The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-21
HINT THAT BRYAN MAY BOLT.
HE UON'T SAY WHAT HE'LL no
IN REORGANIZED DEMOCRACY.
Friends Talking OF His Leading a Revolt
to Populism-Bryan out With New
statement Abusing Cleveland and Tell.
tnE the Party How to Keep on Losing


to Populism--Bryan Out with a New
statement Abusing Clev eland and Tell
tnE the Party How to Keep on Losing
LINCOLN, Neb. June 20-Those who
have been following Col. Bryan's attacks
upon the reorganizers Of the Democratic
party and the sentiments he has expressed
regarding their threatened victory are
of the opinion that the Colonel has either
deliberately or unknowingly burned his
bridges behind him.
Some Of Mr.. Bryan's close friends are UNI
willing to believe that he would bolt the
nomination of a Democratic Presidential
nominee, unless the nominee should be
Mr.. Cleveand-in which case they assert
that he would have ample justification-but
Others are very certain that Bryan will do
anything he can TO prevent any Demo-
crat who stood in his path to the Presidency
from gaining that goal himself.
just what his course of action will be
if the expected happens no one knows.
Mr.. Bryan replies t. direct questions upon
that point by declaring that 1t is idle to
discuss his course of conduct in an emer-
gency that will never occur, but leading
members of the Populist party think that
Mr.. Bryan can be easily induced to lead a
fornid liable revolt--if not under their ban
ner. with their aid.
Mr.. Bryan is quite frank and outspoken
IN his discussions of the reorganizers and
Mr.. Cleveland in a statement he has just
made He said
III the reorganiZers obtain control of
the party, why should not Mr.. Cleveland
be the nominee? If the party has made
mistake in taking the peoples side and in
casting Mr.. Cleveland aside, why should
it not take him up again if it decides to cast
the people aside? 1t cannot be doubted
that the leaders OF the reorganizers would
prefer Mr.. Cleveland as the nominee, and it
must be admitted that he is the logical cam
tlidate; and yet, even though time should
demonstrate that it is not good policy to
urge Mr. Cleveland's candidacy. it may be
depended upon that the candidate agreed
upon by the reorgani2ers will represent
the same influences and the same policies
that dominated Mr.. Clevelands second
Administration.
1T is hardly necessary to engage in a
discussion az to the claims of this man
upon Democratic nomination. Democrats
might be quite willing to forget that. after
very nearly wrecking the Democratic
party in his second Administratio n. Mr..
Cleveland deserted that party in 1895 and
In 1900 gave whatever power and influence
party; but it will be a bit more difficult
for them to forget Mr.. Clevelands I'M
Democratic record in the White House
during his second torn.
at is urged that the South may be de-
pended upon to cast its votes solidly for
Mr. Cleveland and that the objections to
him In Western States are not worthy Of
consideration. 1t is said that these States
are Republican and that; even though a
Cleveland in hopelessly Republican States,
1t would make no difference in the result.
What assurances have these men that they
can persuade Democrats even in States
that are not hopelessly Republican to go TO
the polls and vote for man whose bond
deals and other engage ments with Wall
Street, whose plain contempt for the in
terests Of his party and whose open dlsre-
gard Of the welfare of the country were
Republicans alike.
ut IL little short of amazing that edit ors
aud politicians who assume to themselves
a monopoly on political sagacity, as well
as upon political virtue. should close their
eyes to the fact that in the presence of the
great evils under which the American
people are suffering men are studying
public questions and are crying not merely
FOR victory for particular party, PIT are
crying for actual and practical relief.
cut? The fight begun in 1895 was not so much
fight between gold and silver as q feht
between the benefciarics Of class legislation
on the ono side and the advocates of equal
rights upon the other, and that fight still
continues. 1t would be fortunate if that
fight only manifested itself in the con-
test between Democratic and Republican
parties. but we might as we'll face the fact
in our party. The Chicago platform was
written by delegates who were instructed
to write It, and the Kansas City platform
was written by delegates almost all of whom
had been selected by State conventions that
Endorsed the Chicago platform.
"The Democratic party cannot stand
neutral in the fight that is now being waged;
Il must be on the side of democracy or on
tho side Of plu,ocrncy, and its position
should be determined not by the leaders
before the voters with their policies and
plans and secure the Endorsement Of those
policies and plans by majority of the
voters Of the party, they will he entitled 10
zaton. but thcy have never yet attempted
such thing, and are not likely TO. They
will set up conventions and practise de-
ception upon the very people for whom they
AJAX to speak and upon whose support they
must rely, hut they will not make an honest
fight for an honest purpose.
Success or failure of the loyal Democrats
depends upon their a|ertness: i, is safe -
say that il delegates are selected without
scrutiny and sent without instructions the
moncyed element will be stronger in the
county convention than in the precinct;
stronger in the state convention than in
the county convention, and stronger in the
national convention even than in the 81 ate
convention. This is due to the fact that
III" moneyed men are the ones who are mos,
likely to he selected unless some test is
applied in the selection. because the
nnoneyed men are usually more prominent
than those without money, and have the
time ana means TO attend conventions.
g., The moneyed men are, as a rule. more
ukAlv han those with less money TO yield to