Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-19
A POSSIBLE PRESIDENT &C,
CEPTS

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The need OF Presidential caliber for
the second on the national ticket
was recognized following the death
OF Harding and again when the Re
publicans at Cleveland selected
Dawes; 1t was not recognized. at
least appears not to have been
applied to the selection Of the
Democratic candidate. II he pos
sesses the requisite qualifications
they have not been demonstrated
SO far as people generally may OBJ
serve. It Is reasonable to suppose
that being a resident OF the Middle
West and being the brother Of Will
liam Jennings Bryan were what de-
c!ded the choice.
We think the reading of his ad-
dress of acceptance will bear out
that impression. It's generalities
and phrasing remind one Of the
Democratic platform which II is said
his brother was instrumental in
shaping. 1t is easy to say: We
must stand true to the ideals Of
America. equal rights must be
maintained-of course!
He seems to think 1t necessary to
explain whence he derived the
stature OF a possible President. He
says: MY connection for more than
20 years with the publication in
Lincoln of The Commoner', a ma
tional magazine devoted to the de-
Tense OF and welfare of the common
people in their inalienable rights,
gave me an opportunity to try to
apply the principles OF equal rights
to all and special privileges to none
to the political problems that are
constantly confronting the people of
every city and every state"
His further discourse indicated
that the people as yet haven't
all the equal rights they or he
may think they should have. This
being so THE Commoner" did
not do all for the dear people there
was to do, however much it may
have done for Brothers William and
Charles. which we understand was
considerable. However the situation
did need some explanation and per-
haps this will do as we'll as any
that he would care to make.
Naturally he is progressive;
that Is to be expected. He is not
satisfied with being that but he in
sists that John w. Davis is also "a
progressive" Well Davis, himself,
says so since the New York conven-
tion. He seems TO have been too
busy to have mentioned the matter
before.
Mr.. Bryan Is strong for economy
in government and fewer govern
ment feeders at the public crib, but
utterly fails to tell us how this may
be IL all the dreams of the western
Missionaries come true; surely some
body will have to look after the rail-
roads when the government has
taken them over along with the coal
mines and the gasoline filling sta
tons.
He claims everything good for the
Democratic party, declares 1t secur-
ed the eight-hour day, though we
were under the impression that
President Harding had something to
do with its adoption in the steel in
dustry. He charges that oil leases
were given in exchange for campaign
contributions. II so why should
Doheny pay twice. once to Fall. as
Bryan also charges? Neither does
he inform the public what Doheny
received in exchange for con-
tributions to the Democratic party,
He is careful to favor child
welfare" and avoid endorsement OF
an amendment to the Constitution to
keep the children out of the cotton
fields and mills of the South and the
beet fields of the West. He would
outlaw war but doesn't specify what
he would do with it after it was out
lawed. He would have the national
government take over the water
powers and heat and light the laSd.
Is it possible he has discovered how
it would be practicable to heat as
well as light the land, run its rail-
roads and all that? If so the cleo
trical concerns of the country would
gladly pay him more than ever "The
Commoner" did.
Further discussion, however, would
be Improbable. Indeed Mr.. Bryan.
excellent man though he may be. at
tracts attention chiefly because he
10 the brother of William Jennings,
also because 1t is possible LaFollette
may succeed in making him Presi-
dent.