Evening star., 1900-11-26
DISCRIMINATION
Opposing Factions in the Democratic
Party.
THE NEXT Few MONTHS WILL SHOW
Divergent Views on Many Leading
Questions. l.
FIGHTING FOR CONTROL

FIGHTING FOR CONTROL
During the next few months there are
likely to appear evidences of the disorgan-
ization rather than of the reorganization of
the democratic party. three-cornered
fight within the party is threatened and the
preliminary skirmsh will probably begin
this winter in Congress. There is a diver
gence Of views among the democrats in
Congress with reference to legislation In
volved in the principal issues Of the recent
campaign, and it Is likely that democrats
will be found supporting measures, or at
least trying to quality the opposition OF
the party in Congress to measures, not IN
consonance with the attitude of the party
in the campaign The bill to reorgan1ze the
army and to increase the permanent estap-
lishment will either be supported by some
of the democrats or there will be diner
ence of opinion among the minority as to
the character of the opposition to the meas
ure which will render stubborn resistance
impossible. The opposition is not likely 10
be of that irreconcilable character which
was manifested toward mil1tarlsm py
Bryan in the campaign. One d1nerence Oh
opinion as to the policy to be followed py
the minority with reference to this matter
will be as to whether the opposition should
be stubborn and determined or merely per-
functory. 1t is not unlikely tnat II VIII as
sumo the latter character, and that some
democrats will support the increase OF tne
army. thus giving evidence that the party
is not united in the opinion that tne lioSl
ties of the people are endangered py tne
enlargement Of the military establishment.
Should the Philippine question. come up
in any way for legislation it will develop
that a few of the democrats are only luke-
warm in their support of the ATTITUDE takeI
by the party in the recent campaign. ana
if the currency question comes up a great
deal of Indifference is likely to appear on
the part of regular democrats, While those
who have heretofore been out OF harmony
with their party on this question VIII pe
subjected to less pressure and criticism.
The ship subsidy bill will have the active
support of some Of the democrats, and since
the republicans have clearly indicated that
they have no intention of punlsh!ns the
south in the reapportiOnment for the cur
tailment of negro franchise, there is likely
to be more than the usual acqu1escence on
the part Of southern democrats in the gen
eral program of the majority for the ses-
sion. --T
Indications Favor Conservatives.
There will be struggle between the ad-
vocates of adical policy for the minority
and those who favor a conservative course,
and 1t seems not improbable that the con-
servatives will control; but the significance
of it all will be the light thrown on the
divergence of sentiment among democrats.
1t is only the slow process and more or
less indirect methods that a change can be
effected in the attitude of the democratic
party organization. AS things stand
now the Bryan forces have control of the
party organization and will continue so dur
ing the next four years unless the change
is brought about by influences upon the
national committee. The national commit
tee was selected at the Kansas City conyen-
ton. and, therefore. a majority stands for
the Kansas City platform and all that the
Kansas City candidate stands for This
does not imply that it holds to the purpose
of preserving Bryan as a candidate, but
merely that it represents the Bryan element
of the party, with more or less sympat thy
with the populist fusion idea which was
a feature of the, recent campaign.
The antagonism to this element will come
not only from that small faction which is
represented by Whitney, Dickinson, Carlisle
and Cleveland. but from democrats who
though perhaps reluctantly, supported
Bryan in both his canvasses reinforced by
men who were foremost in their support of
the Chicago platform and hostile in the ex-
treme to the Cleveland faction but who do
not want to continue association with the
populists in any way, and who are not talk
ing of pure democracy" as of something
distinguishable from the declaration of prn-
cipleS made at Kansas City and from some
of the views advanced by the Bryan people
during the recent campaign. The root Of
this faction Is found In the south and its
characteristics are dread of socialism and
an inclination toward more liberal views
with regard to expansion.
Bryan Not Likely to Be a Candidate
All elements practically agree that unless
events during the next three years are
such as to point to that result as inevita bic
Bryan will not be the candidate for Pres.-
dent of any party in 1904; but the question
to be settled is whether he shall continue
as the lawgiver of the party-whether he
shall be to later-day democracy what JEFF
ferson was from its birth. Over this ques-
ton the fight will be fierce
1t is believed that the men who, having
deserted the party. are now talking reor-
ganiZation will have but small part in
the contest, serving, by their spectacular
performances, merely to distract attention
from the more serious and less open opera
tions by the men who properly have a voice
in the party council. The gold democrats
are expected to be very active, and mas
much as their attack will be directed
against Bryan and his loyal supporters
their efforts may serve purpose in detin-
ing as middle ground the position occupied
by those who are trying to break away
from some of Bryans associations.
Attack on Chairman Jones.
The activity of the latter who will prob
ably term themselves conservative will be
first manifested in an attack upon Senator
Jones, chairman Of the national committee,
with view of breaking down his influence
ability to control the organization In a way
to preserve the dominance of the Bryan in
duence. Second only to Bryan himself
Jones represents all that Bryan stands for,
and his overthrow would be the overthrow
of Bryan. without involving the same per-
manent hostilities which would be excited
by a direct attack upon Bryan himself.
Instead of a reorganization of the party
the movement which promises to be most
effective will be directed toward developing
a pubic sentiment among democrats
throughout the country which will tolerate
the idea of writing a new platform in 1904,
without protesting to repudiate that of 1890,
and which will be hostile to fusion with
the populists in any election. The strug-
gle will be largely underground, among the
people. and, finally. In the primaries, and
already both sides are active.
The reflection Of it is likely to be seen in
Congress even at this session, and it Will
be plainly apparent in the next Congress
in the disagreements as to policy with ref
erence to minority action.
a.