The Portland daily press., 1900-10-18
BRYAN ANp NEW YORK.

Mr.. Bryan's reception in New York
city was enthusiastic enough. certainly,
so far as outward appearances are con-
cerned. A tremendous crowd greeted
him on his arrival, and he spoke to A. 900
people who cheered him to the echo. He
could not help contrasting his reception
this year with that Of four years ago,
when Tammany was at heart hostile to
him, and he was left practically to con-
duct himself into and out Of the state.
Of course the great multitude OF Tam
manyites have no convictions OF their
own. They take their cue from the lead
ers and smile or froWn as the leaders
direct. On Tuesday they were all smiles,
which goes to show that Croker and the
other chieftains are either sincerely sup
porting Bryan or wish to have 1t so IN
derstood. Theresis little doubt after the
exhibi tion Of Tuesday evening, that all
the elements Of the Democracy that
Croker can control Will work and vote
for the Nebraskan. Four years ago 1t
is well known that thess elements were
Iukewarm, that they helped him none
by work and not very much by votes.
Tammany's present attitude Will Of
course ensure to Bryan a much larger
vote in New York city, and probably also
in the large cities throughout the state
than he received four years ago. But in
order to carry the state he must receive
not only a larger vote, but a very much
larger vote. Mckinley IN 1896 carried
New York state by over 26O, 900 plurality,
1t Will be seen, therefore, that In order
to carry the state this year Bryan has
got to make very large gains. Tam
many cannot furnish enough, If it be
perfectly solid for the candidate. Other
elements Of the Democracy which opposed
Bryan four years ago, and the indepen-
dents have got to come to its assistance
IN order for Bryan to have any chance of
carrying the stats. Will that assistance
be given? All the signs ara against it.
With very few exceptions the leaders of
the Gold Democrats Of the Empire state
stand today just where they stood four
years ago-unequivoeably opposed to
Bryan. Carlisle, Hewitt, Hoadley, Horn
blower, Ottendotfer and Peckham have
each and every one expressed their inten-
tIon not to vote for Bryan, Nor has
there been any noted accession to the
Bryan standard from the so-ealIed Inde.
pendents. The business men, who did so
much to defeat Bryan in 1896, are as hos
10 70 p oil
the elements which combined to bury
Bryan under a majority OF $50, 900 four
years ago are almost as strongly opposed
to him today, except the single element
which takes its orders without question
Ing from Boss Croker. 1t used to be said
when the two parties were In their nor
nal condition that the Independent ele-
ment held the balance Of power in New
York, and that the candidate who re-
ceived It's vote was practically certain to
carry the state, and repeated elections
demonstrated that this statement was
pretty nearly accurate. This year Bryan
will not only not have the Independent
vote, but considerable section of his
own party VIII not support him. It
would seem, therefore, that nothing but
a tremendous reYuIslon in public senti-
ment as it exists today, could enable him
to carry the stata, and of such a re7uIsion
there is not the slightest probability The
current has been setting more and more
strongly against Bryan for weeks past.
That it viii change and set In his favor
in the last two weeks of the campaign
there is not the slightest reason to expect.
Indeed, all the probabilities are in the
other direction. Bryan7s presence in
NsW York will arouse some temporary
enthusiasm among his adherents, but 1t
Will not alter existing conditions. It
win not attract the gold Democrats nor
the Independents to his standard, and
without them it is practically impossible
for him TO carry The state.