The Washington herald., 1909-04-28
Clevelsnd-s Political Predictions.

NtefEsdHQS EC4ltiC6A EIE0t[AAOlc-
The conduct OF Broughton Brandenburg
since charged with forgery Of the late
Grover Clevelaud's signature to the IA
nous political prophecy OF last August
goes far 10 convict him Of untrustworthi-
ness on general principles. Yet a com
parison OF Brandenburg's production with
the undoubtedly authentic account OF
CIeveIands views given in McClure-s by
George r Parker shows that the lit
erary agent. in putting in The ex-Presi-
dents mouth a prediction OF Republican
victory. accurately represented Cleve-
lands settled convictions. AR Parker.
who talked with Cleveland as late as
March 12. 1868 says that ne never, even
+ by indirectIon. indicated that he would
support the Republican nominee. and
took little interest in the personal side
OF the Republican national convention.
! Brandenburg. It may be recalled, had
Cleveland commencing Taft in such cor
dial terms that his language was gen
/ orally interpreted as an open advocacy
OF the Taft ticket According TO Mr..
Parker. the ex-President was keenly in
/ terested in the rehabilitation Of the Dem
ocratic party. by which was meant shak-
ing il clear OF Bryan and Bryaalsm. and
hoped that the Presidential nomination
would go to Judge Gray. With those
who were for allowing the nomination
10 90 20 Bryan by default. Cleveland had
no sympathy, declaring it to be neither
honest politics nor good politics. But
/ in his last talk with his friend Parker,
seeing that there was little hope for ef-
fective opposition to Bryan. Cleveland
predicted the Nebraskan's defeat if re-
nominated:
This year gives rs orr chance. TIE Republicans
are tom by faction IN way We have never before
seen. while The county seems ready 20 return 70 us
If We w5lT Only Be true 70 ourselves. In spite Of
these favoriug nausncss. We shan throw away
cur chances fo- The present, and pus them IN perl
for the future. If Bran is nominated The ez-
rerence q the past twelve wears has den5ustrated
L
during shis period not less than million solid
old-fashioned Dsmoclts have felt that they could
net slF,ort the national ticket. ard have either
ah1tained fT1n voting OF have oT7osed the can
di1ate This policy has not only driven our Our
people away but has repelled the young men upon
whom throughout al the history q our party. We
have depended for support and Success Within
this PERIOD VIZ have lost control q every state in
the North: We have. I fear, made some q the
southern States Republican; re have rracticaIly
/ lost our Northern rrp-eseutstioa IN the United
states senate; and no longer have effective
reTiting stations for public life II state Iegisla-
tuTes and 0,hev popular bodies.
The election did not turn out 50 badly
as the former President anticipated. for
although the Democratic nominee was
/ defeated. the Democratic party recov-
/ cred some OF the losses bewaIled by
/ Cleveland, and held its ground in al the
/ Southern States save Missouri and Mary
land. Mr. Bryan. Il should be noted.
considers the Republican victory a mar
row one. in spite Of the immense Taft
plurality in both the popular vote and
the electoral college He points out that
a change OF but 1900 votes from the Re
publican 70 the Democratic column in
Ohio, Indiana, Missouri. Kansas, West
Virginia. Montana, and Delaware would
have turned the scale in favor OF the
I Democratic nominee. A transfer Of 900
woes in four OF these States would have
given Bryan thirty-nine electoral votes.
Summing Up the Democratic gains in
his Munsey article. Nj Bryan finds a
good deal Of encouragement:
The Repzblican vote vas about the sane ss
IN 1904, while the Democratic vote increased b7
m0Te than a million. the Democrats secured T-rirei
states Senator's n Oregon and Indiana and zibsti-
tuted Democratic governors for Republicans IL Ohio
Indiana. Neb-aska. and Colorado. besides re-slect
ing Democratic E0TeTnoTs n Minnesota and North
Dakota There ~as also gain IN TIE Democratic
representation II ConzeSS'
II alive. Mr.. Cleveland would have 20
modify his Indictment OF Bryan leader
snip to some extent, though the main
count. that Of continuous defeat in the
national elections, would remain unim-
paired