New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-23
ruE FIGHT ALREADY ON.
ovvp AND BRYAN BATTLING FOR
SUPREMACY IN 1900

-.sox OF THE FREE-sILvER ADVOCATES
H. 10 THE sOUTH-EX- GOVERNOR
sroNr A RIVAL PREsIDEN-
r1A1. CANDIDATE.
.,v,s NJ the ight for the Presidential
...o.,on within the ranks of the Democratic
nO''''-', becorins evident. The hand Of Rich
y. cotor has been shown IN every pohtlca'
Hu organzation in the State that may IN
o'" the naming Of delegates to the next
h"', Convention. Keen Observers Of the
=, affairs are saying that Mr.. Croker de-
"."~ - he has the Bryan element In the party,
iN'"s ,ri.Ad delegation from this State to
"', him in the next National Convention OF
s"T With this nucleus they explain. he
"' % CORN combinations with Democrats or
n' u,-EngIand and other States where the
u. L. sentiment is not dominant. and try 10
-.Arov Bryan and his friends, and thus get
80, a, the convention. This plan of cam
,, IN the part Of Mr.. Croker influential
r.ocrats saw is we'll known 10 and under
.o, hv william J. BRYAN. and the latter's
.,,rstion 10 attend Mr. Croker's feast, they
"a vss due to this fact They point out that
u, Rrvan believes that New-York Will never
.s, ballot for him IN the National ConVen-
'~ - Croker Is dominant. and will never cast
yotef
-, under whose leadership the battle is fought
hsre He also realizes. they assert, that all
..roush the South and West there Is an an
,,,athv 10 Tammany and Tammany methods
"a, amounts to vicious hostility. These Demo-
.-,,s say that Mr.. Bryan realizes that he can
~ hope for support here and knows that If he
rsrs with Tammany he will make himself all
he stronger with the Western Democrats. and
raaso, be replied he did.
GORMAN AND ANTI-BRYAN MEN.
A,,hrr p. German Of Maryland. one Of the
-oost influential Democrats in the country who
N the last campaign made this pathetic plea, IF
7 eo 10 Bryan. he distrusts me because have
friends in the East; II 7 stand by my friends IN
the East they dstrust me because ] have talked
with Bryan" is at the Fifth Avenue Hotel Mi
German is reviewing the situation carefully and
q has been suggested that he is likely candl-
date for the anti Bryan men to centre around.
He IS not committed to silver. and yet he is not
opposed by the silver element in the party In
fact. as a politician said yesterday. Mr. Croker.
Mavor Harrison Of Chicago and others are
slo,clv but surely building up a combination
looking 10 the nomination Of some man OF Cor
mans type. Mr. Croker has talked with various
Democrats about the possibility Of naming Au-
sustus Van Wyck hut they have pointed out 10
him that not only did Van Wyck lose in New
York but also he is Slose to Tammany that
his nomination would be regarded as an at
tempt 10 Tammanyize the National organiza-
ton. and this would be vigorously resented
lust al present William j. Bryan is in the
South. and Eastern politicians are watching ms
movements closely. They say that he IS tnere
looking after his fences. In Alabama espe-
ciary he has trouble on his hands. Governor
Johnston of that State has leaned strongly
toward the gold element within the party re-
Gently and is Just al present in command II
ne can keep control Of the State organization, 1t
is said he will be able to send an anti-slVer
and anti Bryan delegation TO the convention.
II is to settle this trouble that Mr.. Bryan IS
now South. so some politicians have declared
and 70 adjust other factional disputes as Vel"
ANOTHER SOURCE OF TROUBLE.
Another source Of trouble for Mr.. Bryan is
boldly pointed out by some Bryan men who do
not mince words in what they denounce as
treacherv in Mr. Bryan's own household. From
certain acts. overtures and conferences of late'
1t has become apparent 10 many that eX-VoV-
ernor Stone of Missouri Is personally deslrous
of being nominated for President next year, ana
is working against his friend associate ana
client Mr.. Bryan No man in all the party has
closer
Ex-Governor Stone. and his "treachery can only
cause confusion and dscord so Mr.. Bryahs
friends say Mr Stone is a keen politician. ono
capahle Of controlling conventions and with a
thorough and practical knowledge Of political
organization and campaigning. He carried MIS-
souri, for Bryan when BRYAN lost his own
state He has stood ny Bryan slde
ana been his political adviser NJ. stone came
East last September and warned the Stal9
democrats that if they ignored the Chicago plat
form in their State Convention and nominated
& man opposed 10 silver, the Democrats or the
south and West would unseat and ignore the
allegation the State sent 10 the next National
Convention The recent public statements OF
Mr. BRYAN seem to indicate a similar purpose,
tn6 whether Bryan is in control. or stone. or
NTH in harmony. IL is said by those VINO profess
To know the attitude Of the Democrats OF the
South and West that Mr. Croker ana MS dele
cation at best will get only half a vote IN me
next National Convention. The nght bel"eeh
stOnt and BRYAN promises TO be merry one
hut within the ranks Of the Chicago Platform
Democrats because both rigidly adhere 10 ihat
platform Keen Judges of the situation say tnat
Stone is Infinitely better iactcian ana
nanipulator than Bryan, and VIII give him a
hard battle Eastern Democrats are watching
the trouble IN the hope that in the CONFUSION
they NAV Re able 10 gain some advantage, but
the wiser ones say that the struggle between
BRYAN and Stone Will be simply battle or men,
both adhering 10 the same principles, and mat II
their struggle is likely 10 work 10 the 0eneit OF
those Who oppose the Chicago platform. they
will speedily come 10 agreement.