Omaha daily bee., 1911-08-06
BRYAN'S FRIENDS
MUTE AS OYSTERS
No Voice Raised to Defend Peerless
Leader When Underwood De-
nounces Him in Congress,
EVEN MAGUIRE HOLDS TONGUE
Member from First Nebraska Sits
silent While His Great Constituent
is F1ayed on Floor of the
House.
From a Staff Correspondent)

From a Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Aug. 5-(Special.) .)-Now
that the smoke of battle has lifted from
the field Of carnage, and the sorely
wounded William Jennings Bryan has been
removed from the theater OF war, growing
out OF the charges made by the peerless
leader against Representative Oscar I'm
derwood, chairman OF the ways and means
committee, that he had sidetracked the
steel and iron schedule for financial rea-
sons, there comes a time for sober reflec-
ton.
Not in recent years have there been en-
acted more dramatic scenes than those
surrounding Oscar Underwood's denuncia-
ton of the distinguished Nebraskan. So
pronounced was the applause at the end
of each sentence that the onlookers were
nonplussed over the complete dethrone-
ment of the one idol Of the democracy"
The demonstration which followed Under
woods scathing denunciation of Mr.. Bryan,
when he said that he was willing to leave
to the country whether he was a better
visionist than Mr.. Bryan, will not soon be
forgotten by those who witnessed re-
markable scene.
Has Underwood Wont
And yet. has Mr.. Underwood the power
to take from the once acknowledged "Trib-
une of the People" the laurels he Sas won
in q quarter century's baKp.ng for his
principles? The sober judgment Of political
observers is that the inevitable effect of
the occurrences of Wednesday win be to
give marked impetus to the Harmon presi-
Dental boom. thereby creating chasm
between the followers of Bryan and the
followers of Harmon which must in the
Of
cilable. While the demonstration over the
vtriolic speech OF Mr.. Underwood was re-
markable. and undoubtedly showed the
house in entire sympathy with the utter
ances OF the chairman of the ways and
means committee, it was even more re-
markable that not one voice was raised in
defense or even explanation of the position
taken by Bryan. Even Representative
Claude Kitchin of North Carolina, ale
man mentioned in Bryan's interview, as
able TO substantiate his attack on Under
wood, repuGiaTec-the interview entirely, and
this, from one of Bryan's warmest ad-
n1.f'ers and a man who has followed him
through thick and thin without fear and
without reproach." There may be excuse
for Mr.. Ritchin's failure to come to the
rescue Of his erstwhile chief, Sut can there
be any excuse for the failure Of Mr.. Ma
guire Of the First Nebraska district to
come TO the rescue of his distinguished
constituent.
Mcguire Missed a Chance.
Here was an opportunity which seldom
comes to a legislator and had he taken
advantage OF the occasion even TO the ex-
tent Of asking for a suspension Of Judg-
ment until all the facts were known he
could have at least brought a pause TO the
proceedings, noisy and almost riotous as
they were.
You undoubtedly recall those lines of
Lowell from his poem. "A Glance Behind
the Curtain:
The busy word shoves angrily aside
The man who stands with arms aldmbo set
Until occasion tells him what TO do;
And he who waits to have his task marked
out,
Shall die and leave his errand unfilflled.
Throughout the entire proceeding, un-
usual as 1t was. Mcguire sat mute and
more than ever meritng the title of 'the
silent one" for he has not raised his
voice, except to vote with his party, for
many months in behalf OF the liberties
Of the dear people" And yet Bryan's
strength in the First Nebraska district
made 1t possible for Mcguire 10 win over
PoIardl Truly here is shown the ingrati-
tude of which Dryden speaks:
Deserted at his utmost need
BY those his former bounty fed:
On the bare earth exposed he lies
With not a friend to close his eyes.
Taft'a Growing Popularity.
President Taft's growing popularity
throughout the country is the inspiring
message which comes from members of
congress who have been In their home
districts and are returning to Washing
ton to be present at the close OF the
first session of the sixty-second con-
gressL Uncle George" Malby OF the
ogdensburg. N. Y. district, who has
been in public life for a third of a CEN
tury, said today that Taft would carry
New York by 100000 plurality. This
estimate OF Taft's growing strength is
corroborated by many OF the old time
New York politicians. Indiana, too, is
showing signs OF a growing Tart senti-
ment. according 10 ex-conyressman
Charles b. Lands, one OF the stars of
the chautauaua circuit. since an unap-