The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-07-28

larity Mr.. Taft enjoys In this section. M
deed, MIR. Taft's situation recalls the con-
mont Of Ex-Governor Black whom some
one suggested TO him that Herbert Par
sons might outlast His Master's Voice
In Manhattan.
young Mr.. Parsons said Ex-Governor
Black soornfully. 'why, the Republicans OF
New York county are looking right over
Mr.. Parsons's shoulder at q pair OF glasses
and q sst Of teeth. When they dohTv Gee
those glasses and those teeth they won't see
young Mr.. Parsons at ALL
Now the Republicans OF the middle West
In the main are looking over Mr.. Taft's
shoulder at sthe pair OF glasses and the
set Of teeth So long a they see them
II is all right with Mr.. Taft In the Roose-
welt Radical States. 1t would need a COM
plete proof Of the divorce OF TAFT and
Teddy" to help Bryan materially here. 1t
may shock the Eastern sense Of propriety
for Mr.. Taft to journey to Oyster Bay to
submit his speech Of acceptance, but 1t is
the most popular thing he has done since
over these States therei Ia an insistent clamor
that Mr.. Roosevelt come out here and make
a speech for Mr.. Taft.
THAT would settle It," all the politicians
declare.
Mention must also be made again Of
the bitter sectional feeling prevailing out
here. The moro general the opposition to
Mr.. Bryan In the East the stronger Mr..
Bryan will be made. at least with the Demo-
Gratis, In this country. and the more perma-
nent the cleavage between the East and the
West In the Dem ocratic party will become.
The spirit Of the Western Democrat, more
over, at the moment at least, seems to in
dictate a determination to rule the party
and to subject the East. whatever the cost.
Whatever temporary or peculiar ad-
vantage circumstance may seem To have
prepared for Mr.. Bryan in the middle West.
there IL one tremendous foroe operating
against him. a force almost as powerful
as the popularity OF Mr.. Roosevelt. This
10 the universal prosperity in this country.
These middle Western States have no
bread line no problem Of b unem-
ployed, no stomach ACHE The high
ways and byways which. by the way. make
the roads 10 rural New York seem like
asphalt pavement by comparison, are filed
with automobiles. In the West, moreover.
the automobile is the accepted measure
Of prosperity. or course, the Republican
party Is responsible for this prosperity.
admits its responsibility. in fact. Now In
such a situation Mr.. Bryan is finding 1t hard
to get a good start in his campaign. for
an empty stomach after all adds a peculiar
zest to a Bryan appeal.
In sum. then, despite the half truths
contained In the Eastern reports Of Nj.
Bryan's Western strength. the plain fact
seems to be that there is no July tidal wave
for Mr.. Bryan In the middle West. Popu-
lar he is. universally popular, but person.
ally rather than politically. Radical the
middle West Ia. radical to the limit. but
Roosevelt and not Bryan ia the prophet
OF redicalism, and Taft Is "Teddy's choice.
Fractional fights there are here In b Re-
publican party. but nowhere. save In Wis
%consin. is there the slightest evidence that
these fractional fights will bring material
strength to Mr.. Bryan.
The prairies are not afame. then. the
middle West has not fixed upon Mr.. Bryan
as the ultimate expression Of Its radioalism.
and the hopelessly Republican States Of the
middle West seem quite as hopelessly Re-
publican in July as do Connecticut and New
Jersey. Having recognized the marked diff
ferences between the Eastern and the West
ern situation and attitude OF mind. this
seems to be the inevitable conclusion to be
drawn from any impartial weighing OF tbs
evidence available.
After all the Democrat in the middle
West, although his dander IL up and his
opinion Of his Eastern fellow partisans
hardly ct for publication, does not seriously
expect ito win without the East On the
contrary there is something pathetic. en-
tirely self betraying in the eager ann
In which he inquiries:
Are you sure that Bryan has no chance
In New York;
1t Is Teddy and Taft in the middle
West still. In July Mr.. Bryan has made
no progress in separating the two. and
until he does the situation in the middle
West seems TO have no real terrors for
the Republican strategists. For the rest.
it>promises to be interesting TO watch MIR.
Bryan's efforts in this direction. for his
whole campaign In the middle West must
show hat he and not Taft Is the nearer
Roosevelt