Denver labor bulletin., 1915-07-03
AS to Bryan. Roosevelt and Wilson
By sTOUGHToN COOLEY in The Public

With ducling forbidden, Instructions
out of date. and even plain fistcuffs
barred. the American is compelled TO cN
press his political feelings toward an
opponent in mere words. Hence, the
quintessence of invective poured upon
the head of the former secretary of
state. Few men have had the honor OF
drawing so much fire from the enemy.
Not even Mr.. Roosevelt has provoked SO
much sharp criticism from opponents.
Yet. in a way. these two men, contem-
poraries in politics, serve to illustrate
two phases in our political growth dur
ing the past generation. Coneeding their
equal sincerity and their desire to serve
their fellow men; their differences in
tempe rament and in methods have not
saved them from the bitterest of at
tacks.
The explanation OF this bitterness lies
in the fact that the political careers oil
both Mr. Roosevelt and Mr.. Bryan have
been involved in the age old struggle be-
tween the house OF want and the house
OF have. Mr. Roosevelt in his earlier
years saw this issue, and his youthful
ardure led him into attempts at social
betterment that have been repeated in
maturer years. At no time, however,
does he seem to have seen the truth; and
his erratic political career has consisted
of series OF sporadic actions. in which
his intense energy has been expended,
first upon one object and then upon
another, according to public opinion has
shifted. At the beginning OF his admin
istration hc was rouudly abused by
privileged interests for threatening busi-
ness; and when his clustering had come
to naught. he was abused a- hard by the
people for not carrying out his threats
Mr. Bryan, on the other hand, has
boldly taken mp the cause Of the people;
and in season and out of season he has
preached democracy. When Mr.. Bryan
assumed leadership, the Democratic
party was merely discrcditcd imita.
tion of the Republican party. He
breatbed into it the breath of life, and
it became an active political force in
American politics. Such political re-
generation however. was not to be had
for nothing. The tory Democrats re-
sisted the change. Some left the party
hut more remained. and tried to put out
the dsturber. They retained just enough
power to keep the party from winning
an election but not enough to dominate
the policy of the party. So the struggle
continued. Had Mr.. Bryan been willing
| to compromise. even to n small degree,
he could have had the support Of all
| factions. and could have won elections.
| But he chose rather to stand by his prin-
| cples; and he seemed almost to eNult in
| the opposition he provoked from the
| privileged interests. When, after years
of educational campaigning. and discour-
aging defeats. lie had popularized a rad
! ical idea. it was only TO see it put into
practice by Mr.. Roosevelt whose sensi-
tive ear told him when the political
ground-swell was rising.
This strange process might have con
tinucd indefinitely, with Mr. Bryan reap
ing odium as a disturber of established
customs, and Mr.. Roosevelt enjoying the
popularity of the new ideas, had it not
been for Mr.. Wilson's advent. Mr. VIII
son held the same political philosophy
as Mr. Bryan. and had at the same time
greater executive ability even than Mr.
Roosevelt. Besides, and this is most i'm.
portant he was so unknown to the pol
iticians that each thought he could be
bent his way. and so new to the publ,
that he had escaped the unpopularity
of the innovator. From the day he ap
pearcd in the political arena. and Tho
people saw this rare combination oI
idealism with the practical their hearts
went out to the new champion; and Mr.
Rooscvelfs prestige began to wanc
Without Mr.. Bryan's teaching Roosc
velt's career as n friend Of the people
would have been impossible; with Mr.
Wilson's action Mr. Roosevelt is n mar
out Of job.
Men may differ as they will regarding
MIR Bryan's resignation. They may crit