The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-07-28
BRYAN'S BLUFF.
pOuSeS.

The following telegram by Senator
Jones. chairman Of the national Demo-
cratic committee, to Bryan: "PopullSt
nominate president first; if not Sc
wall, what shall do? Answer quick
I favor our declination in that case"
To which Bryan responded: Il entirely
agree with you. Withdraw my name II
Sewall is not nominated" Nothing I'M
certain or evasive about thiS-so far as
words go. But keep your eye on events.
Mr. Bryan's name was not Withdrawn
and all day Saturday Mr.. Bryan was
enjoying mysterious carriage ride
with his law partner and Acknowledge
OF his Whereabouts were denied at his
home, at his office and at the local
Democratic headquarters. 1t would
indeed have been embarrassing had
another telegram been sent him, so he
put himself out of reach of communica-
ton. Why this secretiveness? He did
not mean what he said in that telegram
of declination 1t was bluff on his
part to avoid embarrassing complica-
tions with his running mate, Sewall,
and with the Democracy in places
where Populism is odious to the Demo
cracy.
This spectacular young man, it will
be remembered, dictated a spOntane-
Gus declination of a second term OF the
presidency upon his nomination at Chi
cago. OF course he could stay in four
years from now as in connection with
his change of mind in declining the
Pop nomination. Il shall do nothing
which will endanger the success of BIZ
metallism" tor Bryan. Had this pyro-
technic youth no time to mature his
mind upon the question of declining
the Pop nomination in case Sewall was
rejected Had not that matter been
discovered since the Chicago conven-
ton, and was it not apparent from the
opening of the St Louis convention
that nothing but some bold stroke of
tactics could force the Pops to accept
the bl0ated banker, ship-builder and
corporation of that hated section
of the union, New England. for the vice
presidency? 1t was evident that Sewall
was NORWOOD To the disciples OF de-
spair and amid their wailings they
would never do anything to add to the
comfort of a millionaire Of New Eng
land 1t might have been different
had the millionaire been some senator
from Colorado or Nevada.
The declination was bluff, pure and
simple blum that did not work. 1t was
sprung upon the convention TO save
Sewall The Democrats could then
have been complacent and have said
they had swallowed the Pops without
a ticket would disintegrate. Support
ing the Democratic ticket, they would
be Democrats of course. In order to
bring about the complete endorsement
of the Bryan-Sewall ticket this SenSl-
ton was sprung upon the Populist mob
in ST. Louis and the mob gave Bryan
lHP HDISc l1uSu. DAl slu Ntu dCNtll
unless we nominate Sewall. shouted
his friends. but the Pops decisive up
roar went on voting for Tom Watson
for vice-preSidenL They knew that
Bryan was bluffiDg and that he meant
to accept He is vouched for as good
Populist by Weaver and others. He
has never declined anything yet that
he could get. His decilnation in this
case was simply horse play To compel
Sewall'S nomination. II wasn't serious
and the Pop convention couldn't be
fooled by il. Bryan has had too many
Pop endorsements not 10 know what
to do with them. He il too good a
PopuIi>t 10 decline their nomination.
But IL would have been more agreeable.
less embarrassing at any rate. II he
could have forced the nomination OF
Sewall Such a bluff haI It's effect.
Of course. II scared Jerrs Simpson and
Lewelling into supporting the New
England millionaire very much against
their inclination. Sewsll. after all. is
q very good man who has made five
or six millions building ships at profit