The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-21
STONES MO. MACHINE
Junior Senator Has Missouri Democ.
racy Under Close Control in
Support of Bryan.
Leadership Of Nebraskan Acknowl.
edged-Candidate Acceptable to
Him to Be Supported.
From a Staff Correspondent.

From Staff Correspondent.
Kansas City, Sept. 21.-Politics in Mis-
souri, Is nearly all Of the democratic va
riety, but it is interesting to republicans,
Notwithstanding that fact Just at this
particular time it Is interesting to note
that the Missouri democracy, under the
leadership of Senator William Joel Stone,
is quietly consenting to the Bryan leader
ship. 1t Is equally interesting to note that
the Missourians do not believe that Bryan
should again be candidate for the presi-
dency, and say that they will not support
him In such role. But they think that
he Is tho greatest leader that ever hap
pened, and that what he doesn't know
about the political game isn't worth
knowing. These two positions are rather
hard to reconcile, but the Missouri de-
mocracy Is nothing II not unique Stone
has Bryan's CONFIDENCE without reserva-
tion and nothing will be done by the Mis-
souri, delegation In the national conven-
ton which has not the Bryan 90 H." This
means that while Missouri will not come
to the convention supporting Bryan for
the presidential nomination., 1t will come
supporting a man acceptable to him. This
Is the democratic situation in Kansas
and Nebraska, also, and evidently the
eastern democracy will not control the
1904 convention without a struggle. How
much OF struggle there will be, however,
and just what the Bryanites will do, If de-
feated. Is not yet clear. For some time
it was believed here that Bryan would
initiate those republicans, who In 1895
walked out Of the st. Louis convention
led by Senator Teller of Colorado But
his acceptance of gold democratic can
dldate for the senate in Ohio Is causing
his friends here to believe that he will
accept the result of the national conven-
ton next year, which they think will be
hostile to his theories, and support the
ticket In the campaign, having first, thru
his personal representatives on the floor
OF the convention, registered a vigorous
protest and made a gallant fight for the
Kansas City platform. To do anything
else would be suicidal, think the Missouri
democrats, and they hope that Bryan Is
to be factor in national politics for many
years.
1t Is astonishing to see the number Of
democrats In this part of the country who
say they will vote for Roosevelt next year
rather than for any democrat nominated
by the eastern wing Of that party. Some
| of these democrats served In the confed-
| crate army. Others have held office and
never until now talked Of supporting a
republican for any position. Whether
Bryan has had anything to do with this
threatened bolt is difficult to ascertain;
a conservative estimate, however, gives
| Roosevelt enough votes In Missouri next
year, assuming that German or some man
| of his type Is the democratic nominee, to
cut down to the democratic margin to a
| very thin strip. There are some who pro-
TESS to believe that under conditions such
as those just referred to Roosevelt will
carry the state, but that hardly seems
within the probabilities, for Missouri
democrats are strong on voting the ticket,
no matter who is on it or what it stands
for. On the Bryan question, however,
they have done rather more thinking than
usual, and the result is that they are pre-
pared to act with some degree of indie
pendence. 1t is claimed that Bryan, while
officially adhering to the ticket will not
criticize such a course. This may not be
true, but 1t is interesting to observe how
the Missourians feel about the subject.
| 4 Senator Stone Is the unchallenged boss
| Of the state. Neither Senators Vest nor
| CockreH ever s.spired to the position OF
boss. They are too near being statesmen
for anything Of that kind. But Stone is
simply politician, and If he continues II
the senate it must be thru the force of e
great political organization. Vest ant
Cockrell never had an organization ex
cept the general party organization of thu
state. They did not feel the need for it
Stone will need an organization from tn,
very commencement of his senatorial ca
reer. He cleared the preliminary grount
for it while he was serving for four year.
as governor. His organization put him il
the senate against much opposition and h
will depend upon it to keep him there. I
is this organization that is holding tn
Missouri party to Bryan at this time.
w. w. Jermane.