Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-01-06

Administration circles are credited with the fear that
the history of 1912 may repeat itself in 1916 with the excep
ton that Bryan and not Roosevelt will be at the head OF
third party President Wilson himself is apprehensve that
his late secretary of state head serious revolt from the
Democratic party and prevent his reelection just Roose
welt helped to prevent the reelection of President Taft
1t is surprising how many parallels to be found in
the political of Roosevelt and Bryan outside of sue
cess in reaching the White House. and Bryan should sue
coed in leading third party the coming national election
the similarity in their political stormy petras
would be still more striking.
We have always believed Roosevelt in 1912 thought he
could down American history the founder of new
political party Bryan first seek the nomination of his
party Roosevelt sought that of his and in the event
of failure he hew for himself foun
der of party.
When Bryan retired from the Wilson cabinet, his only
published ground protest that the international policy
of the administration tended toward Since that time
the Wilson administration has espoused the Of
paredness-a policy which the paciss regard tending
toward marism although the Wilson policy falls far short
of the which many republicans would go in placing
this nation in condition to defend itself in of attack by
a foreign foe.
Democratic emissaries have visited Mr. Bryan in his
winter home Florida during the past few days and Wash
ngton disturbed by the reports they take the national
capital the way to their homes According to these
thorties Mr. Bryan expects to be member of the next
democratic national convention delegate from Nebraska
He will thus be in position to take important part in
leading the deliberations of that body.
Mr.. Bryan has told of his visitors that he is
ateraby opposed to the military policy of the admnstra
ton and will carry his fight into the convention Recent
uerances by democratic leaders and out of Congress show
that Bryan opposing the Wilson preparedness will
have large following including Congressman Kitchin the
democratic floor leader the national House of Representa-
tives.
The character Mr. Bryans opposition to the President
is indicated by the that he refers to the ad
mnstratons preparedness program "hideous in its mill
tarstic tendency and in his declaration that under cir
cumstances will he his opposition to it. This
that if the democratic national convention endorses the Will
administration Bryan will continue the fight
by appealing to the people 1t mean nothing else.
Some of the champions of Mr.. Bryan who are becoming
outspoken well emphasizing the
fact that 100000 will vote in the coming presi
dental election If Mr.. Bryan should out in
dependent candidate for the presidency of the United States
platform condemning mltarism advocating universal
suffrage and demanding prohibition of the sale of in
toxicating liquor beverage through amendment to
the constitution of the United States his followers he
will draw enormous vote.
The question whether Bryan will dominate the Demo-
cratic party split after the of Roosevelt in 1912
recalls another striking experience through which that
party passed. resulting in upheava of American politics
generally in 1872 Strangely enough the which
engufed democracy that time started in part in the
republican ranks
Clement Vallandigham of Ohio who had been arch
copperhead of the whole North in the Civil declared
in the famous Dayton platform for the uncaon of all ee
ments opposed to President Grant the basis of complete
policy the amendments the constitution and So
radically did this policy differ from that formerly held by
northern democrats that the Valandgham movement
called "The New DEPARTURE. The movement espous-
ed by Editor Henry Waerson of the Louisville Courier
Journal and other leading democrats
General Grant, who great soldier but who not
always happy in selecting to assist him in civil ad
minstraton, anagonizng oldme republicans by the
The upshot of the whole nomination
of Horace Greeley by the liberal republican convention and
the Enforcement of both the platform and the ticket by the
democratic national convention AS result of this mix
up involving both republicans and curious results
followed host of democrats refused to vote for Greeley
but it remarkable fact that twohrds of the prom
in the republican conventions Of 1856 and 1860 died
either democratic independents result Of the political
cataciysm of 1872.
Whether the Democratic party In 1916 will be split
the Republican party in 1912 whether state Of
chaos nearly like that of 1872 will confront the demo-
Gratis as result of the nteecne struggle prepared
ness prohibition suffrage and other issues which
Bryan champion the democratic national convention
is question
If the Bryan democrats should establish party on
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