The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-05-06

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A recent suggestion made by The
Houston Post. that 1t is too early to
DISCUSS Democratic Presidential possi-
biiities. doesn't strike The norfolk vlr-
ginian- Pilot very favorably. TT may"
says that contemporary. "be precipitats
10 try thus far in advance to center
public sentiment on any Democrat for
the nomination in 1912. but IL is not at
all too early to begin to indoctrinate
the party membership with the truth
hat another trial Of Mr.. Bryan's lead
ership is out Of the question. He is
saying just what he said three years
previous to the last election. and IL
seduieusiy avoiding any declaration
which can be construed as an abdica-
ton. II he 10 to be kept or the track.
the work must be done now or not at
all. He Is busy all the time. with his
speeches and through his newspaper.
perfecting his organization and spread
ing his peculiar ideas; and IL it is not
too soon for him to be making plans
and fixing triggers, it is not too soon
for those who desire emancipation from
the long and disastrous thraldom to be
equally active in endeavor 10 thwart
his ambition"
That's just it. While 1t may be pre-
mature 20 set about selecting a candi-
date It is not too early to begin the
work Of elimination. 1t should not only
be begun, but should be carried on
without any letting up--at least as
long as there is even a possibility that
Mr.. Bryan will be in the way. Those
who imagine that he has no desire to
obtain the nomination again are either
very unobservant or else know little Of
the man. He is just as much q candi-
date now as he was ct any previous
time. and is laying his plans as he did
before. OF course. he doesn't come out
in plain words and announce himself
as candidate for. the nomination in
1919. but one must be a poor and UNI
observant reader OF passing events
who cannot see ana understand that
Mr.. Bryan is all the time ''moiing." as
one might express it; working under
the surface, until the time comes to
make pubic his desires. and his de-
mands on the Democratic party.
In our judgment. there are but two
classes Of Democrats, or so-cal1ed Dem
ocrats, who viii encourage the po1iti-
cal aspirations Of Mr.. Bryan and fur
Their strengthen him In the belief that
his political aspirations can be gratifed
three years hence. There are those
who want to see the Democratic Party
wiped out as q political Organization.
Whether they are disgusted with the
Party itself, and with Its absence OF
competent leadership, or whether they
have lost all hope Of success In the fu-
ture, we cannot say, but they want TO
see the last Of the Democratic Party
and have the opportunity to try some-
thing else.
Then there are those who have not
yet ceased to regard the Nebraskan as
the greatest statesman and the safest
and strongest leader in the Democratic
Party Of today. why intelligent men
should thus suffer much speaking and
many fine phrases to cast such CLAM
our over them. we are not able to un-
derstand. but It is a fact. We FREE
quentiy see in the editorial columns Of
some newspaper. and read in the
speeches OF prominent Democrats, the
assertion that Mr.. Bryan is not only
the greatest man in the country today,
but that he IL the soundest Democrat
and the safest leader. We fail to I'M
derstand this political alteration. but
1t exists and seems rooted for all time
These two classes contain the men
who are the greatest obstacles In the
way OF Democratic opportunity, and 1t
is against them that sound Democrats
must contend II our Party is to live
II is not necessary to abuse Mr.. Bryan
or harshly criticise him, but 1t is abb
soiutely necessary for Democrats to see
that he is absolutely eliminated from
consideration as a Presidential possi-
bility, ana the process of elimination
should begin at once and not cease.
That way, and no other. lies even a
hope of Democratic success in 1912.