Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1916-04-21
The Democrats Should Win.
A Forecast of the 1916 Election by w.
Bryan, in New York Independent.

A Forecast of the 1916 Election by w. j.
BRYAN, in New York Independent.
No one who has had any considerable
experience in politics will risk an opln-
ion on platforms very far in advance OF
the conventions, especially at time
like this when the situation is under
going constant change. Who could
have foreseen in 1912 the problems with
which the administration has had to
deal? And who could have predicted a
wear ago the changes which have taken
place in the opinions of men within the
last twelve months? The qualifying
phrase, "other things being equal, "
affords some protection, but, as other
things are never equal, forecasts are
always subject to discount. If the
campaign of 1916 could be fought upon
the party's remarkable record OF
achievement, a democratic victory
ought to be reasonably sure; but even
then, it would be necessary to remem-
Der that we won in 1912 not because
our party secured majority of the
votes cast, but because the opposition
was divided into two almost equal fac
lions.
There are three factors which must
be taken into consideration in our cal
culations respecting the outcome of the
presidential election of 1916; first, the
impression made by the domestic poll
cies of the administration; second, the
impression made by the foreign poll
cies of the administration, and, third,
the unity or lack Of unity in the repub-
lican party
The democratic party can with con-
fidence submit its claims upon num-
Der of important reforms.
First: The popular election Of sena-
tors. This is reform of the first mag
nitude; reform in the methods of gov
eminent which could not have been
achieved few centuries ago without
vast bloodshed. The democratic party
began the fight for this reform in con-
gress in 1892; it embodied a demand for
it in its platform in 1900, 1904 and in
1908 and in 1912 endorsed the amend
ment which was then before the states
for ratification. The republican party
never endorsed this reform in any
platform prior to its submission, and as
late as 1908 overwhelmingly defeated
q resolution approving it. The people
ought to give the democratic party
credit for thus opening the way to other
reforms.
Second: The democratic party re-
formed the rules of congress and gave
to the house of representatives real
representative government. The peo-
pie ought to give to the party credit
for this reform also.
Third: The democratic party re-
duced the tariff and put upon the stat
ute books the best revenue law which
the country has had in fifty years. The
tariff law included an income tax and
the democratic party can claim credit
not only for the income tax law, but
also for the fact that the constitution
has been SO amended as to authorize an
income tax. In 1904 democratic con-
Rress enacted an income tax law, but
the law was declared unconstitutional
by divided court, one judge changing
his mind between two hearings of the
case. The democratic party then pro-
ceeded to agitate for an amendment to
the constitution, specifically authoriz-
ing IN income tax, and, while the nee
eeeary amendment was submitted un-
Ter o republican administration, it came