Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-27
Comment Oh His Utterances at Lin
coin Last Night.
JOHN ". EEREs POSITION DEFINED
In Line Of Succession for Presi-
dental Nomination.
81, 80
POS SIBLE CONTINGENCIES

The speeches of Mr. Bryan and Mr. Kern
at the Jefferson Club banquet at Lincoln.
Neb.. last night have excited much COM
ment. The speech Of John w. Kern is
garded as that Of man who is ambitious
for leadership and 1t is suggested that he
was trying Mr.. Bryans shoes. Kern
was the democratic candidate for governor
OF Indiana last fall, and ran little ahead
OF Mr.. Bryan in that state, though, like
Bryan, he was defeated. 1t is said that in
w he was not altogether satisfied with the
attitude assumed by his party, and the be-
lief was expressed by some in discussing
him today that he had not supported Bryan
at that time. His speech last night seems
to exclude that belief, however. and to
place him among the foremost Of Bryan's
admirers. There is little doubt in the minds
of those who have read the newspaper ex-
tracts of the speech that Mr.. Kern regards
himself as a possible successor to Bryan in
1904 and the opinion Is expressed that he
mas placed himself in the running. His as
ISOLATION with Mr. Bryan on this occasion
carries out the idea.
His Future Candidacy.
While some democrats expected Mr..
Bryan to make more explicit declaration
as TO his own attitude. the men who are
closest to him and better understand his
sentiments with reference to his own can
didacy do not interpret the reserve on this
point as indicating desire to appear again
as candidate In 1904. The statement has
been repeatedly made by Mr.. Bryan's
friends that while events might So shape
themselves as to force him again into that
position. he would not be candidate I'M
less that were 80. Mr.. Bryan's statement
In his speech last night that whether he
would ever be candidate for office again
was question that must be determined by
circumstances, accords with this view of
md n onlo roti Inn ipn ltf1i
what he said of his editorial ambition, is
interpreted as sufficient notice to those
close to him that they are not expected to
work to make him a candidate. While not
declaring that under no circumstances
would he again accept the nomination, as
some democrats hoped he would do, his
speech Will be interpreted to mean that
his friends are free to work for other can
didates.
1t Is said that there are two conditions
under which he might again become a can
didate. One Is a political reaction which
resulted In an unmistakabe popular de-
mand for the reversal of existing condi-
lions: the other is a situation where his
candidacy alone could save the party from
being dominated by what may be termed
the Cleveland element. 1t is believed that
Mr.. Bryan wants most Of all to maintain
position where he can hold the party to the
principles of the Kansas City platform and
secure the nomination Of a man who would
if elected stand by those principles. In
other words. he will want to remain strong
enough to write the platform and name the
sort Of man who should be selected
candidate.
His Possible Successor.
With this View of Mr.. Bryans attitude
additional interest attaches to the associa-
ton of himself and Mr. Kern at the Jeffer-
son banquet, the one delivering what might
be termed a valedictory and the other a
salutatory.
Mr.. Kern has shown himself to be very
adroit in expressing in his speech the ideas
which just now seem to be uppermost in
the minds Of democrats in public life with
reference to the future course Of the party.
He placed himself squarely in line with
Mr.. Bryan, without neglecting those demo-
CT ats who supported the ticket in 1900.
though they did not like the reiteration of
the money plank, and spoke hopefully OF
striving to find common grounds upon
which all democrats could stand, yet gave
Mr.. Cleveland and others who refused to
support Bryan, but who now giving
their advice as to the rehabilitation Of the
party. a hard slap in the face as an evil
dence of good faith toward Bryan democ-
racy. This, accompanied with glowing
tribute to Mr.. Bryan. Is In line with wha.
thought.
The opinion is very generally expressed
that Kern must be counted on as candi-
date. and it is inferred that Bryan Is not
hostile to him.