Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-02
PRESSURE ON BRYAN
Strong Effort to Make Him Play
Practical Politics.
BE is an IDEALISF. HOWEVER
Not Disposed to Make Any Con-
cessions Whatever.
THE PRESENT STU ALTO N
Special From a STAFF Correspondent.

dcus effort is being made to induce Bryan
to play what such men as Hill and Cor
man regard practical politics. The real
fight of the convention is over the pat
form. Mr.. Hill is not a candidate for the
vice presidency. 1t is doubtful whether he
would accept if nominated. Today he de-
clared the suggestion of his candidacy to
be absurd. What he wants is to have spe-
cific reference to 16 to 1 omitted from the
money plank. He wants to get as far from
16 to l as he can, but realizing that it will
be impossible to lead the party away from
the platform of 96, he will be satisfied.
it is said by some of his supporters, with
a reiteration of substantially the language
of the Chicago silver platform with the
single substitution of AT the present legal
ratio for "At the ratio of 16 to L.. Bryan
resists even this change, which simply re-
ferS the public to the statute for the ratio
instead of quoting it. 1t is a distinction
without difference, but it is a character
iStlc of Mr.. Bryan to avoid the temptation
OF eXpediency. The reputation of which
Mr.. Bryan is most proud is that of con-
Sistent courage and contempt of resort to
mere eXpediency. He does not want to
play the role of opportunist. He believes
that the omission of the figures 16 to l
would serve no other purpose except to
give evidence of timidfty. He does not
believe that the people would be fooled.
nor that the plank with the distinct words
16 to l omitted would be any more accept
able to those who oppose silver than is the
plank of the Chicago platform unchanged.
He is Against Compromises.
To yield at all would be simply to COM
promise the position of the party by inter-
jecting an evidence of fear to save the self
esteem of a few leaders of the '96 revolt,
who having to come back into the party
anyhow, would like to be able to say that
a concession was made to them. Then
there is no proposition to abandon either
free coinage or the ratio, and, therefore
there is substance to the proposed
change in the silver plank. Mr.. Bryan
does not want, however, to have even the
suspicion of timdity or insincerity to rest
upon the convention. Hill is used to hav-
ing his sincerity doubted. He does not
care much what other people think SO Ions
as he succeeds.
Some people doubt the sincerity of his de-
votion to the democratic party. and suspect
that he would like to see Bryan defeated
this fall. He says, Il am a democrat" and
lets it go at that. Hill is a factor in the
situation here. not, as it now appears,
much as a candidate for the vice presi-
dency. but as an adviser. His advice may
not be taken. but he is being treated very
politely. and being made to feel that he is
regarded as n man of consequence in the
party. must be flattering to him, though
he be not able to control the platform utter
ances. to discover the favor In which he IS
democrats, especially those of the south.
That they are glad to have him appear as
an active party worker is manifest and it
must bear to him suggestions of future in
fiuence in the party. whatever happens to
the ticket in November.
Favored for Second Place.
1t is evident that a good many of the del
egates feel that it would be to the benefit of
the party to have him the ticket with
Bryan, and many of them would be glad to
make some slight modification of the plat
form to please him. To the party managers
and to Hill himself the incongruity of his
being candidate with Bryan free sill
Yer income tax platform is obvious and the
expressions in his favor appear merely as
an evidence of friendly sentiment and a de-
sire to get all the democrats together" If
it means anything of great consequence it
presages the gradual elimination at a later
date of the party contention over silver. 1t
IS impossible. however, to take silver out of
the present campaign. though other issues
are likely to take more prominent place
in the public mind. 1t is apparent to those
who have studied the situation here that
Bryan's objection to any modification Of the
silver plank is not based on the belief that
to do so would result in the loss of strength.
Neither he nor any of the. rest doubts his
ability to hold the silver vote by his own
personality. His objection is based on a SEN
timental regard for principle and pride in
steadfastness and consistency. The same
sentiment does not attach as strongly to the
mass of the democratic party as repre-
sented by those assembling here. Among
the southern men especially there is evil
dence of a disposition toward opportunism
but the great hold which Bryan has upon
them all renders his spirit dominant.
Bryan Offsets Hilrs Influence.
He is sword and buckler to their souragc
He is their sage and prophet who sounds
a warning when they seem yielding to the
influence of the siren voice of Mr.. Hill sing
;,,,r t,,a oil, cf
him the story of this contention would be
very different from those which will be re-
corded Many pilgrimages have been made
and are being made to Lincoln and through
the returning pilgrims Bryans influence is
being felt. The visit of Hill to Lincoln at
the request of Bryan is regarded as the
notable event thus far in the progress of
the party manipulations When Hill de-
parted on sudden summons there was
eager speculation to its meaning and
what might be the results. Few there were
vino did not feel a desire to be present to
witness the expected contest between the
prince of adroit politicians and the. man
who is an enthusiast In convictions
The fact that Hill had been called
to Lincoln started anew the talk of
the New Yorker as a candidate but those
who knew the object of the conference
felt a deeper interest in speculating as to
which, if either, would be converted to the
others views as to the wisdom and pro-
pricty of modifying the silver plank 1t
was believed that Bryan inspired to
SenQ IOr Hill Dy tne DeIleI tnat ne could
convince him of the futility and unwisdom
of meaningless modification of the plat
form designed to catch votes. 1t was
known that Hill went with confidence in his
own powers of argument. a solution of the
difficulty over the platform may be found
in the vice presidential nomination. which
is secondary to the platform in point of in
terest among the leaders. Bryans Infu-
ence over the convention is apparently
without limit. 1t is more potential than
that of boss. 1t is that of a recognized
leader to whom the party looks as the only
hope of salvation and whose personality
puts 1t under spell. If Hanna or Platt
or German or Croker exercised such don1-
nant influence the cry of boss would be
raised from every quarter.
Peculiar Kind of Boss.
But there is nothing of the character Of
the boss about Bryan, and the methods of
exercising his influence preserves it from
the Characterization of 'bossism" He
argues instead of ordering, and is deferred
to rather than obeyed. AS great as is his
influence. he may have to choose in the end