The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-08-19

DRYAN's EMBARRASSMENT.
Unless the conditions CHANGE very
much, there Is possibility that we
may zee three Democratic candidates
for the presidency. They may not all
90 to the polls. but the differences in
what u called the Democratic party ara
serious enough to split It into three fac
tons.
The strongest element IL that portion
OF the union forces which was drawn
from the old-line Democracy, and
through whose influence the recent con-
ference 1t Saratoga was held. Although
II was nominally friendly to Bryan. its
real purpose is to abandon the Chicago
platform and go back to the doctrines
adopted In 1892. with such additions as
shall seem likely to catch a few addi-
tionai votes. II Is expected that this
would have the effect OF eliminating
Bryan as the presidential candidate.
Next In Importance. SO far as numbers
are concerned. il the element which con-
trolled at the national convention Of
cation Of the Chicago platform. which
will make 1t broad enough to include the
conservative Democrats and also hold
Bryan. The third faction Will include the
radical forces which will insist upon
an incorporating adhesion to the 1G
to idea. and practically all the planks
Of the Populist platform. with Bryan
again as the leader. Bryan seems to
hold most closely to these factions, and
II Ii supposed that he had this in view
when he declared that the candidate
must At the platform. and the platform
Mt the candidate. This attempt at
aphorism. but which Is only one of
Bryan's senseless but high-sounding
phrases. has been taken to mean that
Bryan regards himself as the apostle Of
free silver at the 10 to ratio, and that
the platform must be made to At him.
Bryan cannot be blind to the indica-
tons that the Chicago platform will be
vigorously fought by large number Of
Democrats who voted for II before.
There Is no doubt that many Of the lead.
ers regard Bryan as the present only
available candidate. while q. the same
time they fear the detection which
would result from maintenance az the
platform with which he Ia identified. II
the conservatives succeed In obtaining
control Of the convention they will adopt
new platform. eliminating the radical
doctrines. and the question with them
is whether Bryan could take the risk
Of adapting himself to it. Should he do
10 the probability is that large proper
ton OF the radicals would regard him
as q traitor To the is TO / idea, and
would set up presidential candidate in
opposition to him and to the modified
platform.
The anti-;oebel Democrats of Ken
lucky have most nearly approached rep
resentatioo OF the radical element. but
the Goebel Democrats have secured
Bryan az one Of their sneakers. He is
thus between the horns of a perplexing
dilemma He has thrown his support
to that faction OF the Democracy in the
state which cares least for him and his
platform. and he Is apparently In an
tagonism TO that faction which Is most
strongly in favor of the political notions
upon which his last campaign was
based. Outside of Kentucky II Is not
Improbable that the radicals may he
able to compel those Democrats who de-
sire to modify the Chicago platform to
an abandonment Of that purpose. and
practically unchanged. except for the
addition Of declarations against trusts
and imperialism, This would leave In
opposition that portion o. the Democ-
racy represented a. the Saratoga con-
ference. with which the name az Judge
Van wyck. of New York. as the party
nominee has been associated. 1t IL
hardly probable tina, Van wyck's can
iidacy ~ genuine He Is more likely be-
ing usea only as sailying standard for
the anti-Rryan forces. and that the lead
ers intend at a later day 10 select some
ether man II they choose him from
New York state Van WICK will drop
out: hu. IL Western man Is selected.
then the New Yorker may be slated
for vice president
IL II were only question 81 men. the
| split would not be serious; but the dif
ferenees are apparently. at present. over
principles, and IL does rot seens possi-
he to roconciie tive factions witch az
sgr so decidedly unon what was IN the
last camnasrn TIRE tie that hound al