The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-18

Jonn h. tiioert. Opening of Campaign to Control Nex'
 Democratic Convention.
 Lexington (Ky.) Herald.
 In Columbus. Ohio. there is a Dem ocratic club called the Jefferson-J ackson. Lincoln Club. and 1t held It's annual ban quet on the birthday of Mir. Lincoln aon's Tsesuasy ds i2th: rather than on St Jack. birthday. April 18th. Exactly why this choice was made this year we do noi know. Exactly why these three names were chosen as the name of the club is lecture of these names is. however. not original with this club. Years ago 1, was pointed out that perhaps Lincoln might be held by posterity to be the logical and philosophical successor to Jef- ferson in his emancipation of the slaves and his broad humanity. and 1t has also been pointed out that the three great popular political leaders of America have been Jefferson, Jackson and Hn- coln.not one of whom hon was great parilia- though each served in parliamentary bodies-serving without special eminence except so far as the authorship of the Declaration of Independence made Jef- ferson conspicuous; But MT. Jefferson of which he was member that Is said he never made a speech during his h, whole parliamentary experience. Jack son also left no speech to mark his ser vice and during the single term MT, Lin coin served in the House of Representa- tives he made no impression. While each of these was a remarkable leader of the people. they were singularly unlike in their training, lives and personal Democrat in the party sense of that word He was Clay Wbig until the disintegra- ton of the Whig party. when he became Republican, and If he can look down upon sublunary scenes 1t is no doubt with some surprise that he finds him forming one of the trinity with Jefferson and Jackson.
 This club held it's banquet Thursday and the principal orator was MT. Bryan ring and sensational speech. So far as the reports have been published, 1t was very earnest, if not bitter and denun- ciatory, attack upon MT. Cleveland and the Democrats who declined to support him in 1896 and 1900, and somewhat ambiguous declaration in favor of MT Hearst as the possible nominee of the Democratic party in 1904. The guests were in sympathy with his attack or Cleveland and their former Democratic from and ticket of 1S96. and MT. Bryan was cheered to the echo.
 This Is supposed to be the opening ot the organized campaign to control the next convention. This campaign is now being carefully but boldly inaugurated In Iowa General James B. Weaver has been selected for Governor by the Popu. istic wing of the party, and his nomina- ton will be pressed with great vigor General Weaver was gallant Federa becoming a greenbacker. left his party when 1t was in power and would have gladly given him any ofice. He was elected to the House of Representative as Democrat by fusion between the greenbackers and Democrats; and was a conspicuous member of the House. Ii was perhaps due to his successful fiji clustering against certain proposed bills in favor of national banks that caused the House and the country to tolerate the revolution made by Speaker Reed General Weaver left the Democratic party and became the leader of the Populis and was their nominee for President ir 1892 and carried several Western States including Nebraska. and Mir. Bryan voted for him for President in 1S93 and not fol MT. Cleveland. Indeed 1t has been ire quently charged that MT. Bryan never did vote for a Democratic nominee fol Weaver came back into the Democratic party under the leadership of MT Bryan. One wing of the party in Iowa the old fashioned Democrats-considered Horace Boles as leader. Against the leadership General Weaver has taken the field and MT. Bryan Is hotly advocating his claims. In other States this cam paign has been organized; in Massachu. setts under MT. George Fred Williams ir Ohio under Tom l.. Johnson, and In other States under chosen leaders. It's first movement is to either maintain or obtain control of the State aAd subordinate com. mittees As the free silver Bryan follow. CTS had the entire organization in 1900 hax hn1ta tI,AHr ,kef A Committee and a majority of the State Committees
 Attacks upon MT. Cleveland and hi. alleged candidacy will be frequent; and Simultaneous attacks upon the sound money Democrats will continue to appear War against them will be without quarter
 The combination which the Eastern Democrats are striving to form Is fata to MT. Bryan if 1t can be successfully formed; 1t IS to unite those States which may be won by the Democratic nominee Thirteen Southern States are considered reliably Democratic. This excludes Mary. land, West Virginia and Delaware, but 1t Is believed that Maryland and Dela- ware can be carried by the candidate who can carry New York. It Is. therefore necessary to secure the united Southern States. To them the plea Is, you have tried union with the Trans -Mississipp West-with Nebraska. Iowa. Montana Idaho. Wyoming and the other States of that group, and the result has been de. feat, and those States have returned to the Republican party. In the whole rans-Mississippi non-slave holding States not ten electoral votes can be obtained therefore that union must be dissolved Ohio can not be carried. and therefore it is immnterial whether banquet orators or automobile statesmen declare for fl Is wholly immaterial whether Ohio goes Republican by sixty thousand or one hundred thousand. Where, then, Is there any hope of successful New York, Con. nectfcut New Jersey. These States can be carried They are not enough, but the same reasons which will influence their voters will have influence with the voters of States having like interests The plea goes further and urges-at the best, the nomination of a silver nominee means both defeat and disintegration; at the worst. the defeat of an Eastern Democrat means compLct reorganization reconquest Of great and rich Eastern States and victory in 1908
 This Is so persuasive that MT. Bryan feels the force of 1t and recognizes that It's success means his political retirement He will prevent 1t if he can; if tho national convention is carried againsl him, he will refuse to support its action He will be very powerful in the conven. ton. for the States which will cast nc electoral vote for the nominee may bt and control the nomination.
 It Is pretty fight; 1t will continue with unabated vigor until the convention meets: and just now 1t seems quite pos slble for two tickets to be nominated claiming to be Democratic, and 1t may be that Mir. Bryan may be the leader of a convention that will occupy the posi-