New-York tribune., 1901-04-04
BRYAN SHARPLY REBUKED
RESULTS OF RECENT MUNICIPAL ELEC-
TIONS REGARDED AS FORESHADOW-
ING A CHANGE OF DEMOCRATIC
LEADERSHIP
LEADERSHIP.
[BY rELEGRAPH no rHE rn1nr-sE.l

Washington, April 3.-Political experts In
Washington regard the results of this weeks
municipal contests in various parts of the coun-
try as interesting in that they plainly fore
shadow change OF Democratic leadership and
modification Of Democratic principles and poll
cies. The consensus Of opinion is that his party
voters have administered such a severe rebuke
10 Bryan as under skiIful manipulation be
converted into outright reputation Of the
Nebraskan 1t is regarded as significant that in
Chicago. st. Louis and Cleveland the success
full candidates for Mayor either were openly
opposed by Bryan were we'll known as not
being acceptable to him. Carter Harrison in
Chicago. was fought vciously by Altgeld and
other local leaders of Bryan's old guard. In ST.
Louis the Democratic nominee Rolla Wells.
was opposed by Bryan in person. Tom L. John
although advocating a number of the va
garies which constitute Bryan's principal stock
in trade, has never been an enthusiastic wor-
shipper Of The Peerless" and therefore John
sons candidacy for Mayor was not hailed with
peans Of praise by the Editor of THE Com
moner."
THE RESULT IN ST. LOUIS
The election OF Wells in st. Louis is regarded
as the severest blow that has ever been delivered
TO Bryan. for reasons whose Importance becomes
apparent by bare recital of scme OF the more
salient features OF the contest Wells not only
pudiated the whole Bryan movement by voting
and working against every Democratic ticket.
He cast his ballot for the Republicans in that
year and again in 1900 and has been con-
spicuous in the councils OF the Sound Money
Democrats. His political sponsor is David r.
Francis, who went from the Governorship Of
Missouri into Mr. Cleveland's last Cabinet as
Secretary OF the Interior. The Francis element
in Missouri will again get control Of the Demo-
huence which Mayor Wells can exert in elect
fng delegations from St Louis 10 the State Con-
vention. In point OF fact. the present Governor
of Missouri ex-Congressman Dockery. is also
what is known in Missouri a Francis man.
which means that his sympathies with the
faction hostile TO the Bryan crowd in the State
which is headed by Ex-Governor William J.
Stone. vice-chairman of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee. 10 whom the Eastern man.
agement Of the last Bryan campaign was in
trusted. Taking his cue from Bryan, Stone, who
is a resident OF st. Louis, refused 10 support
Wells in the mayoralty fight. and quietly gave
his influence TO the candidacy OF a man named
Meriwether, who ran an Independent can
didate, but with the genuine trademark of Bry-
anism imprinted his candidacy. Stone is a
candidate TO succeed the veteran George Graham
Vest in the Senate In 1903 Vest has declined to
run again. The legislature that will choose his
successor viii be elected next year. It is
pected that the anti-Bryanites Will make Stone
their first object OF attack. and in the fight the
Democrats VIII either elect a legislature hostile
10 Stone and favorable 10 Francis or lose the
legislature and thus make the election OF a
Republican Senator from Missouri certain In
either event II is considered here as highly prob
able that with the Governor of the State and
the Mayor OF ST. Louis both uncompromisingly
antagonistic TO Bryan the Missouri Democracy
viii soon be sufficiently reorganized and en-
boldened 10 lead off in the movement to reform
the party lines OF battle without regard TO the
interests wishes Of Bryan.
Young Carter Harrison, who has just been
reelected Mayor Of Chicago. VIII continue to be
the boss Of the Democratic organization IN Illi-
nois, and can be depended on to use his power
10 promote any scheme for the reorganization
and rejuvenation OF the distracted and leader
less National Democracy. The Bryanites always
have suspected Harrison of being tinctured with
modern ideas of finance and Of otherwise being
untrue" TO the Peerless" Now that Harrison
is in complete control OF the party machinery in
Illinois. the Bryan people viii not look for sup
port Of their principles their candidates in
the internecine strifes OF the future.
HAILING TOM l. JOHNSON AS A MOSES.
Ohio Democrats IN Washington. with the ex-
oeption Of John r. Mclean, already are pro-
claiming Tom L. Johnson their Moses, and with
true Democratic optimism predicting a
future for him that stops only at the Presi-
dency. They say that he has the money. the
brains" the energy and the ambition that ex-
actly fl him to be the party boss in Ohio. and,
as they are always looking for boss. IL is not
difficult TO understand with what ease he can run
the machine IN the Buckeye State to his own
liking. Wherefore Tom L. Johnson enters the
Democratic arena as a full fedged national
figure and Presidential possibility provided. Of
course he does all the great and wonderful
things that are being marked cut for him by
the hungry but always hopeful Democrats
Chief among these is that he must elect himself
Governor OF Ohio next fall and also beat the
Republicans out OF the legislature. and thus de-
feat Senator Foraker. 1t is considered by every
body, even the Democrats, that both OF these
undertakings are practically impossible but par
ucularly so is the defeat Of Senator Foraker.
AeVcrtheless, there are Democrats In Washlhg-
ton who say that even if Johnson does fail TO
accomplish the work cut out for him in Ohio ne
VIII be a most formidable candidate for the
Presidential nomination anyhow and that WIN a
his great wealth 10 finance the campaign and
his popularity with that element or lnueter-
inmate voters represented by Golden Rule
Jones and Eugene V. Debs. he will make great
race. Another element Of strength claimed for
him is that he was born In Kentucky. and there
fore he could depend on the support Of the
solid South
FUTURE OF GORMAN AND HILL.
In the mean time the supporters of Arthur p
German and David b. Hill are not sleeping. If
Gorman's present game Of Acknowledgement OF
negroes brings Maryland back into the Demo-
cratic column and lands him again in the Senate
he viii be a Democratic possibility of no mean
size II however, he loses at his present game
he will completely drop out of sight. TINS would