Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-10
Mr.. BRYAN'S FUTURE
Will Probably Be Settled at a Banquet
in Omaha.
IT TAKES PLACE DECEMBER "a
Plain Talk Expected From the
Nebraskan's Enemies.
MR.. MORTON'S VIEW S


Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
OMAHA. Neb., December s. 1900.
The indications now are that the final
chapter in the varied political history of
William Jennings Bryan will be written the
evening of Dece rher p in Lincoln. when n
number of democrats and populists who
have affiliated with the fusion forces dur
Ing the past eight years Will meet around
the banquet table to hear the opinion OF
their fallen leader on the future Of the com
b!nation that has so long honored him and
to compare notes on the situation. This
gathering will not be in itself a matter OF
very much general moment, because the
result is assured in advance, but to the man
who for eight years has absolutely domi-
mated the democratic and populst parties
the Jeffersonian Club banquet of December
"a will be of vital Importance. The warm
est friends of Mr.. Bryan do not believe that
he will deliberately consent to play minor
part in the political organization which he
has SO long managed to suit his merest
Whlm. 1t now seems certain that the
democratic party will be reorganiZed so as
to practically eliminete Mr.. Bryan
leader.
The banquet will assume national impor-
lance because some 800 men prominent in
the fusion ranks from all parts OF the
United States Will participate. The meet
ing is, in all human probability, very likely
to be stormy affair, instead of the love
feast and consolation party which some OF
Mr.. Bryan's partisans have minated
While great many Of the prominent poll
ticians who will be present will say moth
ing to provoke discord and others will prob
ably agree with Mr.. Bryan and express con-
fidence in his future leadership Of the party,
it Is no secret that others are coming to
the banquet with full determination to ar
raign Mr.. Bryan and demand his with
draWal.
Plates for 800 Guests.
Plates will be laid for 500. Three hun
dred of these will be for persons outside
of Nebraska, while the balance will be de-
voted to the politicians Of this state. The
program is elaborate one. Bryan will
deliver the address of the evening. His
subject will be: The Future of the Demo-
cratic Party" Richard Metcalfe of Omaha,
Bryan's bosom friend and the man Bryan
intrusted to carry his ultimatum to the
resolutions committee of the national con-
vention, will speak on The Press Jones
Regeneration of the American People"
Representative Sulzer Of New York will
discuss the Ethics of American Politics.
There is some curiosity as we'll as fear
among the close friends of Bryan concern
ing the utterances of Sulzer He was in
vited to deliver an address on this occa-
sion, and replied that If he was present
he would have to be left full liberty as to
the committee before it leaked out that the
brilliant New Yorker would probably
raign Mr.. Bryan severely and boldly as
sert that the inordinate ambition and ego
tism of the Nebraska silver leader had
driven the party to the very verge of ruin
and unless snatched from his control its
'end was certain and dire. But Sulzer will
be present and his speech is creating as
much curiosity the promised Etterances
OF Bryan himself.
Senator Towne is another prominent man
whose speech December "a is likely to be
full of bitter things far as Mr.. Bryan
is concerned. though breathing loyalty to
the party and faith in its future. provided
a leader is selected. 1t is said that
Towne is not only anxious to be given an
opportunity to even up things with Bryan
because Bryan did not support his nominal
ton at Kansas City, but that Towne's
friends from all parts of the country have
demanded that he take this opportunity to
tell the country at large what he thinks
of Bryan and his schemes.
Ex-Governor Stone Against Bryan.
Ex-Governor Stone Of Missouri is another
man who will attend the banquet to the
terror Of the element that still think Mr..
Bryan Is defined to lead the party in at
least one more national contest. Stone has
already spoken openly of his hostility to
Bryan as a leader of further battles. 1t
was Stone who talked very plainly to Bryan
just begore the national convention and
caused him to hesitate for several days in
his determination to force the convention
to reiterate the Chicago silver plank Stone
then told Bryan he was forcing the party to
ruin, and that if he persisted nothing re-
manned but defeat and reorganization after
1909. Stone has not yet indicated that he
would speak at the banquet. but he has &C
cepted an invitation to be present. with the
promise that he will take under considera-
ticn the question of a speech. Stone was
not wanted at the banquet by that wing of
the party controlling the affair, but Bryan
observed that it was important that many
prominent leaders from every state be in
vited, even though some of them were hos
tile to his future leadership, to give the
appearance of national participation in the
banquet; that if it appeared on its face that
the banqueters included merely those lead
ers of the party friendly to him the effect
nationality would be just the reverse of
what he desires.
Mr. BRYAN hopes to conciliate that section
of the party which has fallen away from
him since his last terrible defeat by very
plausible speech. He will take the position
las he has himself put iD las General Bo-
naparte did after the hundred days reign;
they may depose me as the chief OF the en-
pire but they can never take from me my
ranks and fight With this air of sinceri-
ty Mr. Bryan is said to harbor the idea that
a feeling will be created among demo-
cratic leaders that will permit him to re-
main nOmlnally at tile Hedu u tHe PdAty
even though he is not permitted to domi-
nate the deliberations of party conventions
as of old
This is Mr.. Rryan's idea to avoid dis
tinct specific reorganizati ton of the party,
such as has been declared necessa " by |
many leaders all over the country, who for |
merly regarded Bryan as invincible and his |
views absolutely correct. At the same time. |
those who know Bryan know to a certainty |
that this situation cannot obtain. Bryan |
will no, take a back seat for any democrat |
in the party. That is certain. Therefore 1t |
Is clear that no matter what occurs at the |
approaching banquet Bryan's course is al |
ready marked out and his determination to |
follow his absorbing idea is unchanged.
Sterling MOrton's Views.
J. Sterling Morton, to whom many promi- |
uent democrats in Nebraska look for a re- |
organization, says of Bryan and his future: |