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The . Commoner.
7
AUGUST 21, 1908
STRAWS-AN INTERESTING SYMPOSIUM
FROM ROOSEVELT TO BRYAN
To the Editor of the New York World: I
voted for Roosevelt and his policies, but nover
again can I support the republican party. Bryan
is good enough for mo to vote for if I live until
riext fall. H. SARTORIS".
New York, August 3.
LLOYD'S INSURANCE
Editor Philadelphia North American: Your
editorial in today's North American, "Insurance
Against Bryan," tries bard to throw dust in the
eyes of the public. Lloyd's insurance against
Bryan's election is simply a wager, and the fact
that the man who takes the Bryan end must
have an insurance Interest, makes it none the
less so. Now, if Lloyd's rate has been "more
than doubled within a week," it simply shows
that Bryan's chances of election are Improving
and Lloyd's "odds" are decreasing.
E. M. HUNT.
Radnor, Pa., July 28.
WILL RETURN TO THE FOLD
To the Editor of the New York World: As
a gold democrat I voted against Mr. Bryan in
1896 and againin 1900, but this year I shall
return to the fold and give him my support, for
the following reasons:
First Because the democratic party is
pledged to true tariff reform.
Second The guarantee of bank deposits,
which I regard as the most popular and one of
the best planks in the entire platform.
Third Because of Mr. Bryan's attitude on
the Philippine question.
Fourth Because Mr Bryan Is a man of
the people splendid in his moral and religious
ideals. o. a. taubui.
New Haven, Conn., August 5. .
INDEPENDENCE PARTY WILL NOT HURT
BRYAN
To the Editor of the New York' World:
Your editorial of Thursday morning as to the
possible effect of the Hearst party on the presi
dential election must be of interest .to every
one. But I do not share your opinion that this
movement will be Mr. Bryan's undoing. On
the. contrary, I believe it will mako him all the
more solid with the average voter, for what
greater handicap could a candidate have than
to bo in any way identified with this one-man
concern? And this too from a former admirer
of Mr. Hearst. Four years ago I wished him
success in his race for the presidential nomin
ation, but I now see the danger to which I was
exposed. W. S.
Asbury Park, N. J., July 31.
VIRGINIA MAJORITY WILL INCREASE
' The following is from a Washington dis-;
patch to the Louisville Courier-Journal;. - I
"I look for Bryan to carry Virginia by a
larger majority than that by which the state
usually goes democratic," said Representative
James Hay, who was here today. "I believe
Bryan, will bo elected. It looks to me that the
stars in their courses are fighting against Tart.
I can not see how he can win unless conditions
change. It may be. that we shall see a demo
cratic landslide this fall, although I am not
counting on that. -1 think there will be a hard,
fight, but I believe- Bryan will be elected..
Mr. Hay took occasion to express his opin
ion of stories sent out, from Richmond and the
White Sulphur regarding so-called democrats
who are going to vote for Taft.
"In every Bingle Instance," he said, and
I believe there is no exception to this, these
men have never; voted for Bryan. The state
will go democratic overwhelmingly.
HE WILL VOTE FOR BRYAN
To the Editor of the New York World: My
earliest vote was cast for the second ter.m of
Abraham Lincoln; since then I have voted for
General Grant, for Peter Cooper (b.ich was a
sympathetic vote, as the Cooper Institute gave
me my first start in life), for Rutherford B.
Hayes, for James G. Blaine, for Benjamin Har
rison, twice for W. J. Bryan and at the last
election for Theodore Roosevelt. I mention
these former votes to show that party ties have
no attraction and sit very lightly on me, I snail
vote for W. J. Bryan against Taft. First, be
cause of the way the two candidates were nom
inated. Taft was nominated by the office-holders
blg-stlcked by the president of tho United
States.
If the rank and fll of the republicans had
had their voice in the matter Governor Hughes
would havo been their candidate today. Bryan
was nominated by the people, despite tho bosses
of his party and the whispered cajolery of tho
monetary interests.
Second Because of the platforms tho re
publican, shifty and evasive, saying one thing
and meaning another, ignoring tho cry of the
plain people and walking arm in arm with tho
same influences that produced the panic with
its consequent pinched times; the democratic,
outspoken and demanding the things nine-tenths
of the people of this country are striving for,
and meaning every word it says.
Third The stand taken by tho two candi
dates on the publicity of campaign contributions.
The electors have a right to know in advance
of the election, not afterward, what influences
are at work electing the head of tho country.
Fourth Because I like a man who is sure
of himself. Mr. Taft goes to Oyster Bay to havo
his speech of acceptance revised. Can any one
imagine Mr. Bryan asking any one to revlso
either his acceptance or inaugural speech?
Fifth I want to see the people rule.
RYERSON W. JENNINGS.
Philadelphia, July 23.
olection, and Is suro to win, I am twonty-ono
years old and will cast my first voto this fall.
I am a republican by birth, but I bellovo this
fall people will voto for tho best man, who is
surely Mr. Bryan. God called Abraham Lincoln
for a great crisis. Ho is calling Mr. Bryan for
tho high ofllco of president In tho present great
crisis. I havo been impressed with tho number
of now votors who will cast tholr first voto for
tho sturdy commoner. I am glad that Hearst
Is not supporting Bryan, as his support would
ouly weakon Mr. Bryan's chances. E. G. R.
Hornoll, N. Y July 30.
GREEK BANISTER ON BRYAN'S OPINIONS
Tho report that Mr. Coromilas, tho Greek
minister to the United States, said that "the
opinions of Mr. William Jennings Bryan carry
great weight in Greece," created a sensation in
Washington. Some of the hot-headed and illib
eral republicans declared that the Greek min
ister had paralleled tho Lord Sackville-West
incident of 1888 and suggested that he should
be given his passports.
There is a wide difference between the two
incidents. In the Cleveland-Harrison campaign
of 1888 Lord Sackville-West, then British min
ister, wrote a letter advising a man named
Murcheson, living in California to vote tho dem
ocratic tlcjtet. -President Cleveland at once sent
thd indiscreet minister ms passports; -nm. v
romilas merely mentioned the fact that Mr.
Bryan's opinions carried great weight in
Greece, which can not be regarded as an at
tempt to interfere in our election. ,.,,,,
It is well known that tho opinions of Mr.
Bryan carry great weight in most countries.
Our own president, though a republican; has re
garded some of them so favorably as to adopt
them as his own. They aro the' ,'stolen political
clothes" of which so much has beena'd. Sure
ly, the president can not. be. offended, by the
remark of the Greek minister. Buffalo (N. XJ
Times.
"A REPUBLICAN TARIFF REFORMER FOR
BRYAN
To the Editor of the New York World: He
(Taft) remained in the hall until after the ad
dress of President Wyndham R. -Meredith. Then
he hurried to the golf links, where Senator
Bourne of Oregon, was waiting for him with a
club and a look of stern determination on his
face. Evening Sun, August 4.
Senator Bourne is not the only republican
who will bo waiting for Mr. Taft with a club,
in the shape of a Bryan ballot, which will be
administered with a look of stern determination
next election day. I have been a republican
voter and have voted for every republican presi
dent from Grant to Roosevelt inclusive, out if I
live my vote for president next November will be
cast for Mr. Bryan. 'The principal Issue befbre
the country today, in my opinion, Is tariff re
form, and as my party is side-stepping this vital
Issue by indefinite promises of reform some time
in the future by its friends, by which I sup
pose is meant those eminent tariff reformers
Uncle Joe Cannon, Sherman, Payne and others
of the same" belief, I have determined to take
mv chances with the democratic platform this
time. t B w- W T'
Brooklyn, August 5.
-
A FIRST VOTER FOR BRYAN
To the Editor of the New York World:
What chance has W. J. Bryan of being our next
' ,.i to civ nr avpii two months ago I
thought he had no chance at all. but I believe
he will grow stronger every day from now until
BRYAN -ROOSEVELT THE COURTS
To tho Editor of tho Now York World: In
189C Bryan was damnod by all tho Llttlo Broth
ers of tho Rich for saying, In roforrlng to tho
"switch" of one of tho justices of tho United
States supreme court in tho Income tax case, that
"wo could not bo expected to know when a man
would change his mind."
Compare with tho mild tone of this state
ment tho direct charge by the president In this
morning's papers that tho powor of tho Stand
ard Oil influenced a nulllflcat'on of a verdict of
a lower court; also the statement of Justice
Goff from tho bench that "tho practice of rush
ing Into court and obtaining an injunction re
straining the police authorities from tho per
formance of what thoy bollovc to bo their duties
bofore thoy can bo heard Is fraught with gravo
abuse in tho administration of tho law."
More powor to Roosovolt! More powor to
Goff! And by tho samo token moro powor to
thfb man from Nebraska.
G. F. BLAISDJCLL.
' Brooklyn, July 24.
NOT A FORCED CANDIDATE
To the Editor of tho Now York World:
This Is a democratic year. Bryan Is tho choice
of all tho people of independent opinions. Ho
was not selected recommended or forced on
the convention by the big stick and "my poli
cies." Ho was nominated by tho sentiment of
the people. Mr- Taft Is not tho "man whom the
majority of tho people want or admire; oyon
not very enthusiastically for him. Ho Is tho
man of "Teddy ani my policies," and wo are
tired of tire ruling of the "Big Stick" and the
republican elephant ontiroly.
Since tho independent party was organized
I voted tholr straight ticket, t was with tho
Independence league when Mr. Hearst made
fusion with Murphy, and next year also with
Parsons, but since he is against Mr. Bryan I
ignore him. I am loyal to Mr, Bryan and his
principles, and will do my best to make ray
follow friends and fellow trade union men cast
their votes for Mr. Bryan. ,vVTT4TTm,
AARON LINDENBAUM,
-, .Secretary of tho Amalgamated Wood Turn
ers' Union, Local 65.
..,,, New York, July 27.
FRIENDLY ADVICE"
To tho Editor of the Philadelphia North
American: Permit me to give you a bit of
friendly advice: Do not attempt to defond or
excuse the republican platform, for so herculean
a task as the defense of that document chal
lenges and defies tho combined abilities of re
publican editors and campaign orators. The
wisest thing the republican party could do would
be to drop it altogether and go through the
campaign without a platform.
The hearts of the people of the city and
state are with you in your fight against gang
misrule, and you are to be commended for your
stand with President Roosevelt In his battles to
obtain a "square deal for every man; but, If
you condone or attempt to defend and excuse
the doings of the Chicago convention, you are
not true to the principles you profess to be-
I liave been an independent voter, with re
publican inclinations; but next November I In
tend to vote for Bryaandern.
Rohrerstown, Pa., July 15.
To the Editor of the Philadelphia North
American: Through the columns of 'Friday's
newspapers an anxious public notes that Judge
Taft Waltzes." To further relieve a distress
of mind will you kindly inform us whether ho
?urS handsprings? STRENUOUS.
Sunbury, Pa., July 17.
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