Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-08-04
CORMAK OR BRYAN-- WHfCHs

When the democratic feud in this state
. graduated from purely local politics into
the senatorial contest, and assumed a
phase of bitterness that would deprive
that party of a representative in the
upper house Of congress rather than seat
the man upon whom that distinction was
conferred, it became evident that it would
be carried forward into the domain of
national politics. It is not in the logic Of
the situation for the two antagonistic fac
tons to agree upon a presidential chpdf-
date, for in the event of success at the
polls Oil and water will not mix at the
pie counter.
Should both wings Of the Montana de-
mocracy agree upon Mr.. Bryan, for in
stance, and his election follows, it would
be easy enough for that gentleman to
name a minister ple~nipotentiary n en-
Voy extraordinary to Manila, and to- keep
the court of St. James from getting lone
some, but to hunt up a postmaster for
Butte who had kept himself unsp0tted
from the world, and was therefore salts
factory to both wings Of the party here,
would be an absolute imposs.bility. Con-
ditions are such that it naturally follows
that each faction will select it's choice
from among the presidential aspirants in
the democratic party, and, as the boys
say, leg for his nomination.
The anti-Clark faction is already COM
mitted to the candidacy of William J.
Bryan, and the Anaconda Standard is
carefully stepping off she distance be-
tween anticipation and participation. It
really cares little for Bryan and less for
his principles, but the magic of the silver
leaders name, with some slight assist
ance from the Sourdough statesman, is
CATION from this state to the national
democratic convention.
Recognizing that the Standard people
have the inside track, insofar as a pull
with Colonel Bryan is concerned, the
Clark men have not committed them
selves to that gentleman's presidential as
pirations. They have pursued the policy
of waiting. Vague hints have from time
to tlme appeared in the Butte Miner indi-
eating that after all Bryan's cinch on the
nomination could not be classified with
the lead pipe variety. 1t never has, di-
rectly or indirectly, assumed that the
eloquent standard-bearer Of 1896 would
be again chosen to lead the democratic
hosts. 1t has always referred to the out
come Of the next convention as being
c!ouded in doubt. w
When its proprietor, Senator W. A:
Clark, comes out N an interview express
ing doubt as to Bryan's nomination., and
doubt as to silver being a prominent issue
shaping up in this state between the two
wings of the democratic party. Senator
Clark is an astute and far-sighted man
Of affairs, and he recognizes the probable
ity of concer. Of action on the part of
eastern democrats at the proper time
looking to the defeat of Colonel Bryan.
In all probability this movement will CEN
ter upon German as a candidate. The
Clark wing of the democracy in this state
may govern itself accordingly.
Leading Bryan men who are more or
less in touch with Montana affairs, like
Congressman Campbell and e~x-Congress-
men Towne and Hartman, will do all in
their power to prevent Senator Clark
from taking his seat in the sena of the
United States, while the influence of Cor
man and other democrats of note in the
east will be exerted in his behalf, espec-
tally when they realize that he is not
committed to the candidacy of Mr.. Bryan.
The senator's doubt as to the figure
which silver Will cut in the next campaign
will doubtless strengthen his standing
with prominent democratic influences in
the east, though he is confesedly a bimet-
al.st. Within a few months the clouds
will clear away, and the Bryan and Corr
man forces may be actively at work
shaping the future Of the Montana de-
mocracy. l -