William j. Bryan, the Sur
has tried in the most contemplate
and reprehensible manner to besmlrcf
his fair name. They sent, or pretend
ed to send, a special correspondent
into Nebraska and published inter
views claiming to have come IRON
his own neighbors rejecting on Mr
Bryan, taking good. care, however,n no
to mention any names. How easy i
is for a newspaper to blast the gooe
: name of any man if it could be done
in this way. They publish another
cccounf of the fact that negro chill
Idren 60 to white schools in Nebraska
and that there are negroes at the In
stitution in which Bryan's son is
student and try to prejudice cur people
against Mr.. Bryan who had notnlns
more to do with bringing about sucf