Oh, yes, it is.
It did so in 1904, and it will do so again.
If Bryan whips Parker in the Convention of 1908, Parkerites will knife Bryan as they did in 1896 and 1900.
If Parker beats Bryan in the Convention, Bryan will “come across” in 1908, as he did in 1904.
This play of politics is a very pretty game, and the politicians get a good deal out of it.
The people are kept interested and excited, but the people don’t get anything out of it.
It is not seriously intended that they should.
Primarily, the game is played for the benefit of the players.
Tom Taggart, the gambling-hell man of Indiana, must feel very funny when he looks back and sees the imposing lines of Democratic preachers, Bible-class graduates, Amen-corner grunters and family-prayer brethren who are meekly following him, Taggart, as he, the official Commander-in-Chief of the Democratic Party, bravely leads his loyal hosts upward and onward.