The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-27
BRYAN MEN TO OPPOSE
SELECTING NEW YORK
Free Silver Democrats Want Ma
tiOnal Convention Held in
West Next Year.
CRISIS IN THE. PARTY

WASHINGTON. D. c, Dec. 26.-If the
Democratic national convention of 1904 is
not held in New York city it will be due
to the secret and ill-adyised efforts of the
Bryan or radical element in the Democrat
ic party.
The wide discussion over the proposition
OF having the convention held in New York
has brought out clearly the fact that
very large percentage of the Democracy
desires to have the national ticket nomi-
mated in New York city, not only because
it would have n strong effect in insuring
the electoral vote of New York State to
the Democracy. but because it would be
notice to the world that the internal strife
between Eastern and Western Democrats
had ended
Mr.. Bryan and his friends do not want
the convention held in New York. Demo-
Gratis who have been fighting under Mr..
Bryan's banner for eight years have. been
industriously at work in Washington sneer-
ing at New York. They say if the conven-
tiOn were held in New York the ticket
would be labeled "a Wall-street ticket"
They assert that they do not want the
friendship Of Wall street, and that if the
convention were held in New York it would
convince Democrats, especially in the West,
that Messrs. Morgan and Rockefeller were
dominating the party
These are the things the Bryan followers
are saying for public consumption. The
real reason why this element opposes New
York as the convention city is that they
feel their grip on the party would slip away
, II the convention went to the East. Mr..
Bryan's hold on the party has been greatly
shaken and the real test between the rad
zeal and conservative elements will come
over the selection of place. IL New York
/ IS chosen, politicians say, ii will mean that
the Democrats of the country have decided
to get together. II the convention should
go TO Chicago or some other Western city,
it would mean that MIR. Bryan's influence is
still paramount and that the policy of rule
or ruin is 10 be continued.
Democrats are beginning to feel very
deeply about this crisis which the party
is approaching. Very many of Mr.. Bryan s
former political friends are frankly saying
1t is high time TO have a new deal and they
are going to use all their influence to con-
vince the Democratic national committee,
when it meets in Washington on Jan. r..
that New York is pre-eminently the place
for the convention.
one of the most important Democrats of
the Southwest, in discussing this matter
to-day, said:
I'm my opinion the next presidential cam
paign will be settled in favor if New
York is the convention city. l absolutely
believe that the effect of holding the con-
VentiOn in New York would be the aSsur-
ance of the thirty-nine electoral votes of
that State for the candidate. New York is
the pivotal State In the Union. The effect
of holding the convention in that city
would be not only to encourage the party
in the East, but throughout the country.
1t would be notice to the world that the
party has returned 10 sane lines and in
tends to make n hard fight TO redeem the
country. 1t would put new heart in the
hundreds of thousands of voters who were
driven away from the organization eight
| years ago and who are waiting an oppor-
| tunity TO come back. 1t SENS to me that
| this common sense argument is too strong
| TO be easily brushed aside"