Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-04
Discordant Elements Manifest Them
selves at Kansas City.
HILLS INFLUENCE BEING FELT
Bryan's Friends Feel They Have
Been Made Dupes.
THE VICE PRESIDENCY

Special From a STAFF CORRESPONDENT.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-. July 4-It is evil
dent that there is to :Ebe some disappoint-
ment in the anticipated love feast at which
the political prodigals were to be the honor
ed guests. The policies of the situation
here is complex. TO eay the least. The
contest preliminary p the convention is
complicated In almost tnconceivable ways.
and the objects of7thS convention are seen
through cloud OF coAfusion.
1t is hard to distinguish between noise
and enthusiasm; BETWEEN sincerity and pre-
tense; between the real and the unreal.
There is very graEe suspicion that the
alleged penitents petitioning for re-estab-
lishment in the Conscience OF the demo-
cratic party have been what is called in
vulgar street pariance playing horse with
the convention. Hflt and Croker, each ac-
cording to his own peculiar way, have been
treating the assembled clans of democrats
as If they were lot Of countrymen ready
to buy a gold brick Tor blow out the gas.
With hypocritical pretense Of great es-
teem they have been patronizing the Bryan
people. catoling and trifing with them, and
at the last minutefars treating them with
contempt.
verges ON tie RidIcuIous.
The grave and guifeless believers in JEFF
ASiSoh SllHpliClly nave peSh SoptAFatSu al
sufficient numbers5to throw the situation
into such states of confusion as to be
almost ridiculous. The men who have seen
through the game have until now been in
such a hopeless minority that they have
not been able to prevent the thing from
running Its course. Apparently the object
OF Mr.. Hill has been 10 cajole the conven-
ton into accepting his views or, falling in
this, to treat with contempt and make it
ridiculous. The only really sincere thing
connected with the New York ccntingen- Il.
excep. Sulzer. who kask s!s own candi-
tween Hill and Croker, end the Bryan peo-
pie may get some comfort out of this.
The real thing in the.ssituation has from
the first been 4 fight against Bryan. and
very few, except Bryan himself, who looked
from afar off, were ahlelt to see 1t until mat
tiers got into general mix up. Now they
are engaged in an heroic effort to get the
situation Strengthened out Both Hill and
their game. and 1t looks as If Croker's pro-
fessions of friendship for Bryan. and ac-
qu1escence in the platform were inspired
chiefly by antagonism toward Hill. The
naming of Van Wyck. with the ice trust
association, as the New York member Of
the resolutions committee and the indorsc-
ment Of Keller for Vice President are con-
strued as anything but manifestations of
interest Ia the welfare Of the party. His
alliance with the Bryan people IS. looked
upon now as relating more to New York
politics than anything else, and has per-
haps, no other sincerity than that found --l
| his desire to down Hill. AS far as 1t lies
| In their power the convention is being used
| by the two rival leaders to promote their
own local interest without much regard for
the national ticket The more they fight
with each other theFnore confused becomes
the situation for the convention. and The
| more it threatens TO 3eopard.ze the success
| Of the ticket when psIt In the neld.
vigoroes Etahtaea arya..
Tho agtlt against Efyaa In the matter Of