The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-28
TRYING TO SIDETRAcK BRYAN.
EASTERN DEMOCRATS ORGANIZING
FOR THAT PURPOSE.

They Seek to Hold Him Responsible
for the Ratificati ton of the Peace
Treaty-They Also Oppose the Ne
brnsl<n PlatfOrm-They Are Look
ing for the "Right Mani to Oppose
Him at Kansas City-SOme Con-
gressionaI Views.
Washington, March 27-Eastern Demo-
Gratis are now engaged in organizing their
forces to sidetrack Mr.. Bryan and pre-
vent his renomina ton at Kansas City.
Within the next week or ten days a
proclamation will probably be delivered
with the stamp of authorization from a
committee of the leading Eastern Demo-
Gratis, to the effect that Mr.. Bryan is re.
sponsible for the ratification of the peace
treaty, which, in effect, committed the
United States to the policy of Imperialism
and militarism. His advocacy of the rat
ifcation of that treaty it will be claimed,
Induced certain Democrats to assist the
Republicans in forcing that treaty through
the Senator
Accompanying the proposed proclama-
ton will be the suggestion of a general
conference of Democratic leaders, with a
view to agreeing upon a tried and true
Democrat who will come out boldly and
contest the nomina ton at Kansas City
with Mr.. Bryan.
The promoters of this scheme realize
that it is rather late to start such
movement, but some of the shrewdest
political organizers in the party claim that
they have advices from various sections
of the country which warrant them in
taking such a course.
Points Made Against Bryan.
They claim that when it is fully under
stood that Mr.. Bryan might have pre-
vented the ratification of the treaty by
remaining silent, and not rushing head
long to the rescue of the Republicans,
without consultation or advice from his
Democratic associates, a revolution of
sentiment against him will take place.
IN addition to that, his respon-
sibility for the Populstic platform adopted
by the Nebraska Democratic Convention,
which 1t is claimed, he intends to try
ana force upon the National Democratic
party at Kansas City, will be used for all
1t is worth in the sde-tracking process.
Conservative Democrats who are not in
love with Mr.. Bryan or his policy ex-
press a doubt as to the success of the
NUAAtNAilldtOu movement against the Ne
braska advocate, although they would
cheerlully cooperate to bring about such
result. They direct attention to the
1act that the Massachusetts democracy
mas already instructed its delegation 10
Kansas City to vote for Mr.. Bryan and
many other states are practically COM
mtted to bin. On the other hand, the
promoters of the anti-Bryan plan declare
that the time is now ripe for the over
throw of Organism, if the right man can
be selected to take the field and make
an aggressive contest backed up by such
Eastern and Middle states as are abso-
lutely esential to Democratic success.
The men who are engineering the attack
are assembling their forces quietly with
the intention of surprising the enemy at
every vulnerable point. The most pro-
found secrecy is being maintained by the
conspirators, but the facts above stated
leaked out from an unquestionable and
thoroughly reliable source.
Talk of the Movement.
The Washington Post is an active re-
cruit to the anti-Bryan movement, and is
out this morning in editorial declar-
ing the election of Bryan an impossible
ity.
On this same line combined efforts were
made to-day to interview Democratic SEN
ators and representatives as to the pros
poets of BryanS election, in view of pres
ent conditions The remarkable discovery
was made that out Of at least fifty prom
inent Democratic congressman interview
ed, not one of them was willing to go on
record against Bryan, but at the same
time they declared, confidentially, that
they do not believe he can be elected, and
expressed a preference for some other
candidate who can command the support
OF some of the Eastern or Middle states
If the names of the men, who talk for
publication one way and oppose Bryan
secretly, were given, there would be a
sensation in the Democratic party. For
political reasons, they would promptly
come forward with an authorized denial
Nevertheless, there is a streng under-cur-
rent of sentiment among Democrats here
that there is more than one man in the
party who Is eligible for the presidency.
future developments will disclose the
strength of the anti-Bryan forces.
McLendon's View of 1t.
S. G. McLendon of Thomasville is here
as the representative of the Plant System
looking after the settlement of certain
claims against the war department. Mr..
McI.endon visited The Capitol and was en-
tertained by Senators Bacon and Clay. lie
also talked Thomasville gossip with Ms
occasional neighbor, Senator Hanna.
While not actively interested in politics
MIR. McLendon was not surprised to find
such a strong anti-Bryan sentiment among
tation in predicting the defeat of Mr. Bry-
mand the support of the conservative bus
mess interests of the country, has an ex-
cellent chance of defeating Mckinley.