Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-31
Democrats East and South.


The row in the democratic ranks in
the lower house of congress is being
accepted in democratic circles as the
beginning OF the end OF the present
control of the party, and plans are
already being made for a battle royal
to reorganize the party machinery be-
fore the next presidential contest. In
dications point to a realignment of the
democratic factions. with the east and
south united against further domino
tion by the Bryanistic wing of the or
ganization. This is being fore
Swallowed not only by the attitude of
the eastern democrats, who have al
ways been hostile, or at least luke
warm, to Bryan. and by the marked
detection of the democratic leaders OF
the south who have heretofore allied
themselves with the Bryan followers
in the west and thus controlled the ma
tional machinery of the party.
1t requires no political sage to rea-
lie that the democrats can not win
In a national campaign without carry
ing a number OF eastern states. Mr..
Bryan has tried three times with sup
port from the south and west, but has
been unable to deliver the goods, to
make any decent showing in the east.
Mr.. Cleveland won twice by a combi-
nation of the south and east. Judge
Parker lost, largely because he had a
following in the east Which was wholly
Objectionable to the rank and file of
his own party. Mr., Bryan and the
democrats OF the east are facing in
different directions on every public Is
sue and the south Ii said to be weary
of trying to face both ways.
The south is showing pronounced
symptoms OF breaking away from
| Organism for good and all. The fight
on the tariff bill has aroused the
south to the need OF protection for its
industries and even Pennsylvania is
no more lusty in calls for protection
than are some OF the southern states.
Georgia, South Carolina, North Caro-
lima and Florida have Joined in send
ing delegations to Washington to pro-
test against reduction of the Dingley
duties on cotton fabrics. Mississippi
and Louisiana are clamoring for re-
tention OF the duty on sugar and rice.
Texas wants the duty on wool and
hides kept and Alabama and Tonnes
see want the iron ore industries pro-
tected. Practically every southern
state has broken away from the free
trade theories of the Bryanites and is
working o the measure OF protection
deemed necessary to encourage and
develop its special Industries. The
CharlestoWn News and Courier, while
opposed to Bryan. is still true to the
old traditions OF the party on the
tariff and offers this word of warn
ing:
The danger is that the vociferation OF
the groups OF southern men representing
industries important in themselves. but
deserving small consideration In relation
to the great body of southern men and
women who must be fed and clothed.
will drive or brighten democratic con-
sressmen from their first duty to their
constituents. Unless the southern demo
Gratis in congress stand TO their guns in
spite of the clamor of some OF their con-
stituents. the democratic party in the
south will break up In disorder long be-
fore President Tafts benign southern
policy of common sense and Cancellation
shall seriously threaten to effect that re-
suit.
lndustrialism is getting to be as
widely diffused below the old slavery
demareation line, as on that lines
northern side and the south is accord
insly viewing the tariff from a new
angle. The conflicting viewpoints