The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-01
POLITICAL NOTES AND GOSSIP.
His own Mamaser-Mr. Brvap,s de

POLITICAL NOTES AND GOSSIP.
His Own ManIgcr.-Mr Bryan's de-
cision to come East at this time appears
to have caused quite as much surprise at
| Democratic National Headquarters at Chi
eago as in the country at large. When
the news Of Mr. Bryan's intention was first
wired from Lincoln. Cnsirman Jones and
others in the headquarters at Chicago
| denied its correctness. The plain truth
seems to Re that Nj. Bryan did not
| consult Senator Jones or any other of his
supposed ,ampaign managers about COM
ing TO this Fart of the country. A still
| palmer ruth seems TO be that Mr.. Bryan
is his own campaign manager this year. as
he w2s in 1876. II is recalled that in the
| last campaEr it became publicly known
that Senator Jones. who was then as now
chairman Of the National Committee,
| earnestly advised Mr.. Bryan against visit
ing New York and other portions OF the
East which he had dubbed the ''enemy's
country. But Mr.. Bryan boldly pane-
trated the 'enemys country, and he
has never had cause to regret it.
1t also appears that Mr.. Bryan row,
as was the case in the last campaign, dots
not even tell his managers" more than
gramme is. 1t is evident that he keeps a
close watch On conditions. and goes wheL-
ever and wherever he is convinced he can
do the most good. His managers very
sensibly bow to his judgment in all such
matters. and II is said that they do not
object even when ne freaks in upon their
programme TO. other campaign orators.
This recently was illustrated by the
movements of the Hon. Charles \. Towne,
g,F L
by Chairman Jones for a tour through
Kansas and the Middle West, but he
visited Mr.. Bryan at Lincoln last week,
ana. in obedience TO Mr.. Bryan's wishes,
MIR. Towne struck out for Idaho Leaving
the folks at headquarters in Chicago I'm
the air 1t is stated that Mr.. Bryan had
received reports through his own sources
indicating a condition in Idaho Viii h
needed the immediate attention of some
body like Mr.. Towne, and he accordingly
sent the Mirnesotan out there. How diff
ferent these things are managed in the
Republican camp is illustrated by Mr.
McKinley's recent cancellation of engage
ments in West Virginia. While the Presi-
dent was at Canton the announcement
was sent broadcast over the country from
that place that he had consented to ysit
senator Elkins in West Virginia about the
hrst or middle of September. and that
while passing through the State he would
make number of speeches. Senator Ell
kins and other West Virginia Republicans
Immediately set to work to make the
Presidents visit a notable event. Prepa-
ratiOns were made at various towns 10
entertain him. Then the mighty Mr. Hanna
stepped in and spoiled everything by de-
claring positively and fatty that Mr. Nc
Kinley would not visit West Virginia and
that he would not make campaign
speeches in any other part of the coun-
try. Campaigning is beneath the dignity
of the President" is the explanation
vouchsafed by Mr.. Hanna. and" he
added. by way OF an after thought, "the
President is too busy. anyhow, to go hip
podroraing around the country" The dis
covery was then made at Canton and at
the White House that a mistake had
been made in announcing the Presidents
acceptance of Senator Elkns' invitation
From all of which It appears that Mr.
Mckinley is managed and that Mr.
Bryan manages himself.
Negroes Becoming Democrats-Tbe
desertion of the Republican party by Bish-
ops Turner Grant, and Derrick, of the At
rican Methodist Episcopal Church, is gen.
orally regarded as a most significant sign
of the period. For a month or more The
Times has been receiving letters from APP
parently well-educated negroes in all parts
of the country stating that the dfssatis-
faction among the colored voters with the
Mckinley Administration and with the
general tendencies of the Republican party
was widespread and growing in strength
daily. Little attention has been paid to
these communications mainly because The
Times had never heard of the writer's be-
fore, and for the further reason that the
negroes heretofore have blindly followed
the lead OF the Republican bosses. But it
Degins to appear evident that there really |
is a good deal of disaffection among the !
blaek Republicans for one cause and auoth- |
err For the first time in the history of ma
tional assemblages of black men a conven-
ton OF editors at indianapolis the other |
DAY voted down by an overwhelming ma
]ority a resolution that virtually sought |
to pledge the support of the colored ed |
itors to Mr. Mckinley. With the possible |
of Booker T. Washington. OF Ala
bama. Bishop Turner is the ablest and |
most influential negro in America He is |
the recognized spokesman Of a religious /
organization which has a membership in
the Middle West alone of nearly one mil
lion. On the usual basis Of reckoning this
church membership represents a voting
strength of fully 800 900 in the region
designated. 1t is not doubted that when
8ishop Turner takes the stump for Mr.
Bryan in the Middle West his Influence
viii be felt In Ohio, Illinois and Indiana
he negro voters hold the balance of mower
Bishop Turner will not only speak in these
states for the Democratic ticket but he
Viii also deliver a series OF addresses in
Michigan, Minnesota. and West Virginia
Bishops Grant and Derrick viii also sneak
n each of these States. 1t is confidently
expected that their powerful appeals to the
'olored voters will have a telling effect at
he polls in November.
Is Tiifmnn ia Danger :-PoIitira1 cor-
iitions in South Caroline always hav,
been beyond this ken OF the average citi-
zen. but the present situation in that
State, as revealed ty tns results of the
ecent primary ele.i -rIs, is pulling even
o many OF the people who have professed
o understand Palmetto State politics For
Example. there was no candidate in the
led against Senator Tillmdn, whose term
expires with tn 5 Congress. and still the
senator was scratched by 81 600 of the
4, 900 Democrats who participated in the
He has been in lively row
With the Baptist and Methodist preachers |
,yer his dispensaTy law, and a few days
lefOre the primaries were held he told |
verybody who didn't endorse him and his
ispensary law to scratch him at the polls |
[ Is contended by his opponents that il | &
hey had brought out a candidate against |
lin they could have defeated him in tha |
Timaries. No direct night was made |
gainst his reelection in the canvass, and
ct more than one-third of the total vote