The times., 1899-12-26
POLITICAL NOTES AND GOSSIP.
The Brynn Rnnquet.-Many Demoera

The Bryan HHnquet.-Many Democrats
in Washington OF varying views regarding
the party programme for 1900 manifested
unusual interest yesterday in the an
n0uncement from the West Of a projected
banquet at Omaha on January s, st Jack
sons Day, at which William J. Bryan is
to be the guest OF honor. There is g
Jackson Club in the Nebraska metropolis,
whose membership includes majority OF
the party leaders throughout that section
OF the country. The club gives a great
spread every year on the date named.
Mr.. Bryan has been the guest Of the club
on several occasions, and each time has
made a set speech But it is commented
upon as possibly significant that never be-
fore has such palpable effort been made
to give the annual dinner such an adver-
tlsemeut as is now being made. Other
guests besides Mr.. Bryan advertised to be
present and make speeches are former
Governor Stone and Champ Clark. Of
Missouri; former Governor Hogg, of Tex
as; Carter Harrison and John p Altgeld,
of Illinois; David Overmeyer of Kansas;
Representative +. W Cormack, Of Tenn
essee; Coin" Harvey, of everywhere. and
Senator William Vincent Allen. the Popu
list Senator from Nebraska. 1t is pointed
out as strange oversight and possibly an
intentional one, that the name OF the
chairman Of the Democratic National
Committee Senator James X. Jones,
should be omitted from the list OF invited
guests The surmises upon this score all
lead to the conclusion that if it is not the
wish of Mr.. Bryan's Western friends to
stellation OF stars the motive back of it
is antagonistic to the Arkansas statesman
continuing at the head OF the party organ
ization in 1900, provided Mr.. Bryan is
again the nominee.
Another direction the speculation takes
diverges considerably from the generally
accepted belief that Mr. Bryan will have no
obstacles to encounter in the next con-
yention 1t is known that a considerable
contingent of the Democracy in Nebraska
is not altogether pleased by the reports
which ascribe TO Mr.. Bryan the chief re-
spousibility for the appointment by Gov
ernor Poynter OF Mr. Allen, the Populist,
over the protest Of the Democrats. who
wanted the appointment to go to Editor
Hitchcock. of the Omaha Word-H Herald
as a reward for the effective work he has
been doing in behalf Of Bryan and Fusion
in Nebraska 1t is said that Mr. Hitch
cock and his friends are very deeply hurt
at Mr. Bryan for the part he is alleged
to have taken against the editor who IL
is said, has been fighting for Bryan in
season and out Of season for years. The
Popuiists have been getting the lions share
OF the fruits of the Fusion victory in Ne
brasha, and it was thought that Mr. Bryan
would not oppose it. if he did not urge
that Mr.. Hitchcock be honored with short
term in the Senate. II is believed by
Western Democrats in Washington that one
OF the principal objects in making the
forthcoming dinner at Omaha such not
able affair is to moIlify, if possible the
element of the party which has been af
fronted by the Allen incident. II this is
true 1t would seem to indicate that the
conditions confronting Mr.. Bryan are not
altogether to the liking of some Of his ad-
mirers, and that it may be necessary to
do some explaining for him in order to
make his nomination next year foregone
conclusion