The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1909-01-02
A 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.

NNR08aANnAAo NCtoAll NOlllIUls /
Looking now calmly and dispassion.
atelX 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 1t is better to
bear the evils that they have than to
fly to Others that they know not Of
and to give the trust regulating poll
cies of President Roosevelt a longer
and fairer trial in the hands Of his
fayorite 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 impartlallty.
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 1t to be described
as the administration steam roller"
of which Frank II. Hitchcock was the
engineer. The only fight was on the
court injunction plank. Samuel Com
pers, head of the A. +. of L., and other
leaders OF organized labor. confronted
with numerous court decisions unfa-
vorable to their methods and facing
lower wages 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
tngs 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 ard that no
Injunction should issue without Crt no
tice except where irreparablc injury
would result from delay William II.
Taft OF Ohio was nominated for presi
dent on the first ballot and James s.
Sherman Of New York for vice presi-
dent.
On July Z at Denver the national con-
vention Of the Democratic party as
sembled with the knowledge that an
overwhelming majority Of its delegates
were pledged TO the nomination Of VIII
liam J. Bryan Of Nebraska. The big
gathering broke all records for continu-
ous cheering when the blind Oklahoma
senatf J. Gore, ~eulogized the Nebraskan,
the demonstration lasting eighty-Feven
minutes. Bryan was nominated on the
first ballot, although the names of
johnson and Gray were presented.
John w. Kern OF Indiana, with the ap-
proval of Bryan, was named for second
places
As in the Republican convention, the
main contest had to do with the word
ing Of the injunction or labor plank or
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
GU liberty It demanded a modlhca-
tion of the Injunction law so as to pro
vide for a trial by jury in cases Of In
direct contempt. II declared against
treating labor organizations as Illegal
combinations in restraint Of trade. IA
vored the eight hour day and promised
a general employers liability law.
Bryan at once induced his executive
committee to say that It would reject
all corporate gifts, would limit in6ivid-
ual donations 20 $4,000 and nd
publish on Oct. is aud daily the
the names OF giyers Of S1c0 Oh o..
ward. The final total publ nr
election was S620G44 from
1hutors. Although The ab'i"s1
mention had reject.
,toN Taft and bis mans de'
nnSk under tie New York Az
ntorspames and amounts Of con.
solaledr TIE clectiea TIER funo.
FanbN5,51S.
,,eorea tlgitchcock. who had engi-
chairman Mt canvass, was chosen
committee. Ne Republican, national
made treasureorge R. Sheldon was
"a Norman r. Ne Democrats elect
naner propriet the Bdffai5 news
lnhairman and Con their national
lshoma as holder Haskell ofOk-
-q'reasnrer Haskell purse. Whep
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