Evening star., 1900-10-27
THE NINETY -AND- NINE
CLUB OF SURE ENOUGH DEMOCRATS
IN MARYLAND COUNTY.
Conditions Different From Those Pre-
vniIing in '96-The Story of
Political Wanderers.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

RIDGELY, Md. October 26, 1900.
In the wake of the Bryan flight across
the eastern shore Wednesday is a large
body of Bryanites mighty warm under the
collar These gentlemen had nothing to do
with the matchless leaders coming, speed
ing going, and elaborate preparations had
been made to keep them from all contact
with the peerless one whose cause they
have advocated ever since 1886. In Talbot
county "Majah Billy" Stewart, the head and
front of the local Bryantes. was ignored.
'.Majah Billy" was the star free silver
orator at the democratic state convention
of 1896, when Senator German had gold
resolutions put through, and from that day
the major never lost an opportunity to up
hold the Bryan banner. But this year he
is not persona grata with the state manage
ment. Two years ago he opposed Governor
John Walter Smith fos Congress as not be-
ing a sure-enough Bryan man. and the cam
paign the eastern shore is worrying
along without the major in the forefront OF
the democratic organiZat ton. He has a club
at Easton composed, as the major says. OF
the ninety y-and-nine who never wandered
from the Bryan fold.
I'VE are glad to have all the wanderers
come back and to have republicans join US, y
says the major, but 1 want sheepfold
devoted entirely to the sheep who have re-
mained faithful to the shepherd And one
facedness with which gold bugs" and anti
Bryanites come up and say that they be-
long to the ninety and nine.
A POpuIist Stronghold.
The populist stronghold the eastern
shore in past years was found in the ad-
joining counties Of Caroline and Talbot. 1t
was in these that the anti-Smith movement
of 1883 had its being, and from Talbot came
the Bryan candidate for Congress, Mr. VIM.
Willis. Talbot sent him to the house OF
delegates last winter, and he there offered
a resolution to invite Mr.. Bryan to address
that body Of statesmen. Speaker Lloyd
Wilkinson of Worcester referred the reso-
| luton to the committee on federal relations
and the well-meant tribute of Mr.. Willis
became laughing stock to the unregenerate
democrats who thought Bryan was done
for as a presidential possibility. Now that
he Is again on the ticket the management
has taken entire charge of him and his
canvass in Maryland.
The thck-and-thin Bryanites are getting
the cold shoulder everywhere in the state
However, they have not been idle, and Mr.
Bryan's correspondence could a tale unfold
that would prove interesting to Chairman
Vandiver.
"BilIy" All Right.
At one of the stops of the Bryan party
in Wednesdays tour one Of the ninety
and-nine got his private ear.
How is he?" was the anxious question
of his fellows.
''Billy's all right"
Does he know the crowd that has him
in tow?"
Hes on to them" was the reply
They're not fooling him.
Consequently the Bryanites who are such
| from love of the peerless one are in hope.
| full frame of mind. If the peerless one is
| elected they expect to be the first at the
table. The peerless one Is relied upon tc
| distinguish the sheep from the goats.
| Last winter Mr.. Bryan passed Chairman
Vandiver and other Maryland leaders ir
Camden station, Baltimore. when the faith
| full of that city entertained him at a ban
| quet and arranged a mass meeting fol
! him to address. Vandiver did not speak tt
| the peerless one, nor did Mr.. Bryan require
| a deputy marshal of police and a flyinf
| wedge Of police sergeants to keep the en-
raptured democracy from shaking hi.
| hand. After election morning, If the peer
| less one loses Maryland, the indignation
| among the ninety and nine will be a sigh
| for gods and men, and nothing will eye]
| convince them that the leaders did not give
| him another throwdown.