Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-03
BRYAN'S FRIENDS ORGANIZE
Lay Their Plans TO Control What Is Left Of
Democratic Party in Iowa,
VAN WAGENEN ToUTED FOR GOVERNOR
Acceptable to All Factions and VIII
Not he Particular About Platform
~ Allowed 20 Personally Adj
vocnte what He lease
VAN WAeENEN ToUTED FOR GOVERNOR
lrrom a Sad corresnondent.l

From a STAN Correspondent)
DIES MONIES. April 2.-(special)-Jef-
ferson day was celebrated here today In
auspicious manner. Liberal arrangements
hado been made in advance for a confer
ence and a banquet, and both were in every
way successful. There we're nearly 200 OF
the democrats who believe in the Kansas
City platform who were present at the con-
ference held in the afternoon and there
were 300 at the banquet in the evening.
Those prominent in the meetings were w.
j. Bryan, Adlai Stevenson, General James
B.. Weaver and Judge Van Wagenen. The
whole purport Of the conference was to
organize the friends and admirers Of Bryan
so that they will be able to control the
democratic state convention this year and
next. The leading democrats who became
conspicuous last presidential election and
in 1896 we're present, representing nearly
every part Of the state. There was much
enthusiasm and a great deal Of strong talk
ing. The conference demonstrated that
the friends Of the Kansas City platform
are badly disorganized and that they need
leadership In the state. 1t was facility
agreed that the work Of organization should
be commenced at once in every county OF
the state. BY so doing It is regarded as
certain that they could control the party
in Iowa.
Judge Van Wagenen, who spoke at the
banquet on Government Ownership OF
Railroads" is regarded very favorably as
the candidate for governor, not only by
the free silver men, but by the reorgan-
izers. His address was substantially that
delivered by him at a Jackson day banquet
in Waterloo. General Weaver had been
considered as a possible candidate for gov
ernor, but he declared he was out Of 1t. 1t
is understood that Van Wagenen is willing
to let them write the platform, but he re-
| serves the right to make ownership Of the
railroads most conspicuous in the cam
paign.
Adlai E. Stevenson Of Illinois was here,
as was Charles e. Russell, a representative
! of William R. Hurst, and it is understood
they we're feeling the people in the matter
OF the possible candidacy of Hearst for
, president. Mr.. Hearst was unable to come.
He had been invited.
Bryan Hits ReOrganizers.
Mr.. Bryan delivered an address at the
conference in line with his well known
views as expressed in the east recently in
favor of standing by the party platform. He
insisted that the principles of the party
must be maintained and that Il is better to
go down in defeat standing for principles
than to gain a victory by sacrifice OF prin-
I ciples.
81 have never believed in inviting a man
into my house." he said, ''just to see IL he
is big enough to put me out" He wanted
the reorganizers to stay out of the party
until they can come in realizing the enorm-
ity of their sins. "Isake it," he said. that
you who are here are all fighters, and that
you believe in lighting for a principle. We
entered upon a fight in 1895 which resulted
In the Chicago platform, and that fight is
not yet at an end. l regard 1t as a great
struggle. not unlike that which took place
early in the century between Jefferson and
Hamilton. a struggle then between democ-
racy and aristocracy, and now between
democracy and plutocracy. The principles
are the same, the danger is the same, the
republican party has come to stand for
plutocracy and not for the people, and there
is but one way for the people to win, and
that is by and through the democratic
party" He counseled adherence to the
party platform and a fight along the old
lines.
Adlai e. Stevenson Of Bloomington, ILL.,,
formerly vice president OF the United States,
arrived this morning. When asked as to
Issues in the next campaign, he said:
II . va ~ NOhbACboiOhdA
work the past winter has been to weaken
the republican party. The majority has
not strengthened itself at any point. And
1t has forced the tariff-trust issue upon
the American people for the next presi-
Dental election. The outlook for the dem
ocratic party is indeed very fatterlng at
this time"
"who are the Illinois democrats likely to
want for presidential candidate7"
That is hard to tell. We have had no
conventions and no opportunity to express
ourselves. Just now we are much wrapped
up in the municipal fight in Chicago. A
number of men are considered as available
for presidential candidates, but you may be
sure of one thing, the Illinois democrats
want a candidate who can inspire confidence
and who has a reasonable show OF election.
We want an aggressive campaign and an
active man at the head"
Perfect OrranfxatIOn.