The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-12
POLITICAL NOTES AND GOSSIP.
Brynn said NothipI

started Vice Presidential boom for Amos
Cummings said ]. X Oil. Washington
! correspondent of the Atlanta Constitu-
ton. to Col. W. J. Bryan at the Metro
! politan Hotel Saturday night. Every jour
naiistic eye in the room was riveted on
the face OF the Nebraskan in the hope that
the remark would cause some significant
| change to come over the countenance- But
| no change was diseernible. Colonel Bryan
simply shifted the subject without max
| ing any reference whatever to CUMMINGS
Il had understood that the only Nav
Workers being considered for the second
place on the ticket were Belmont ard
Sulzer." Clipped in another journalist
who evidently considered himself quite
artful Colonel Bryan appeared to give
no more heed to this remark than he did
to Ohls. In brief. it was impossible to
wiring from the Sebraskan. either by lock
or word. any expression or the Vice Presi-
dency. Aside frcu, expressing himself as
very well satisfied with the evidences OF
the revival of Democratic sentiment in the
East, and as quite confident OF the result
of the national election. Colonel Bryan
positively refused to discuss politics with
newspaper men during his last visit TO
Washington. Contrary 10 some newspaper
reports. he scrupulorsly avoided any ex-
preston which might be construed as in
dicating q preference for am of the cities
bidding for the National Convention. Var;
Gus men. who are supposed to be very
close to him. however, declare that he
wants the convention to On to Milwaukee
for the possible effect this would have on
the German American vot@.
Treason in Hoosierdom.-what's the
matter in Indiana? This is question
that numerous Democratic statesmen are
asking one another as vagrant reports
come from Hooslerdom to the effect
that some impious and Mephistophelian
Hoosier is trying to make trouble for
Bryan in that part of the Lords vineyard
At present the reports are vague and
vapory sort OF entities. but they are sutii-
ciently persistent to have caused some
discussion of them at the conferences be-
tween the Nebraskan and party leaders ia
Washington during his stay here Saturday
and Sunday. The conclusion reached was
that the reports are a part OF the quad
renrlal game of the Indianans to force
upon the National Democracy recognition
Of some favorite son for place on the
ticket. Mayer Taggart OF Indianapolis,
Col. Gil Shanklin. of Evansville. and
half-dozen or more other HOLSTERS who in
herited the habit OF voting the Democratic
ticket. have expressed willingness TO ac-
cept the Vice Presidential nomination. but
II appears that nobody outside of Indiana
has yet given serious attention to the
claims being made for the Hoosiers. 1t "
pointed out that therefore it becomes the
Indianans at this stage of the proceed
ings TO kick up a cloud CT dust in order TO
let the unheeding world know that they
are IN the ro@d. Further than the accom-
plishment of this object. il is not believed
there is any danger to Colonel Bryan in
Indiana at present. Ii is suspected that
at the base of the whrling cloud of dust
there could be found both Gayor Taggart
and Col. Gil Shankliu paving the Hoosier
soil with their Indiana brogans.
Mclean for Cbairmnn.--An influential
Southern member of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee is responsible for the
statement that, il agreeable to Colonel
Bryan. the Hon. John r. Mclean will sue
coed Senator James X. Jon.s as chairman
of the party organization. Senator Jones
friends still insist that Colonel Bryan
wants the Arkansas statesman to manage
the next campaign. OF course. if this is
true Senator Jones will continue in the
position he has held since the cataclysm
of sc. But. aside from the claims of Sena-
tor Jones' stanch admirers. there is no evil
deuce that Bryan wants him to hold the
Craftsmanship again. IL is worthy of re-
mark that nobody has come forward with
the claim that Colonel Bryan has publicly
or privately expressed preference for
Senator Jones. On the contrary. il is
known that he has positively declined to
discuss the craftsmanship at the conferences
he has held in this city with the party
leaders at various times during the past
month Certainly, If he is renomlnated-
and there now no longer seems 20 be any
doubt on that point-Bryan will have the
privilege of naming the committee chair
man But it is being recalled that he did
not name Senator Jones for chairman four
years ago The fact is that Senator Jones
selection was the result OF an energetic
propaganda started three or four months
before the Chicago Convention met and
Bryan accepted him without a murmur 81
dissent. II is believed that an organized
movement similar TO that which elevated
Senator Jones to the craftsmanship, is nos
in progress for Mclean. and it is considered
highly improbable that Colonel Bryan will
oppose the enterprise.
Evidences Of Changing Sentiment.
The conspicuous activity in Washington
at present of the Hon. David r. Francis
ard the Hon. Seth W. Cobb, both OF Mis-
souri, is a reminder of how rapidly has
the factional bitterness engendered by the |
Democratic split four years ago died out. |
They are here in the interest OF the |
Worlds Fair which St LOuisans hope to |
have in their town in 1908 in celebration OF 1
the Louisiana Purchase centennial. When |
former Governor Francis entered the Cab |
met at the tail end OF Cleveland's Admin |
istration he brought down upon himself |
an avalanche of maledictions in Missouri |
which it was predicted at the time would /
bury him from the public gaze for all !
time Colonel Cobb was then in Congress
and followed Governor Francis into Cleve-
lands auriferous camp. The Missouri |
Democracy. as organized at that time put /
their names on the voluminous blacklist, /
and the I6-to-1 leaders swore all imagina-
bic oaths at the bare mention Of the name
of either of them. Neither of them has |
asked for Office in Missouri since they |
left the Democratic fold. but the fact that |
they are the chief promoters OF az enter
prise depending so largely upon the good |
will of MissOurians for success IS taken |
as evidence that they are getting Snck to |
that high place in the esteem OF their |
State which each occupied before the Mis- !
souri, Democracy repudiated Cleveland and !
chung tenaciously to Bland's principles, |
while ignoring the claims to party leader
ship of the plain hammered and clean |
minded gentleman who vitalized them So |
great a change has been wrought III Mis-
souri, since the embttered strife Of 1896 |
that the Democracy of that State has NOM !
mated for Governor in advance OF the con-
vention the Hon. Alexander NJ. Dockery. |
who was always in closer communion with |