The San Francisco call., 1903-09-08
THE DEMOCRATIC WRECK.

WHEN the Democrats OF Iowa threw the
Nv Kansas City platform aside and turned
Bryan's picture the wall the reorganizers
were hiled with JOY. They believed the West had
come to join hands with the East and that the
Nebraska man would no longer be able to disturb
the growing harmony OF the camp
There were good reasons for the JOY OF the con-
servatives. For a long time the work of reorganza-
ton had been going on and report after report gave
encouragement to those who expected big results.
The South ceased TO talk OF Bryan while the names
OF Parker and German grew as familiar in the
mouth as household words The action OF the Iowa
convention appeared to be the natural climax OF a
movement which had been steadily increasing in
strength and spreading over the country. Under
such circumstances it was not strange that Henry
Watterson declared Bryan would not have cor
pOraIs guard at his back in the next national con
Of the party and that he would bolt. So too
it was natural the Populsts OF Nebraska should have
similar views Of the prospects ahead and speak with
assurance OF the coming bolt OF the Bryanite clans
The whole situation has been changed by the Dem
ocratic convention in Ohio. In that strong and
important State the Bryanites under the lead OF Tom
Johnson have captured the party machine and made
It all their own. They drew up the platform and
nominated the ticket They viii name the delegates
from the State TO the Presidential convention, and
when the struggle between the rival factions comes
Ohio will be the Bryan side
The large population OF the State and its COM
mandng position between the Atlantic States and
those Of the Mississippi Valley as well as the posi-
bity that it may be doubtful State in the Presi-
dental contest give a high degree of importance to
the position it takes in the Bryan column. 1t as
sures that the Nebraska leader will not 90 to the
convention with only the corporaTs guard" of which
Waffereon r7ocleino1v will have
delegations from strong States.
The Washington correspondent of the Baltimore
Herald in reviewing the situation as it appears to
politicians in the capital says that while the conser-
vatives have been going about with dark lantern
looking for a Presidential candidate the Bryanites
have been working for control Of State conventions
and the party machine He adds: "As it stands the
Bryan wing viii be strongly represented from a
number Of States sending large delegations to the
national convention Ohio has been committed. for
not only was the Kansas City platform reafirmed
with practical unanimity, but William J. Bryan him
self is TO be formally invited stump the State this
fall Missouri will in all probability be for the Bryan
ideas; Nebraska is committed; Illinois, if Carter
Harrison has his way, viii fall into line; Texas will
be for Bryan and the entire South with the possible
exception Of Georgia and Alabama, is regarded as
being for the Nebraskan's principles"
1t is not expected that Bryan will be again the
nominee Of the party or even a candidate for the
nomination, but a fear IS felt among the reorgan-
izers that he will be able to frame the platform and
dictate the head Of the ticket That would OF course
be as bad the denomination of Bryan himself and
as consequence the johnson victory in Ohio is fill
ing the conservatives with alarm. Some of them
appear to be already making preparations to bolt.
For the moment, at any rate, the Bryanites have
the laugh on their side It is time for Bryan
TO meet Wattersons taunt by saying that the gold
faction leaders viii go to the convention with "cor
porals guard" behind them and then bolt