Roosevelt , who enjoyed wide popularity among most voters even while he alienated some corporate leaders , anointed Secretary of War William Howard Taft as his successor . Meanwhile , Bryan reestablished his control over the Democratic Party , winning the endorsement of numerous local Democratic organizations . Conservative Democrats again sought to prevent Bryan 's nomination , but were unable to unite around an alternative candidate . Bryan was nominated for president on the first ballot of the 1908 Democratic National Convention . He was joined on the Democratic ticket by John W. Kern , a senator from the swing state of Indiana
1908 Democratic National Convention
1908 Democratic National Convention
William Jennings Bryan