The age-herald., 1899-03-26
JUDGE AUGUSTUS VAN WICK Said to be B. 2 Groomed for the RacS s $ the Tigers.
 5S GOTHAM'S ! E BLUE DEMOCRATS
 ~f Believe That They Can Control Election and Name Bryan Delegates.
oRoKER CROWD MAKING CLAIMS
Say That Governor Johnston of Ala bama Has Deserted Free Coinage and Will Use His Influence
 to Down Col. Bryan.
BY SEwELL HAGGARD


 New York. March 2.-(special.)-T democratic presidential campaign which always begins in New York, will open on the night of April 19 with "oysters the half she'll" "soup cream of celery,' roast beef," lice cream in patriotic forms" and other stuff, all to be washed down with do- nestle table waters supposed to have Jeffersonian flavor.
 This comes about on account of the two rival Jeffersonian dinners-the $10 pluto cratic banquet to be presided over by Perry Belmont and the $1 love feast to be partaken of by the masses, of which w. J. Bryan will be the central figure. The $l0 affair is on April 13 and the other on April 19.
 The s1 Bryan feast has precipitated the campaign because Bryan refused to attend the Croker- Belmont anniversary dinner and has accepted an invitation to the other.
 The fact that Dick Croker and the latter day leaders of Tammany showed their teeth to Bryan so early in the contest has served to draw the lines squarely. Croker, Belmont and the recent acquisitions to Tammany are against Bryan for president in 1900. Who they will support is not known. Some one is being groomed. Pos- sbly Augustus Van Wyck.
 It is known that Judge Van Wyck has a strong following. It was only Roosevelt's war record that defeated him for governor. Some of the Tammany leaders have him in mind, and 1t is said that he will be carried on a trip through the south during the spring months to take the temperature of the people in regard to Bryan, and in- cidentally to arouse some enthusiasm on his own behalf
 Weaving a Web
 It is plain that the political spiders of the gold fibre type are weaving a web for the boy orator. Yet it is whispered on the side, but not for publication, that Bryan can carry the state if nominated. The scheme is to begin the manipulation early so that he will fail of nomination.
 The old guard of Tammany is up in arms. They resent the usurpaton of power by the men who now gloat over the spoils without having borne the brunt of battle. Many of the erstwhile leaders do not find it agreeable to call nights at the demo- cratic club, of which Perry Belmont is president. Instead of the old gang they now find millionaires in full evening dress, who spend the evenings drinkink wines. After calling once attred simply in business suits they were notified that evening dress was expected. They always found it difficult to have word with the big bosses, and their visits to the club are infrequent. These men who have worked hard only to be disappointed by the faithless ones above them are naturally sore over this treat ment. They represent the Tammany ma jority, which will stand by William Jen. nings Bryan for renomnation.
 It is useless to predict a split in Tam many. The rupture has come. It is fight between the masses and the pluto- cratic element.
 Eugene V. Brewster, head of the com- mttee which is arranging for the $l din- ner, said today:
 For years we have been trying to get the plutocratic element out of the old Jeffer- sonian party. At last we have been suc- cessful, and we should be glad of it.''
 Not Looking for Harmony
 MT. Brewster said further that a har- monizing of tho differences was not question that concerned him. Asked wheth- CT MT. Bryan had communicated a similar sentiment to him, he courteously requested to be excused from expressing an opinion. MT. Brewster said that the proposed cell ebration had already assumed such propor- tions that several dinners would have to be in progress at the same hour. The or- ginal plan was for the event to come off at the Grand Central palace, with the att tendance list limited to 5000. So many ap- plications have been received for tickets from parties both in and out of the city that the limit will have to be ignored or largo number of people disappointed. The laboring classes have been clamoring for representation ever since the affair was first talked of, and the date has been fixed for the 18th in deference to them
 Mir. Brewster is apprehensive that the
 
 (Continaed on Second Page).