Evening star., 1901-05-07
The Next Democratic Convention.

This from a Lincoln dispatch to the New
York Sun is interesting in itself and for
the suggestion it contains:
Men who are very close to Mr.. Bryan
say that If 1t is necessary Nebraska will
send Mr.. Bryan as delegate to the next
national convention to make the fight upon
Its floor and in committee that will be pre-
Ciptated if the reOrganiZers gain control
through the preliminary maneuverings in
the state conventions. Mr.. Bryan has no
respect at all for tradition. and he will not
hesitate to break the one which requires
ex-candidates to stand upon their dignity
and remain apart from their fellows. His
friends are not willing to admit that the
reorganizers can defeat him. not only be-
cause of the grip he has upon the OrganiZa-
tion III the south and west, but also be-
cause they cannot conceive of the party g
admitting its mistakes in the last two
campaigns.
If necessary to save his platform of
principles from rejection. why should not
Mr.. Bryan attend the next democratic ma
tionai convention q delegate and do bat
tie for his own on the floor? There Is no
man who in that cause could put up go
interesting or so effective a fight in that
arena. He has declared that his personal
ambition is entirely subordinate to his in
terest in the principles he processes. and
that those principles are menaced by men
is known of all. The convention hall. there
fore, would appear To be the proper place
for him when the time comes. The columns
of the Commoner are well enough in their
way, but one rousing speech by him, en-
forced with his smile. would be worth more
to his platform in the hour of peril than
twenty issues of his paper.
And if Mr.. Bryan should decide to attend
as a delegate and take charge in person Of
I his side of the controversy, why would 1t
not be in order for the other side to be
represented by its leading champions? Mr.
Cleveland would add greatly to the impor-
tance of the New Jersey delegation. And
how would Mr. Hill Mr.. Whitney. Mr.. Car
Isle and Mr.. Croker do for the four dele
gates at large from New York? From
Massachusetts why shonld not Mr.. Olney
attend? Maryland was lost at Kansas City
last year and all because of the absence
of Mr.. German. He ought to head the
states delegation next time by all means,
Ohio may probably be depended upon to
send both Mr.. Mclean and Tom Johnson.
| Carter Harrison may try to keep Mr.. Alt
geld away, but that ought not to succeed.
Mr.. Altgeld may not be the safest Of ad-
vsers. but he is man of brains, and he
| adds to the interest of every occasion he
I 1dS OrS with MS presence ana so
The way therefore to make the next dem
ocratic national convention a notable body
Will be TO send the most notable men in
the party Delegates to it. They ought
TO be drafted if necessary and forced to 60
| The division in tn" party is over most i'm
portant questions, and it cannot be healed
with any hope of success at the polls fol-
lowing, unless the brains. the pluck and the
character OF the party meet in an intellec-
tual grapple for supremacy. And by the
gathering of the men Of greatest conse-
quence in the party, instead of lightweight
lieutcnants sent to represent them. the con-
yention would probably discharge it's duty
with both intelligence and dignity, and not
degenerate into bowling mob of prone
naders. cake walking and waving banners
| against time with the chairman holding
watch in an effort To determine the prob
able nominee by the exhibition of the lung
power of the supporters of the different
candidates.