The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-17
BRYAN's SUN SETTING.
All Sections of Country Canvassed by
DemOcratic Leaderx.


Democratic Leaders.
Washington Special in Philadelphia Record.
Democratic leaders who are seeking
means of eliminating Mr.. Bryan as con-
trolling factor In the party, and from the
party altogether if possible, say their UNI
dertaking is not so difficult as those who
have given no attention to the subject are
apt to imagine. The disgust at Bryan's in
tolerance and his refusal TO accept the
changed conditions brought about by the
logic Of events, they assert, has permeated
all ranks of the Democracy in the East and
South and to a lesser, but by no means in
considerable degree, in the West itself.
That this is the fact has been ascertained,
it is claimed, by careful and systematic in
quiry by the leaders who believed his elm
ination to be condition precedent TO put
ting the party on a basis which would en-
able it to go into the fight of next year
with some hope of winning.
The Pennsylvania Democratic leaders are
counted on to give energetic support TO the
movement TO eliminate Bryan. Some or
them are said to be active already In tnat
direction, and Mr.. Bryan himself has been
made aware of the fact A story is told
here that when the Nebraskan was in Har-
risburg in February he learned OF the atti-
tude of the Keystone Democrats in way
that was decidedly unpleasant. He met
several of the State leaders at the capital.
and, as usual, plunged into the subject OF
what must be done to save the party from
ed as Objectionable influences. One OF the
leaders listened patiently TO Mr.. Bryan $
harangue for while. Finally he could
stand 1t no longer and interrupted:
Now, look here, Mr.. Bryan, he is re-
ported to have said I'VE have allowed you
to have your way and run things to suit
yourself for six or seven years, but you
might as well understand right now we
are not going to do it any longer. We
| have the greatest respect for you as man,
We Democrats of the East, and we have
as a politician. But it is over; you have
| got to stand aside and allow some one else
to have the say hereafter. think 1 can
| speak for the Democrats of Pennsylvania
| at least in this matter. That is the way
| they feel. with all due respect to you. The
Pennsylvania Democrats will vote their
! own convictions on the platform to be
adopted by the next national convention
and not yours. This is frank talk, but
think the time has come for frankness"
| 1t is said Mr.. Bryan's temperature fell
| while he listened to this little lecture, but
| he took 1t on the whole more good-natured-
| ly than might have been anticipated
The feeling against Bryan, it is claimed.
widespread than had been anticipated, and
| In no section of the country more pro-
nounced than in the South. This latter
| circumstance may De specially surprising
| to Northerners. but the men engaged in
| the inquiry. themselves from Southern
| States, were quite prepared for it.
They recollected the sentiment that large
| ly prevailed among the delegates from the
| commercial and more progressive sections
| of the South to the Kansas City convention
| Of 1900 and knew that the course of polit-
| conduct since that time had not been of a
character to change those sentiments. On
| the contrary, everything that had hap
| pened since in the political and business
| field had tended to make stronger the con-
| viction held by so many Southern dele
! gates to the Kansas City convention that
| the acceptance of Bryan's leadership had
| been misfortune for the party. and that
the party must get away from his domino
! tion before 1t could hope for even fighting
chance to win a presidential contest.
But when the Kansas City convention
| was held the confidence in Bryan of the
! rank and file Of the Democracy over a large
section of the country was still unshaker
| and there was nothing to do but to renom-
| mate him. Now, however, ii Is asserted
| by the active anti-Bryan men, the rank and
| file well as the workers and leaders
have changed their position and the elm.
| ination of the Nebraskan controlling
! factor In the party councils will be accepted
1 and even applauueu by proportion of in.
| telligent Democrats far greater than any
but those who have given special attention
| to the matter will believe possible.