The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-30
MANTLE OF BRYAN.
Upon Whom Shall Fall the Dis
carded Garments

Washington, April 30-William Jen-
nings Bryan's announcement in ST.
Louis the other day that under no con
ditions would he again be the Demo
cratic candidate for president did not
surprise his party leaders in congress.
They were prepared for this announce
ment fully a week before it was made.
Colonel r. M. Johnston, editor of the
Houston Post and the Texas member of
the Democratic national committee,
came to Washington two weeks ago,
and after carefully sounding Democrats
here from all 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 stan
dard bearer Colonel Johnston is known
to be close personal and political
friend of the Nebraskan, and presum-
ably would support him with Old-time
enthusiasm shCdld Mr.. Bryan express a
wish to lead the Democracy for the
third time, but when he had been in
Washington a few days he declared that
he was authorized to announce the free
silver advocates wish not to enter the
race in 1904. Whether, if he had found
a stronger Bryan feeling in the national
capital the Texan would have declared
the Nebraskan out of the race is not
known, though it is commented upon as
significant that not until he had thor
ough1y canvassed Democratic sentiment
mere Q1Q ne see TO STATE lUal ne was
prepared upon his own knowledge to
state that Mr.. Bryan now was content
for somebody else to lead the Democratic
hosts in the next campaign.
Colonel Johnston says that as long
ago as last October Mr. Bryan told him,
while on a visit to Texas. that he was
out of the race, and that in due time he
would let this fact be known, though
why so good neWspap 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 can not
be accounted for by any other theory
than that he suspected or hoped that
conditions" might change the Nebras-
kan's mind. Certain it is, however, that
Mr.. Bryan now knows, through his
friend, Colonel Johnston, if he did not
before, that the game is fixed against
him at least for 1904, and it is not
doubted here by persons conversant
with the circumstances that it was upon
the advice of the Texas national COM
rnitteeman that Mr.. Bryan made the an
nouncement at St Louis of his with
draWal from the contest for the nominal
ton in 1904
Naturally the Bryan announcement
was received with a great deal of graft
hcation by the Democratic leaders in
Washington. from German. of Mary
land, down through the list to Bailey of
Texas. While the latter has declared
himself for the former for the nomina-
ton two years hence it is known that
he did this more for the purpose of
letting his Texas followers know that
he was 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 inter
fere with the plans of his boomers by
finally declaring himself for German.
1t is believed that Mr.. Bailey now will
encourage his own presidential boom;
with the two-fold purpose of increasing
his prestige in the senate and of con-
trolling outright the Texas delegation to
the next Democratic convention. This
would serve to aid him considerably i'll
party in the senate and at the same
time would enable him to be a dominant
factor in determining the next Demo-
cratic nominee for president
Mr. Bailey makes weekly trips to New
York and there confers with the Demo-
cratic state and city leaders. This week
be was Joined in New York by Col.
Johnston, 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 cam paign for him as against
Hill or any other New Yorker Indeed
Col. Johnston let it be known while
here that he favored Judge Parker over
every other New Yorker mentioned for
the nomination It is not known wheth-
er or not on his return to Texas he viii
start 9 campaign there for Parker as
this might too seriously interfere with
Senator Bailey's well laid scheme. but
it is thought that he viii make a full
report of his observations in Washing
ton and New York to Mr.. Bryan, with
the view of existing the Nebraskan in
the quiet movement for Judge Parker