The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-21
Wasting Time in Futile Combinations

Those are the most philosophical Demo-
Gratis who accept as inevitable, accord
ing to present political calculations, the
denomination Of WILLIAM ]. BRYAN next
year, and who have abandoned as I'M
reasonable the hope Of preventing it. But
there are others who are seriously propos-
ing formidable combination against
BRYAN on the part OF 1.-The great States.
standing together in the Democratic Con-
vention." This suggestion is based on the
theory that a union Of the delegates from
the large States, notably New York, Penn
sylvana and Missouri, would be effective
under the unit rule, whereby a majority OF
the delegates cast the whole vote OF the
State, and under the two-thirds rule, an
other parliamentary encumbrance to party
action in Democratic conventions, whereby
one-third of the delegates by acting in con-
cert have veto power over the decisions
OF the other two-thirds.
Automatically on paper such plan would
seem to be feasible. and for it's success New
York, with its ~ votes, and New Jersey with
1s, Missouri, as represented by former
Governor STONE. and neighboring Arkan-
sas, the delegates from which he is expect
ing to control, and Maryland, represented
in all sinister combinations by former Sen
ator GoRMAN. are relied upon.
Unfortunately, however for this view Of
the situation it is a fact that similar COM
bination Of forces hostile to BRYAN failed
utterly in the Democratic Convention Of
three years ago. In Chicago in July. 1896,
on the fifth and decisive ballot for the
Presidential nomination. the ~ votes Of
New York were not cast. The "a votes Of
Missouri and the 1e OF Arkansas, 30 to-
gether, were cast for Congressman BLAND.
In addition, the "a votes OF Pennsylvania
were cast in favor OF PATTIsON, the 30
votes Of Indiana for Governor MATTHEWS,
the 26 votes OF Iowa for Governor BoIEs
and majority of the delegates from Mas
sachusetts, led by Governor RUSSELL a
majority in Connecticut and in Maryland,
Wisconsin. Maine and Delaware, and all
the delegates from Rhode Island, New
Hampshire and New Jersey. also withstood
the Bryan tide. He was nominated, never
theless, with enthusiasm.
Texas, too, the Texas OF HoGG, was then In
the anti-Bryan column and yet the last
Democratic Convention in that State, on
tion OF BRYAN, as did the Indiana State
Convention on Juno %, the Iowa State Con-
vention on Sept. I, the Missouri State Con-
vention on Aug. 10, the New Hampshire
State Convention on Aug. 81 and the recent
Democratic State Convention OF Pennsyl-
| vania at Harrisburg.
In view Of these defections and the utter
lack Of any new recruits, the ambitious
| project OF the "anti-Bryan combination II
| managers does not give promise Of much
| success. 1t will need moro than a change
Of rules and regulations and a revision OF
| bylaws to turn the present Democratic
party from the denomination Of Mr.. BRYAN,
OF whom the Ohio Democrats at their last
State Convention, in August, 1898, said
1--WE are proud Of the patriotic conduct In
peace and war OF that brave leader oil
Democracy, WILLIAM j. BRYAN, and we
favor his denomination in 1900"
The Democratic habit Of renominatine
candidates who have previously been de-
feated is not likely to be overridden by
parliamentary devices.