AMERICAN PRESIDENCY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1380, 5 March 1912, Page 5

AMERICAN PRESIDENCY.

* MR. BRYAN ON ROOSEVELT BOOM. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copjrlehl New York, March 3. Mr. W. J. Bryan, addressing a largo gathering at Tacorna, Washington, attacked Mr. Roosevelt's decision to run for a third terra as President. He recommended Senator La Toilette's candidature. During his speech Mr. Bryan commended Mr. Taft for great reforms ho had managed to effect during his term of offico as President. He added that Mr. La Toilette was. progressive before Mr. Roosevelt had learned to spell the word. '

GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR MR. BRYAN. Mr. Bryan's position in connection with tho Presidential contest has been tho cause of much speculation. Writing of the situation recently tho New York correspondent of "Tho Times" said:— "The Democratic mlijority of the House have, as already recorded, disappointed people this session by running amok financially. They have shown n tendency to disregard Mr. Underwood, their titular leader, whose sanity and political senso impartial observers readily recognise. It i's suspected that indirectly Mr. Bryan's influence had something to do with tho revolt, for Mr. Bryan dislikes the conservative way in which Mr. Underwood has tried to approach the current fiscal and economic problems. Mr. Bryan, for instance, wants free raw wool, Mr. Underwood a revenuo tariff for raw wool. Will Mr. Bryan aggravate the confusion by giving overt encouragement to Mr. Underwood's enemies? "The Presidential situation affords even greater opportunities for the erstwhile Democratic, leader if he bo mischievously or ambitiously inclined. The aspirations of Dr. Woodrow Wilson, Mr. Harmon. Mr. Champ Clark, and a number of minor candidates are all being announced at the informal gatherings of politicians which are tho invariable concomitant of (ho 1 meeting of tho committees of tho National Party. Mr. Bryan is known to be hostile to Mr. Harmon, but ho was believed to be friendly to Dr. Woodrow Wilson. Now, however, comes the publication of a letter, alleged to have been written in 1905, in which the Governor of New Jersey wonders whether some dignified way could not be contrived for the elimination of "the peerless leader." If the letter is authentic, what will Mr. Bryan do about it? Will ho be prompted to consider tho advisability of seeking once more nomination, or to what eandidato will ho turn ? "Mr. Heart's influence is another doubtful quantitv. He is believed to favour Mr. Champ Clark, but the latest gossip is that his followers may join hands with those of Dr. Woodrow Wilson, and there is always the chance that he may himself become a candidate. But enough has been said to give some idea of the Democratic quandaries. Politicians will be thankful if tho events of tho next fewdays throw some light upon the lines for their solution."