The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1909-01-06
4 Brief but Comprehensive
Review Of the Important
Events and Tendencies
Of the Year Past For
Busy Readers Who Want
to Be Well Informed.
By EDWIN S. POTTER,
Editor Universal News Analysis.
Despite the Depression.
Republicans Retain Control.

Looking now calmly and dispassion-
ately back across the field of conflict
ing interests and balancing forces
which shaped the American presiden-
tial campaign of 1908, one incontest-
able conclusion forces itself on the
open mind. 1t is that a majority of
the people became convinced in one
way or another that it is better to
bear the evils that they have. than to
fly to others that they know not of
cies Of President Roosevelt a longer
and fairer trial In the hands of his
favorite adviser, William Howard
Taft. How the people became so
minded is a question to which no an
swer can be found to suit all kinds of
partisans. The salient facts can, how
ever, be recounted briefly and with
historical impartiality.
On Jan. 81 was issued the challenge
of the dominant personality and Off
cial of the party in power which was
to determine in many ways the plans
of battle of the different parties for
the capture of the American electorate
namely, the message Of President
Roosevelt to congress advocating his
program of radical legislation.
On June 16 at Chicago the Republic
ans got together. They cheered forty
minutes when Chairman Lodge eulo-
gized the president and seated all the
Taft contestants. The thOroughness Of
this operation caused it to be described
as the administration steam roller"
Of which Frank H. Hitchcock was the
gineer The only fight was on the
court injunction plank. Samuel Com
pers, head of the A F. Of L., and other
leaders of organized labor confronted
with numerous court decisions unfa-
vorable to their methods and facing
Ao~~rf1t'ogos or lack of work for many
workers, had decided to fight in the
open for the party whose labor plank
suited them best. Despite the warn
ings of the Gompers cabinet before
the platform committee the plank final
ly adopted at Chicago was not to their
liking Van Cleave, Cannon, Crane
and other Republican leaders insisted
upon upholding the integrity of the
courts, but asserting that the rules of
injunction procedure be "more accu-
rately defined by statute" and that no
injunction should issue without due no
tice except where irreparable injury
! would result from delay" William H.
Taft of Ohio was nominated for presi-
dent ON the first ballot and James s.
fisherman of New York for vice presi.
dent.
On July at Denver the national con.
4 vention Of the Democratic party as
sembled with the knowledge that an
overwhelming majority of its delegates
were pledged to the nomination of vii.
liam J. Bryan Of Nebraska. The big
gathering broke all records for continu.
=. GUS cheering when the blind Oklahoma
. senator, Gore, eulogized the Nebraskan
the demonstration lasting eighty-seven
minutes. Bryan was nominated on the
nrst ballot, although the names OF
johnson and Gray were presented
John w. Kern Of Indiana, with the ap
prevail Of Bryan, was named for second
place.
As In the Republican convention, the
main contest had to do with the word.
ing Of the Injunction or labor plank OF
the platform. Gompers was present
and gave his assent to the plank finally
agreed upon. While asserting that the
courts Of justice are the bulwark Of
our liberty" 1t demanded a modifica.
tion Of the injunction law SO as to pro
vide for trial by jury in cases of in
direct contempt. It declared against
treating labor organizations as illegal
combinations In restraint Of trade, IA.
svored the eight hour day and promised
q general employers liability law.
Bryan at once induced his executive
committee to say that It would reject
i al corporate gifts, would limit individ.
nal donations to $4,000 and would
publish on Oct. Is and daily thereafter
the names Of givers Of 800 and up
ward. The final total published after
election was $3.50. 044 from $4,000 con.
.tributors. Although the Republican
eonvention had rejected a publicity
baank, Tart and his managers decided
!. 10 work under the New York law and
I publish names and amounts Of contrib
ueosS after the election. Their funds
totaled @1.6b5.51&
Il lYrank b. Hitchcock, who had engi.
poered the Taft canvass. was chosen
chairman OF the Republican national
committee. and 0eor1s n. Sheldon Wal
made treasurer. The Democrats elect
"a Norman e. Mack, the Buffalo news
paper proprietor. - their national
chairman and Governor Haskell Of OK.
AAoma - holder Of the purse. When
rreasursr Haskell rsslgned. his plael