New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-04
BRYAN rs NOW A SPHINX.
bM He BOlt2-The Oppositioa
Doesn't Seem to Care.
IRY TELEGRAPH TO THE rr.suxr.I

thA -L-htHhAfH To TIE EE-BUN-l
81 Louis, July 3-Cruwds have visited ths
headquarters of ". J. Bryan today. intent upon
gaining from him some admission relative to HI,
intentions should the convention name Parker
lor President, as now appears probable Bryan
was III excellent numOr. serene and no--cOmru-
NEGATIVE, but sarcastic RE adroitly parrisd all
leading questions, for the time being enulatsd
the hlustrious example Of Hugh IIcIaurhiin ard
spoke in parallels.
On the subject OF The platform he sad. "I
have heard talk Of a gold plank in The platform.
OF course. IL goes without sayins that am op-
posed TO such thing. and I will not stand
for it,"
Does that mean that II a gold plank Is in
serted in the platform you win leave the cor
vention?'
Mr.. Bryan laughed heartily as he replied: IT
do not think thar VIII be called upon TO answer
that question in the convention. any more than
I am compelled to answer it now. Really.
though 1 could not discuss such a question a,
that"
1t was suggested to him that men have been
known TO forsake a-party and then TO return To-
the fold
Yes said Mr.. Bryan. and there are nu-
nerous cases where men have married into fam
lies and dlsgraced them"
Mr.. Bryan thus indicated hts opinion OF GER
tain men who are now IN control OF the Demo-
cratic organization
When asked II he had any particular financial
plank that he proposed 20 father before the COM
rnittee on resolutions. Mr.. Bryan declined TO say,
merely remarktng:
II cannot talk OF that matter before the meet
ing Of the committee on resolutions"
Neither would Mr.. Bryan say II he would a,-
cept financial plank compromising between an
affirmation OF the Kansas City and Chicag,
platforms and gold plank
Just what he viii do no one except Mr. BRYAN
himself can answer. He viii undoubtedly talk
openly after the work OF the convention Is set
tied and IN uncertain tones, bur whether h,
VIII abide by The decision OF the convention or
bolt its nominee should the candidate be on,
whom he has singled out as the target for NJ,
decuIc1atton Is apparently matter % the Ut
most Indifference TO the conservative element
Leaders OF the movement favortng the rspueia-
ton OF Bryan and Organism and emphasizing
their attitude by pressing the nomination OF
Parker and the adoption OF Parker platforms
declare that the time has arrived when thu
erstwh1le peerless leader must either fish OF
cut bair' and accept a candidate platform SCI
lected By the dominant faction or leave thss
party for the rarty's good They assert thar no
extraordinary Efforts VIII be made 70 RESTRAIN,
him IL he resolves upon the latter course. ana
regard with complacency his implied threats In
Mr.. Bryan gave out to-day the following for.
nal statement on Parker
After conferences with a number Of delezatss
from various sections, I am satisfied that m.
opposition to Judge Parker il sufficient 70 maxi,
his nomination highly improbable. il not in1pos-
sible There has been no COncen LratiOu upO,
any antt-Parker candidate, but two arguments
are having weight with the delegates, Among
the radical Democrats the feeling IS that the
party must not be surrendered into the hands
or Wall Street The influences back Of the Par
ker candidacy are so Intimately associated with
the trusts and great corporations that the Demo-
cratic party could not appeal to The masses
The party cannot afford TO tntruSt It's future to-
defeat in 1856 and 1900. II Mr. Parker had a.
record OF his own he might be judged upon that
record But, as he has refused TO speak. he must
be Judged bv the records OF his political mana
ger, ex-senator Hill. ana his financial agent. Au-
gust Belmont. A man who is weak enough to
pun his candidacy IN their hands before the
convention would not be strong enough TO re-
ssr their influence after the election. IL he
by any possibility successful.
The second objection is the one that carries
weight with the conservative deIezates-vfz-
that he cannot win II Is becoming more and
more apparent that he would prove a weak can
didate, and this Is robbng him Of whatever
strength he had among the men whose first ds-
sire as 70 win With SUCH a candidate the bat
tie would begin with foot race. and end with
q rout- These two arguments seem quite Ger
tain TO prove his UndOing-
The nrSt fight OF the convention seems likely
70 be over the Illinois contest. The Illinois
State convention probably has no parallel In
convention history. II run Dy brute force
and without any regard TO Democracy or de-
ceuCy. The contestants will present the fndOrse-
meEt OF a majority OF delegates Of the conven-
ton. who. having been deprived of a voice IN
the State convention. viii appeal for justice to
the national organize ton. The national commit
tee cannot tndOrse the Hopkins methods with
out Overthrowtng The most fundamental OF Dem
ocrattc doctrtnes-viz-. the right OF the majority
N rule