Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-19
THE CALL
Variation From That Of Four
Years Ago.
CHANGES DISCUSSED
PROBABLE RETURN OF EASTERN
WING TO CONTROL.
Effect Of Mr.. Bryan's Speech Last
Night Commented Upon
at the Capitol.

Democratic congressman were comment
ing today upon the variation in the form OF
the call issued by Chairman Jones for the
democratic convention as compared with
the call of four years ago. Comparison OF
the two documents shows a notable change.
This change is gratifying to some demo-
Gratis but considered by others to be omin-
Gus. Four years ago the call invited the
conservative reform element of the
democracy to have representation in the
convention. That was designed, of course,
to admit the cream of the populists, ex-
cluding the middle heroad pop.
- Yesterdays call did not broaden the invi-
tation of participation beyond regular dem
ocrats The most significant feature of the
call, however. to some democrats was the
entire omission of reference to the para
mount issue of four years ago. The previ-
Gus call of Chairman Jones was directed to
all who favored the republic as against
the empire" No such language appears
in the call of yesterday. Apparently there
is no issue between the republic and the
prospective empire to engage the attention
OF democrats.
Eastern Wing to Control.
The opinion of the western democrats was
that the conservative character of the call
turn to control of the conservative eastern
wing of the democracy. 1t apparently is
the first gun in the campaign for turning
the faction who for the past eight years
have found their views and wishes Subordi-
mated to the Bryan element.
Right on top of this instance comes the
declaration of Mr.. Bryan. in his speech at
the dollar dinner last night, that the Kan
SaS City platform is still good medicine.
Free silver, Imperialism and all the other
planks of the Kansas City prOnunciamento
are 1ndorsed by Mr.. Bryan presumably
speaking for the large class of voters he
represents, as good doctrine for the demo-
Gratis to follow If there is one thing that
the eastern and southern democrats want
to avoid in tre coming convention 1t is the
issue of indorsing or not indorsing the
Kansas City platform A great many of
them had that platform forced upon them
against their Will and Judgment at the Kan
SaS City convention. accepting it out of con-
sideration for MIR Bryan, and from the fur
ther fact that as he was to be nominated
again they would have to reiterate the
ground upon which he was nominated the
first time.
But no such considerations will attach
next time. The eastern and southern men,
it is said. desire to go into that convention
at st. Louis with a clean slate, bo-h as to
candidates and platforms, and to do what
seems to be best in the way of promising a
democratic victory.
Mr.. Bryan's Probable Course.
Mr.. Bryan's speech last night was freely
discussed in the democratic cloakroom to-
day. 1t was considered important in that
it might be accepted as an indication of
the course which the Bryan men will fol-
low at ST. Louis. The eastern and south
ern men had hoped up to this time that
Mr.. Bryan would keep his well-known and
to them somewhat shopworn views in abty-
ance. They think now that he intends to
come to the front again and urge before
the convention all of the policies with
which he has been identified for eight
years.
OF course, the question will be fought
out in the committee on resolutions, and
perhaps carried to the floor of the conven-
ton. Mr.. Bryan If he has the support of
the Hearst delegates may be able to carry
the fight on to the floor of the conven-
ton. 1t must be remembered, however,
that while Mr.. Bryan and Mr.. Hearst act
ing together might control more than one
third of the delegates and prevent nomi-
nation the two-thirds rule does not apply
to the adoption of platform. A ma
jority vote in the convention settles that,
and the platform is adopted before the
candidates are voted upon There is no
likelihood. therefore, it is said by well-in-
formed democrats. that Mr. Bryan will sue
ceed in foisting his ideas upon the con-
vention as regards the platform, although
he may have great deal to say as to The
candidates.