The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-03-31
REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP SAFER

President Woodrow Wilson, of
Princeton Univ rsity, made a speech
at Democratic dinner in Elizabeth,
n. j., the other night in which he
expressed the belief that "the political
tide is now turning Democratic and
the day when the Democratic party
must take charge of this countrys
affairs is almost at hand" Just at
present as a result of factional quar-
rels and bad political management on
the part of the Republicans in GER
tain quarters the Democratic party
prospects are better than usual. This
lis due to no sagacity or statesman
| like policies on the part of the or
lganization, but simply to the mistakes
of their opponents. The Democrats
may elect the House of Representa-
! tives this fall, although much water
will flow under the bridges before
| November.
When President Wilson says that
1T would seem that everywhere the
thought of men who are anxious for
the welfare of the country is turn
! ing against the present policies and
purposes of the Republican party and
that the day when the Democratic
party must take charge of affairs is
almost at hand" he is making a very
broad statement. The country is op-
posed to certain elements in the Re-
publican party. 1t is hostile to Cam
nonism. 1t is hostile to the machine
element of the party in New York,
but there is no evidence that the peo-
pie are hostile to Republican prin-
ciples. Let Mr.. Wilson read the last
Republican platform and point out
the principles therein expressed to
which he believes the people are
hostile
The speaker was very wise when
he asked why do we assure our
selves that we can advise and lead
the country better than the Republic
cans CAM" To that question he gives
no satisfactory answer, He is hos
tile to the policy of protection and
yet the present tendency is an in
creasing fondness for protection ON
the part of Southern Democrats and
an increasing tendency toward lower
duties ON the part of Republicans.
AS a matter of fact the Republican
party for many years has been the
party of constructive craftsmanship
Both parties today are seriously di-
Ivided into conservative and radical
factions, but the Democrats are less
harmonious than the Republicans and
they are not. SO well led. The only
Democratic President since James
Buchanan, Grover Cleveland, went
out of office hated by his own party
and entirely out of sympathy with all
but handful of Democrats. During
the political hysteria of free silver
times, William j. Bryan, of Nebraska,
an unknown man, delivered a fiery
and eloquent speech and Immediately
the old leaders were forgotten and
the orator was nominated for Presi-
dent. Mr., Bryan is a brilliant ora
tor, and time has mellowed his rad
icalism somewhat, but he is not the
Kind of material out of which great
statesmen are made; yet he has led
his party three times to overwhelm-
ing defeat, and there is no evidence
to show that his hold on the organi-
cation is seriously weakened.
Mr. Bryan is by far the most pow
erfui and conspicuous figure in the
Democratic party today, and this
fact does not indicate an ability to
lead the Nation more safely than the
party of Taft, Roosevelt and Hughes,
The New. York Republican machine
is discredited, but the three most
powerful Democrats in the Empire
State are "Fingy" Corners, Boss Muir
Iphy, of Tammany Hall, and William
r. Hearst. While New York Repub-
licans retain in office such leaders as
Governor Hughes and Senator Root
there is little to indicate that a change