The Washington herald., 1910-09-13
Bryan and Roosevelt.

When William Jennings Bryan few
years ago was Illuminating against con-
ditions as Theodore Roosevelt has re-
Gently been doing, and in much the same
style. were the conditions then analo-
gous TO conditions Of the present day.
A moments reflection answers this
question. and answers It decisively.
Then the railroads dominated legisla-
lures, engaged in corrupt politics and
practicing rebating on large and in
iquitous scale. To-day they are out OF
politics. Obeying the law against rebat-
ing, and asking only the right to engage
In legitimate railroad business.
Then high financing was at its height:
grea: insurance companies and other cor
porations were In bad hands and fla
gravity mismanaged. and the evils thereof
were so plain that he who ran could see.
To-day high financing is INDUCED in only
at peril; the insurance companies and
other great corporate interests have
been put on a sound basis. ana the evils
formerly so obvious have been reduced TO
the minimum.
Then malefsctors Of wealth. over
riding the law and nourlshing by dis
honest methods. boldly pursued their
course unpublished. To-day they are be-
hind the bars. wearing stripes-some OF
them-and others under Indictment.
Then lawmakers Travelled on railroad
passes and used telegraph and express
franks. To-day they are estopped from
doing these things by law.
Then both parties and most OF the
States were boss-ridden. and bossIsm was
popular. To-day both parties and many
States are comparatively free from boss
ism, and bossism IS unpopular.
There has been genuine progression to-
ward a better state OF things in party.
State. and National least, an observant
people felt that there had been progress
until Theodore Roosevelt, to whom they
gave high credit for that progression
brought about by the awakening which he
produced. came upon the scene again to
tell them in effect that everything is
still awry. and the country heading To-
ward the demnition bow-wows.
Are We TO adopt this pessimistic view
and withdraw the credit accorded him for
the achievements incident 10 the seven
memorable years OF his guidance OF the
ship Of state? If not. are We 10 be more
patient with him in his TRADES against
conditions which no longer exist than
we were with Bryan in his EXAMINATIONS
against conditions that did exist?
The unrest so widespread to-day is due
almost wholly TO the high cost OF Ilv-
ing. which the masses. rightly or wrong
ly, ascribe to an inequitably adjusted
and oppressive tariff. and Theodore
Roosevelt is politically capltalizing this
unrest for his own glory and aggran-
dizement But it is a no more burden
some-in fact a less burdensome-tarin
than the Dingley tariff, which he allowed
TO go untouched during the seven years
OF his administration and handed down
as a costly heritage for his chosen sue
cessor to deal with.
Getting back to William Jennings
Bryan. It IS refreshing, and to his credit,
to recall that in all his appeals to TIC
discontinued he never once counseled
the making over OF this republic 20 cure
existing ills, but did steadfastly and con-
tinually advocate a low tariff.
There is another difference: Mr.. Bryan
is not the Man OF Destiny.
President Taft attended the aviation