Evening star., 1904-03-17
THE POLITICAL WORLD
BRYAN CoNFERS WITH CANDI-
DATE HEARST IN CHICAGO.
olney Faction Gain Control in Massa-
chusetts-Situation in Nebraska
Hill Prefers Cleveland.

A dispatch from Chicago last night says:
No incident of this campaign has created
more of stir among the democrats than
the unexpected appearance today OF Will
liam Jennings Bryan. Whether he came to
Chicago for the express purpose of meet
ing William Randolph Hearst could not be
learned. but it is known that soon after
his arrival at the Sherman House Mr.
Bryan joined the candidate for President,
and they were together long time. The
news that Bryan and Hearst were having
a conference quickly spread to all the
democratic centers and caused speculative
comment among the politicians.
All sorts of stories were current at the
headquarters of the democratic state COM
mittee and the Chicago democrats in the
Sherman House and through the city hall
as to the objects of the conference. 1t was
said that Bryan came here at the request
o- Mr.. Hearst to talk over the situation,
and also to discuss the question of his tax
ing an active part in the general manage
ment of Hearsts campaign. Na.the; o.
them would divulge the subject Of their
conversation; nor would they admit that
there had been any kind of conference.
One of the stories af1oat was that Mr..
Hearst has asked the Nebraska leader to
become his mouthpiece at st. Louis and
present mis- name to the national conven-
to form combination that will enable them
to control the nomination, as well as the
convention.
Setback for Hearst.
A dispatch from Boston, Mass, last night
says: The forces back of the candidacy
of Richard Olney won a victory at today's
meeting of the democratic state committee,
If vote on the question of the basis OF
representation to the state convention is to
be taken a test.
John O'Gara of Spencer, an out-and-out
Hearst man. moved that there be one dele
gate at large for each city, town and ward,
and one for each $50 votes cast for gov
ernor in 1903 and fraction thereof. The
committee threshed the matter out and de-
feated OGara's motion by vote of 81 to
A. Josiah Quincy says this was not a
test vote: John P. Feeney of Woburn, a
supporter Of Hearst says it was
The convention date was fixed as April
p, Boston to be the place. There will be
1,016 delegates instead of ], 400 as provided
for by the O'Gara motion. The state con-
vention will choose the four delegates at
large, heretofore. and each of the four
teen congressional districts will send two.
Precaution was taken against any snap
conventions by giving to Chairman Fla
herty Of the executive committee power to
call the district conventions.
The Olney men in the committee fought
the Hearst men at every point during the
session.
Must Fight to Hold Nebraska.
A dispatch from Omaha, Neb, last night
says: Bryan democrats acknowledge to-
day that they were badly beaten in the
democratic state central committee meet
ing last night in Lincoln. Supporters of
Bryan acknowledge that instead of Ne
braska being in position to take the lead
in fEstructfng delegates to the national
democratic convention. the state will now
be compelled to simply follow up the ac-
ton of other states and instead of hold
ing the Nebraska state convention on April
l, as Mr.. Bryan demanded the convention
will not be held until June l.
The strength shown by the reorganizers,
led by Lee Herdman. has awakened the
democrats of the state to the fact that
there is much opposition to the leadership
of Mr.. Bryan here, or. at least, to accept
ing his demands that the Kansas City plat
form be reaffirmed at the national conven-
tion, and last nights show of votes will
lead to a hot fight in the state convention
where Mr.. Bryan's leadership will undoubt-
edly be disputed.
James ]. Hill Wants Cleveland.
dispatch from New York last night
says:
James ]. Hill. president Of the Northern
Securities Company and of the Great
Northern railroad. yesterday expressed him.
self as favoring the nomination and election
OF Grover Cleveland as candidate of the
democratic party for the Office of Presi-
dent of the United States
1t has been known for some time to the
friends of President Hill that he believed
the denomination of Mr.. Cleveland would
mark the re-establishment of the demo-
cratic party in the White House.
When asked for statement of his views
Mr.. Hill protested, and then said:
Il am not a politician. I am just plain
business man, and my views, think. would
not have much influence on the leaders of
the democratic party, but it is my belief
that Mr.. Cleveland would make a very
strong candidate with the people, They
know him; they know his ability. He has
been in that office before, and he filled it in
a manner which must have impressed the
people IN general. He was conservative in
his administration, and demonstrated un-
usual ability, not to say greatness The
people know what to expect of him, which
Is more than can be said of the other can
didates, and which, | believe is a strong
point in his favor. / believe that his nomi-
nation would be the strongest that the
. democratic party could make and | think
the people would indorse the selection at
the polls"
Odell Ready to See President.
dispatch from Albany, N Y, last night
says: Governor Odell is considering a visit
to Washington in the near future to make
full disclosure of his intentions to Presi-
dent Roosevelt and Senator Platt
Governor Odell has not yet told Senator
Platt that he intends to take full control
of the republican state organizat ton by hav-
Ing himself elected chairman of the state
committee. He deems it necessary to have
complete explanation and he feels that
he must make it in person. because Senator
Platt has persistently refused to believe
the governor intends to supplant him.
1t has not been fully decided when the
governor will go to Washington. He has
received an invitation to dinner to be
given in that city Auril ~ ha