The sun., 1904-07-06
BRYAN -FOUR YEARS AFTER.
MASTER IN 1900 AND A SORRY
FIGURE NOW.

Convention Not Tskias lsis orders Thss
Time-Thrests of Discipline Absent
Fsw-The Delegates aHd Committee.
men DsteH 10 fstm and GO Thess Wsy.
Sr. Loufs. July Son the eve Of this
history convention Of the Demo-
cratIe party Of the nation, II h Of interest
TO turn back and compare the situation
In which Col. William J. Bryan finds himself
now with that In which he was the central
figure. In 1900.
Four years ago the Democratic national
convention met In its first session At Kan
sas City, on July 4. The day had been
selected because Of It's patriotic signifi-
canoe. II had been arranged that the
Declaration Of Independents was TO he
read in the convention hall and that the
platform should make anew presentation
Of the principles of human liberty.
At that convention there were many
men Of Importance in the nation, but over
all Of them there was cloud. That cloud
was Organism, and when they moved TO
the convention city they knew that what
they were TO 80 for was to ratify the will
OF the men who had led them to defeat
four years before.
That man was the same Col. William
j. Bryan who 10 In this city tonight. Then
he did not feel 1t necessary to como to the
convention city. His control OF the party
machinery was absolute and unquestioned.
In every place Of power were his adherents.
They were on the ground to see that the
programme he had written should be put
through.
SO complete was Bryan's mastery Of the
party that he could sit In the shade Of his
homo in Lincoln. Neb., and dictate over
the telephone and the telegraph wires
what should be done In the convention hall.
He had said what the platform should be.
He had said who should be nominated.
He had ordered what should be done and
what should be left undone.
II any man believed that what he had
ordered was not In the best interests OF
the party, that man was privileged to take
the train for Nebraska and call at the home
OF the master Of the party, and in humble
words and with pleading voice beg that
the error be laid aside. And having laid
his message at the feet OF the master OF
the party. the pilgrim to lincoln was priv
LEGGED to take the train back to Kansas City
and there watch the Bryan machine roll
on unheeding, scornful, absolute, and
without effective opposition.
Many q man whose services to the party
should have gained for him a respectful
hearing begged that the specific declara-
ton for the free coinage Of silver at the
ratio OF 10 to be laid aside. and his plead
ings were unheard or laughed at. Many a
man who thought that with a new candi-
date the party might put itself into shape
to enter upon the campaign with good
chances OF success went to Lincoln to
plead with the master not to plunge his
political associates into ruin merely that
his own vanity might be tickled. that his
own whims and his own fancies might be
carried out.
For each Of these men there was the
sneer Of the man who was ruler and knew
his power. Bryan dominated the conven-
tion OF 1900 as completely as Roosevelt
dominated the Republican convention Of
last month In Chicago. But there was q
I difference. Roosevelt had won something
for his party, not the Office that he held.
but other offices. He was not known FAR
and wide as the one man in the nation
whose nomination meant the success OF the
party's opponents. Bryan was, but with
out needing the wishes Of those who be-
sought him to think Of the millions OF voters
who had supported him loyalty, and now
wanted chance to win, he crammed down
the throats Of every individual who op-
posed him his absolute and complete
mastery, and told them that he was the
Democratic party, and that they would op.
pose him and his policies at their peril.
Bryan was great force in Democratic
politics then. He ran that convention, he
wrote the platform, he named the nominees
and his party went to defeat under him.
Since then there has been a change.
Bryan has stormed and ragged. He has
abused and threatened. He has read the
mon who have differed from him out o! the
party. He has branded them as traitors.
He has indicted them for treason. He has
done and said all that a desperate man,
seeing the wand Of power slipping from his
hand, could do
And now he is in st. Louis. There Ii
another national oonven ton Bryan can
not stay In Lincoln and tell the delegates
what they are to do. He cannot call up his
machinists on the long distance telephone
and cay: "The platform shall say thus and
So" He cannot laugh at the men who
tell him that his policies are wrong; that
he IL going to wreck his party.
He has had to come to the convention.
He has had TO take his place with the other
delegates. He has found that men do not
seek him out as they were wont to do four
years ago. His is not the room to which
all Of the delegates flock in dumb wonder
as to what they are to do when the conven-
ton IL called to order The national COM
mitteemen no longer await their decision
until he has spoken.
On Sunday when he approached his hotel
he found a crowd curious, not crowd en-
thusiastic. He believed that certain things
should be done by the national committee.
He told the national committee-that ma
tional committee that was named whom
he was in the heyday Of his power-what
he thought should be done. The national
committee did what 1t pleased. II pleased
to do what Bryan opposed. and 1t did not
fear to do it. - ,.s.
He was beaten. defeated, licked. He
was listened to with respectful attention.
What he said was considered. 1t was con-
sidered as it would have been considered
4 Avl he