The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-08-15
Both Friends Of Bryan.

The two leading men mentioned in
connection with the Democratic Pres
idential nomination at this time are
Speaker Clark and Gov. Wilson. For
the last sixteen years MIR. Clark has
been a close political friend and sup
porter Of William Jennings Bryan.
Before that he supported Mr.. Cleve-
land, but was bitterly disapp- .nted
in the leadership the latter displayed
in the White House. He thought it
anything but sound. In his judg-
ment the victory of 1892 was turned
by Mr.. Cleveland into calamity for
both the. Democratic party and the
country. We.may all be sure that he
does not want to "go back" to any
thing like that if nominated for Pres
dent next year and elected he will
go forward in q path OF his own.
On the other hand Governor Will
son, until quite recently, was q loyal
follower of Grover Cleveland, stand
ing by and endorsing all the impor-
tant measures that Cleveland and his
wing of the Democratic party advo-
Gated and attempted to carry out. But
he has seen the fight, and now The is
full-fedged Bryanite, endorsing all
the important measures that the
Bryan wing CT the Democracy ad-
vocates and hopes to see enacted into
laws should they capture the govern
ment in all its branches. Governor
Wilson is not looking backward, but,
like Speaker Clark, he is facing for
ward, and is making an aggressive
fight for measures that Mr.. Cleveland
would reject with scorn if he was
still living.
The strength of Speaker Clark and
Governor Wilson in the Democratic
party is a most significant sign of the
times. Under the long and progress
sive leadership of, Mr.. Bryan, the
Democratic party has moved a long
way from the views held and advo-
Gated by Mr.. Cleveland and his fol-
lowers. 1t has absorbed and pledg-
ed itself to carry out should 1T be
trusted with power many Ideas that
was branded as revolutionary and So
cialistic when first advocated by Mr..
Bryan It has become so radical that
three years ago it nominated Bryan
the third time for President in the
face of a public declaration that un-
less change took place in the man
agement of the railroads that the
government would have to take them
over and operate them.
Mr.. Cleveland's LEADERSHIP ended
in complete failure. At the I'd or
his leadership of twelve years, eight
Of which he spent in the Presidential
office, he left the Democratic party a
disastrous and hopeless wreck. It
suffered its greatest defeat midway
OF his second term and aften ten
years of his leadership. He and his
measures were repudiated by the peo-
pie, who sent the largest nu1nber Of
that year to the House
that was ever known in that body.
The Republicans did not only >apture
the House, but they captured the
Senate and elected Governors in ev-
cry Northern State. That Is what
Cleveland did for the party.
This was the condition Of the party
when Bryan assumed leadership. He
had to build UP 4 new organization,
and mad it not been for the treachery
Of many of Mr.. Cleveland's followers
and the immense corruption fund
raised by Mark Hanna, Bryan would
have won a great victory Sor the
people. In the face Of all this he
polled six and half-millions votes,
and is today the most influential pri-
vate citizen in the world. IN the
face of all this it is not strange that
thoughtful men like Speaker Clark
and Governor Wilson should follow
in the track blazed out by Mr.. Bryan.
They know that he is right, ind that
the great reforms he. advocates are
sorely needed.