New-York tribune., 1899-07-21
BRYAN EASILY IN CONTROL
s1Is INFLUENCE DOMINATES NATIONAL
DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE
.rEKrNG TO CONCILIATE ALL OPPOSING IN
TEREsTs-CAUTIOUs SPEECH AT
ALTGELD MEETING
TBr rrLEeRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

TBY TELEGRAPH TRiBuNE.1
Chicago, July 20.-To-day's meeting OF the
Democratio National Committee furnished no
surprises AS obvious from the beginning,
its direct results were bound to be both meagre
and disappointing The Wild talk set afloat here
about projected party legislation. the enforce
ment of party discipline and the creation Of
new tests of orthodoxy and regularity had Of
course no serious foundation. and in the light
OF the expectation and curiosity aroused by such
extravagances the committees actual proceed
ings must seem trife humdrum and common
place.
The business done was indeed OF a mere
routine character yet the smoothness with
which the Bryan programme such as 1t was
was forced through the committee. and the ease
with which the Bryan managers avoided any
and all of the embarrassments and entangle-
nents which had been counted on to hinder the
Nebraska leaders canvass for denomination
gave 10 the days work at the Sherman House
us neclliar significance and interest. There may
have been some need to demonstrate anew the
complete and thorough mastery which Mr.
BRYAN exercises in the Democratic Natioha
organization. II so, that need exists no longer
Had to-day's gathering been expressly
MANNED as an object lesson to those Eastern
Democrats who are hoping In some way 10 en-
COMPASS Mr. Bryan's defeat In the next Ma
tjonal Convention. the effect could not nave
been more explicit and decisive Other meet
,nrs Of the Democratic National Committees
have brought into the field OF vision opposing
,r,erests factions and personalities. To-day's
reyolved about single central figure. IL woulo
be only a feeble exaggeration TO say that the
opinions the wishes, the ideas and the purposes
% the thirty-five committeeman who had an
swered Chairman Stones emergency call were
housed and concentrated under a single nat
brim
Until Mr. Bryan arrived this morning none OF
his lieutenants could forecast the scope or the
work TO be submitted to the committee Wheh
the defeated candidate Of 1896 and sanguine
aspirant Of 1899 entered the committee room
az noon to-day primed with double proxy
every one knew that the work ahead had been
cut out and that the results accomplished would
tally precisely with the purposes of the Ne
braska leader.
BRYAN PURsUEs CAUTIOUS COURSE.
Mr.. Bryan's final programme was apparently
one Of caution and Cancellation. 1t was his
special desire to do nothing to estrange from
his support either Of the two wrangling factions
Of the Illinois Democracy; and beyond that'
secure in his strength. he was extremely
anxious TO avoid any possible offence 10 the
Eastern elements still hostile 10 him. To assure
the frIendliness of the Harrison, or regular
Democracy in Illinois. he promptly consented
TO the dismissal Of p J. Devlin as press agent
OF the National Committee. Deviin is an ardent
Atseld partisan. and used his position TO dis
tribute literature attacking Mayor Harrison in
the last municipal campaign. His head was
therefore demanded by the regulars and to sat
isfy them the Bryan managers prepared and
passed a resolution abolishing Devlins office.
Mr.. Bryan also went TO the length of asking
the AItgeld "outcasts." at whose Auditorium
meeting tonight he had promised to speak, to
turn the control OF that demonstration over to
the National Committee, so that he could appear
without offending Mayor Harrison, Committee
man Gahan and their followers. This request
was refused by Ex-Governor Altgeld. who did
not care TO humiliate himself to that extent.
Finally on assurances to the Harrison Democ-
racy that he had been trapped into promising
10 speak through false pretences. Mr.. Bryan OBJ
tained the full and cordial assent of the Harri-
con wing to his appearance at the Auditorium.
where he assigned to one Of the last places
the programme.
II Mr. Bryans policy OF conciliation was emil
nently successful in Illinois. 1t proved less
so In other quarters. Through his advice. the
attempt Of Ex-Governor Stone TO introduce rule
authorizing the National Committee to expel
members "for cause" and making that COM
mittee the sole judge Of the qualifications of
persons elected by the State organizations TO
serve on IT, was quietly abandoned and the
code OF new rules for the committees guidance
was reduced to a few harmless resolutions, Gre
ating certain minor standing committees. No
talk was permitted OF the possibility Of disc-
plinng organizations in the East, which showed
a lukewarmness toward the Chicago platform;
nor was there any suggestion that the role Of
committeeman might be purged with profit.
Indeed. after Mr Campbell, OF New-York had
made speech warmly pledging the support OF
the State organization to the next candidate on
any platform which might be framed for him,
there seemed TO be no excuse left for further
hints of inquisitorial discipline The only ripple
Of that sort raised during the day was due
TO the appearance and seating Of George Fred
Williams of Massachusetts,. who displaced
predecessor of the anti-Williams factional type.
STONE TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN.
Practically the only important business ac-
complshed at to-day's session was the election
Of ex Governor Stone OF Missouri as temporary
chairman OF the committee, with ruil grant
power TO him to reorganize the work of the
body as he may see fit He is TO appoint TWO
new sub-committees from the membership OF
the main committee. One, or eleVen Heihpers
is 10 be known as the Executive Committee and
is to be charged with carrying out the policies
OF the larger body, and with seeing It's orders
executed. The other. of seven members is 10
be known as the Ways and Means Committee
and is TO have charge OF the National Commit
tee finances
BY the appointment Of these two committees
the whole machinery Of the National organila-
ton is to be renewed and strengthened. ana 'he
places are to go naturally TO men whose zeai
FOR Mr. Bryan's denomination is beyond inc
ahahn.p of nuastion Additional time and erort