Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1913-08-29
The Growing Bryan

y
ambition to be president he is
following the best possible course
toward his purpose. At the be-
ginning of the present admins
tration, it was predicted that as
secretary of state Mr.. Bryan
would attempt to make himself
the head of the government and
would be dictatorial and tyran-
meal; that he would insist on a
acceptance of his own policies
and plans and force the president
to a quarrel. His conduct has
contradicted these predictions
exactly. He has manifested the
most cordial loyalty and readi-
ness to cooperate earnestly and
theoretically. He gave all his in
fluence to advance the tariff bill. |
He has worked with President
Wilson in the Mexican matter
and other foreign relations in
absolute harmony. Now he has
responded promptly to the call
for help for the currency bill
and at the very crisis and strain
of the fight has given the great
power of his endorsement to the
measure for which Secretary
McAdoo and Representative
Glass are sponsors.
This is a very different Bryan
from the Bryan who used to at
tempt to domineer over the party
and make implicit obedience to
himself and consideration for
his interest the one test of party
allegi ance. 1t is a very different
Bryan from the man who went
whooping around the country for
the free and unlimited coinage
of silver as the one possible
cure for our commercial and
social evils and scoffed at the idea
of making tariff reform pro-
minent issue; who shouted in
one campaign for immediate
abandonment of the PHILIPPINES
and in another for government
ownership of railways and for
the initiative and referendum.
Mr.. Bryan has been compared
variously to a chameleon, re-
flecting the color of his surround
ings, and to human photograph
putting in to eloquent words
whatever sounds and impressions
he has received most recently.
Practically all of us have more
or less of this tendency. From
childhood up we are swayed and
directed by our environments.
1t may be that in the present
Washington atmosphere of direct
and earnest but conservative
purpose, of stability more of
those qualities than he ever had.
1t may be that years, experience
and political adversely have
taught him wisdom; or it may be
that, for the first time in his life,
he is under the influence of dis
ciplined and orderly thought.
Whatever the reason, it is cerr
tain that his course so far has
disappointed his enemies, con-
firmed the good opinion and
hopes of his friends and won for
him more of the regard and con-
fidence of the impartial than he
ever has enjoyed.
If Mr.. Bryan had done as those
who distrusted him expected him
to do, if he had insisted on
shouldeing his way to the front
and trying to make his own will
dominate the government; if he
had pulled back in traces and
sulked, he would have done vast
harm, would have impeded the
work of the president and con-
gress and at the same time would
have embittered and intensified
the feeling against himself and
made himself impossible as a
presidential candidate. As it is,
he is stronger than he ever has
been in his political history, ex-
tending though a period of Sc VEN
teen years. If he continues as
he has begun, a modest efficient
coWorker, ne will become strong
er and have a full share of
achievement which we believe
now the Democratic party or the
country will attain. Ten days
ago the situation was dubiol S
and dangerous. Present prospects
are that the tariff will be in OPP
GRAFTON full year before the
elections of 1914 and will have
the fair test which we believe
will prove it's usefulness; that
the currency bill will be adopted
and put into operation and that
the delicate and difficult out
safely and honorably. If the
party can go into the elections
of next year with this record of
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