New-York tribune., 1902-04-28
PARKER FOR PRESIDENT.
BRYAN MAY BE ENLISTED IN SUPPORT
OF COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE.
,gEHAToR BAILEY AND COLONEL JOHNSON,
OF TEXAS BELIEVED TO BE BACKING
HIM FOR THE NOMINATION.
lay rE1EGRApH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]

Washington, April 2i.-Niiliam jennings
Bryan's announcement in St Louis the otler
day that under no conditions would he again be
-he Democratic candidate for President did not
surprise his party leaders in Congress. They
were prepared for this announcement fully
week before it was made Colonel p NJ John-
son editor Of The Houston Post and the
Texas member Of the Democratic National COM
,nittee came TO Washington two weeks ago, and,
after carefully sounding Democrats here from
alI parts Of the country on the subject OF the
Presidential candidate in 1904, said that he
knew Mr. Bryan did not desire again to be his
party's standard bearer. Colonel Johnson is
known TO be a close personal and political
friend of the Nebraskan and presumab bly, would
support him with old time enthusiasm should
Mr. Bryan express wish TO lead the Democracy
for the third time but when he had been in
Washington few days he declared that ne was
authorized to announce the free silver advo-
Gates wish to enter the race in 1go4-
Whether. if he had found stronger Bryan feel
ing in The national capital. the Texan would
have declared the Nebraskan out Of the race Is
not known. though il is commented upon as
significant that not until he had thoroughly can
vassed Democratic sentiment here did he see N
TO state that he was prepared upon his own
knowledge to say that Mr.. Bryan now was con-
tent for somebody else to lead the Democratic
hosts in the next campaign.
October Mr. Bryan told him, while on a visit
10 Texas. that he was out Of the race, and that
in due time he would let this fact be known.
though why good newspaper man as the
Texas editor is known to be should have kept
this important piece Of news out of his paper
for so long a time cannot be accounted for on
any other theory than that he suspected or
hoped that conditions" might change the Ne
hraskan's mind. Certain it is. however, that
kroH his friend Colo
mel Johnson if he did not before. that the game
is fixed against him at least for 1904. and it is
mot doubted here by persons conversant with
the circumstances that il was upon the ADVICE
of the Texas National Committeeman that Mr.
Bryan made the announcement at st. Louis OF
his withdrawal from the contest for the nonlina-
tion in 1904
GRATIFICATIoN OVER WITHDRAWAL.
Naturally, the Bryan announcement was re-
-cedvsd with a great deal of qualification by the
Democratic leaders in Washington, from Cor
man, of Maryland, down through the list to
Bailey of Texas While the latter has declared
himself for the former for the nomination two
wears hence it is known that he did this more
for the purpose Of letting his Texas followers
know that he against Bryan than that he
was for German. Mr.. Bailey, be it known, has
a pretty big Presidential boom Of his own on
hand and now that Bryan is out Of the way
he may decide not TO interfere with the plans
of his boomers by finally declaring himself for
Corman.
The fact seems 10 be that German is not
nearly So strong with any element Of his party
rs he was before he left the Senate five years
pgo and that when he returns TO that body next
March he will discover that he cannot even re
gain the leadership there. as number of young
and ambitious men are row struggling for that
rrize chief among whom are Mir. Bailey and Mr..
carrnack Of Tennessee. Since Bryan's declna-
tion il is believed that Mr.. Bailey now viii en-
courage his own Presidential boom with the two
fold purpose OF increasing his prestige in the
Senate and of controlling outright the Texas
delegation 10 the next Democratic National Con-
vantton This would TO aid him consid-
crafty in his ambition TO become the leader OF
his party in the Senate and at the same time
would enable him to be dominant factor in Ge-
ter1ninng the next Democratic nominee Tor
President. Mr. Bailey makes weekly trips 10
New-York and there confers with the Demo
cratic State and city leaders. This week he was
1oired in New-York by Colonel Johnson, and
there is excellent reason to believe that the two
Texans. while in the metropolis. encouraged the
friends of Chief Judge Alton B. Parker, Of the
New-York Court of Appeals, TO keep up their
quiet campaign for him as against Hill or any
other New-Yorker- Indeed, Colonel Johnson let
it be kncwn while here that he favored Judge
Parker over every other New-Gorker mentioned
for the nomination Il is not known Whether or
not his return TO Texas he will start q cam
paign there for Parker as this might too seri
.,usly interfere with Senator Beiley's we'll laid
scheme, but 1t is thought that he viii make
full report Of his observations IN Washington
and New-York 10 Mr.. Bryan, with the view or
eniistng the Nebraskan in the quiet movement
for Judge Parker.
MAKING a PLATFORM FOR DR. PARKER
Meantime 1t is expected that Senator Bailey
-xffl conclude to participate in the debate on the
civil government bin for the Philippines, now
1n progress. and try to set new policy for his
Nl7rac for a
Democrats seem to have no fixed or we'll defined
policy on that question, their only course being
one OF vttuperation and abuse Of the conduct OF
affairs in the Philippines by the adninistra-
zion Two Of their best speakers already have
delivered pretenticus speeches against the Lodge
bil-pretentious. at least, in the sense OF being
long and full. of sensational invectfve, MI. Raw
rns of Utah who led of for the Democrats,
rested his case on the statement that General
Chaffee was villain. ana MT SarfiigGk, n7,,' OF
Tennessee who also is a member OF the Philip
pine Committee, scaled the heights Of Demo
cratic eloquence in inveighng against what he
denomnated the bloodthirsty doctrine OF the
strenuous life" Neither Of thenn-nor. in fact
has any member OF the oppositon-suggested
constructive Philippine policy. They don't even
say that this government should withdraw from
che islands and leave the Ffipinos TO them
selves although Senator Money, Of mississippi,
dfd declare IN speech against the phl1Pp,ne ae
Tarifr bill that "the United States should ger
out OF the Islands and let the Fiipinos go to the
devil" But the Mississlppian's uttersnce has
been repudiated by his colleagues IA the Sen
ate who do not however. suggest a programme
one 1.-THE as definite Moneys. IT, therefore.
Mr Bailey succeeds In developing for his party
before the present debate closes q clear and con-
etructive Philippine policy he necessarily Will
strengthen himself IN the Senate and country,
and, IN view OF MS frequent conferences with
Judge P4rkerg friends in New-York IL is sup
r,oeed that when he speaks upon the question he
will give voice to the Philippine plank which
Judge Parker would Ike TO see inserted In the
Democratic national platform. upon which. If is
hoped by his Texas boomers, 20 run him for
President in 1904