New-York tribune., 1909-09-11
BRYArR LEADERSHIP wpoRsED

BRTAFF LEADERSHIP TyDORFED.
It is evident from study Of the declaration
Of principles adopted Yesterday by the Saratoga
conference that the advocates of q definite pro
gramme for The regenerated Democratic party
prevailed over those who thought that unity
would be facilitated nv ignoring practical pres
e'lt-dsy issues and urging without embarrassing
specifications a goas-youplease return 70 JET
fersonianism. The platform accepted by the re
generators is in the main precise and intel
bic If the party as a whole indorses it we shall
begin TO understand once more what Democracy
hCreabouts really stands for. So far the
conference can bind Democratic action it has
committed the party in this state 10 these va
ri0us proposals: The ratification of the income
tax amendment 10 the federal Constitution, the
election of United States Senators by a direct
vote Of the people the REIMBURSEMENT of our
sovereignty over the Philippines. the imposition
of tariff duties for revenue only" the eXten-
sion Of the personal registration system TO all
portions of the state and the popularization Of
present methods of party government On the
last Of these questions. however. the declara
tions of the conference are regrettably qualified
and guarded.
So far as national issues 60 Mr.. Bryan's lead
ership has been handsomely ndOrsed. Most
Democrats have forgotten 10y this time that as
the Democracys Presidential candidate in 1900
perialism was the paramount issue" of the
canvass. He was the only Presidential nominee
the antiimperialist party ever put in the field
He has therefore. an undisputed proprietorshp
IN the idea of giving the Philippines a stable
government and turning them loose He did
not find il convenient 10 dwell on that idea in
the campaign of 1908 But it is. nevertheless,
delicate compliment TO his past leadership that
the conference now revives his favorite project
g-T,~
in the regenerated party's programme
Mr.. Bryan's desire for the ratification of the
income tax amendment and the submission of
another constitutional amendment providing for
( the popular election of United States Senators
has been expressed repeatedly and with great
4 emphasis. These two projects have his heaTtiest
approval and the regenerated Democracy of
New York has fallen in line behind him. In
( highly atruistic spirit it advocates the turning
over to the nation Of one Of this states most
productive reserve sources of taxation and the
assumption by citizens of New York of a strk-
ingly dispropOrtionate share of the burdens 10
be imposed by federal income tax legislation
Possibly less atruism and more selfintereSt are
shown in champiening the popular election of
United States Senators, since it might be much
easier for the Democratic party 10 elect a Sena-
ter by a direct vote in the state than TO carry
both branches of the Legislature.
lead is not followed completely. He wanted
the conference 10 antagOniZe the doctrines adyO-
Gated at the last session of Congress by Senator
Joseph W. Bailey and the other Southern Incl
dental prOtectiOuiSts and TO declare explicitly
ia favor of free raw materials. The conference
merely favored "a tariff for revenue only" Mr..
Bailey and his followers also assert that they
favor such tariff, and all tariffs are laid
primarily TO raise revenue the Incidental pro
]
clIief aim. although they may show some in
genuty ia picking out articles to be taxed for
revenue purposes in the production of which
their states and districts are conspicuously in
teTestel. 1t * evidently Mr. Bryan's purpose
to make his next campaign on the issue of non
protective taxation versus protective taxa
ton. The Saratoga regeneTstOrs do not seem to
be willing 10 20 with him quite so far as that.
On the issue of reforms in the methods Of
party government in this state the confer
ence hesitated to attack outright the evils
on which the present control Of the party is
grounded II wants 70 introduce more denoc
racy into the scheme of nominations bur il did
not feel equal to advocating the sort Of popular
control which would drive the present party
managers out Of business Possibly those auto
cratic pprsonaGes would refuse IN he driven The
Democratic party, n spite of It's professions. has
never truly believed in ma iority rule. It's lead
ers have been careless of the rights Of the rank
ana file and given to ruling chiefly bT indirec
ton and force To substitute selfgOvenment
for one man control would mean 2 revolution in
! the party as organized here The Saratoga
| oclderrees did not think. perhaps that they were
strong enough to threaten such revolution
Yet it is to their credit that they have even
| somewhat mildly asserted principles which may
in the end destroy the vicious and Undemo-
cratic Tammany system Of rule from the top
and restore some degree of popular confidence in
the usefulness of the Democratic party as an
agency of popular government