The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-29
THE OPPOSITION TO MIR. BRYAN.

iON ~ On Nv
We have 70 doubt that the e is con-
siderable opposition in the Democratic
party to the nomination of Mr.. Bryan for
resident II would be surprising if there
were not. There is no reason to think.
however. that 1t will reach such proper
tons as to make his nomination doubt
full. It may be true as stated in the dis
patches that in the Eastern states the
opposition is taking the form of organiza-
ton. If + is it Is rather strange that the
name OF no prominent Democrat is men,
toned as active in shaping the orsaniza-
ton.
The chances are that the opposition
VIII not crystalze into an organized
movement to sidetrack Mr.. Bryan. In
the first place although there is plenty
of good presidential timber in the Demo
cratic party, no one of its leaders has
recognized following Except Mr.. Bryan,
Mr.. German seems to have more enemies
than frineds and Mr.. Hill has dropped so
far into the background that he is almost
stranger to the great majority of his
party. Mr. Whitney has been mentioned,
but he occupies too prominent place in
the ranks of miliionaires to arouse en-
thusiasm at a time when the feeling
against trusts is so bitter. 1t would be
hard to ind a candidate to whom there
would not be greater opposition than
there is to Mr.. Bryan.
The opposition to him has shown itself
more clearly since the Democrats of Ne
braska made their platform. 1t is the
;e he
thor of that platform. 1t contains
things which many Eastern Democrats,
and in fact many Western Democrats.
feel they cannot indorse. 1t must be adj
mitted that the tone of IL is Populistic
in marked degree. 1t has been pointed
out. however, that the Democratic ma
tional platform will not necessarily con-
tain everything found in the Nebraska
platform. There were local reasons why
SO much Populism was put in the Ne
braska declarations. It is hardly prob
able that the Populsts will insist upon
so much Populism in the Democratic ma
tional platform as a condition on which
they will support the Democratic ma
tional ticket. 1t would be folly for them
to do so. national platform on the
lines of the Nebraska platform would
cause the Democratic ticket a loss of
thousands of votes in every one of the
states.
As the political situation now presents
itself the Democrats have an excellent
chance for getting control of the gov
eminent at the election this year They
must not, however. conduct the campaign
along the lines laid down in 1896. There
are new and stronger issues than those
of that year. And material conditions
are vastly different. 1t is harder to make
the people think a change of government
is necessary when there is a demand for
labor and money is abundant as is the
case now, than when employment cannot
be had and money is in hiding, as was
the case in 1896.
There is going to be a great deal more
said about opposition TO the nomination
of Mr.. Bryan, but it is not going to
amount to anything, unless strong can
didate in opposition is brought out. With
such candidate to rally around it is
probable that Mr.. Bryan's friends would
have some trouble in nominating him. a
third of the delegates could prevent his
nomination. unless the rule was changed,
and the probability Of a change in the rule
requiring a nomination to be made by
two-thirds of the convention is not great.