New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-22
BRYAN'S COMMITTEE.

The meeting Of Democrats at Chicago was a
complete failure for everybody but Bryan. II
anybody hoped to dslodge him or lessen his
hold upon the management of the party he was
greatly disappointed. Bryan Is stronger than
ever in the judgment Of his most sagacious
opponents, and the tact shown by him in evad-
ing participation with the wrangling factions
at Chicago, and In preventing extreme meas
ures in committee indicates that he has grown
not little as leader during the last four
years AS much a demagogue as ever, he is
more dangerous in proportion as he has ac-
Quired the faculty Of making himself acceptable
TO warning elements Of his party.
While the committee refrajns from formal
steps to drive out Of the party opponents Of
Bryan and free coinage, 1t appears to have
made ample preparation to exclude them from
the National Convention II there is the least
possibility Of their embarrassing the leader.
The arrangement Of managing committees is
such that no Democrats Of the German or
Croker stripe can expect to get a seat unless
there is a certainty that no abandonment Of
the ancient two-thirds rule will be required to
defeat them. Bryan has become shrewd enough
to know that a nomination by more than two
thirds Of a regularly organized convention
would be worth to him many thousand votes
more than a nomination by a bare majority
after resembling the old rule, and it is for him
UNNECESSARILY easier to block the doors Of the
Convention against implacable opponents than
to suppress or overcome them after they once
get admission. He Is not going to be de-
prived Of his mastery easily, his opponents
may as well understand Men Of his own sort
will come to the Convention with the name Of
regular delegates from States in which they
could not poll tenth Of the Democratic vote,
II there were a free choice Of the party; but
men who suppose any such choice will be per-
mitted are deluding themselves
Mr.. Bryan's platform, as outlined in bis
speech at Chicago, Is as adroit as his man.
agement Of the committee. Processing 70
stand on the old doctrine as TO silver coinage
he still leaves ample room for a radical change
In its character IN respect to the ratio Of coin
nee. IL that seems expedient. Bimetallism Is
now the burden Of his cry, which is also in
the customary Democratic vein. For thirty
years that party has picked up all the old
clothes the Republicans have worn out and dis
carded. and has rried to utilize them as Its best
dress suits. -Four years ago the Republicans
held that the effort TO secure international BIZ
metalsm ought to be seriously made without
prior commitment TO a particular ratio In this
country, and the Democrats answered "16 to 1
or bust The effort failed, bimetalsm was
found impracticable, and now Bryan considers
bimetalsm finer platform than 16 to 1. Per-
haps he is right.
His talk about the trust question" is just
on a level with his vaporings about the
monetary question four years ago. 1t does not
suit his purpose TO show that there is any
where a trust which ''creates a monopoly and
"sives to the few in control Of that monopoly
"almost unlimited powers over the lives and
shappiness Of consumer, employees and pro-