The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-07-06
BRYAN IN BACKGROUND
THE CONSERVATIVES HAVE COM
 PLETE CONTROL.
wni Not Only Name Candidate and Platform, Bst WIT Select Candi- date for vfce.president
 as Well.

the Democratic National Committee in which the struggle for the nomination | for President is q free contest. the prospect is that Judge Alton B. Parker of New York. candidate of the conserv- ative forces. will win handily. the rad ical field coming in poor second. Not only does 1t appear that the con- trol of the nomination, for first place on the ticket will be in the hands of nority in 1896 and in xyoo. but that they will select the nominees running mate and the platform on which the race will be made. In defiance of such handicaps as were created by the ambitious friends of German, Cleveland. Gray. folney, Mo Cleiian and favorite sons who had fol- lowers that divided the conservative col umn, this element which advanced the elaims of Democratic rehabilitation struggled against the combined oppo- sition of Bryan. representing the ruling Democratic force in the last two prest- dential contests. and the personal cam paiRn conducted by William Randolph Hearst.
 Throughout the week the Parker forces received material accessions, one ;, candidate after another who threatened to sap the strength of the conserva- tives. being eliminated until the oppo- sition Is now confessedly in the minor ity and seemingly too unorxanized to present a sighting front. Fssssss band wagon seats are in such dernand that a nomination is confidently predicted on | the second ballot and the surprise would be small if the first was decis. | live
 Though the result of the contest for the Presidential nomination seems to be as good as settled. that spirit which | moves factions to war against each other has not been so far removed that the convention will be lacking in en- thusiasm or interest The changed po- sitions of those who are in power and those who controlled four and eight years ago is attracting wide attention | from delegates and persons who are assembled as spectators.
 William J. Bryan is the most pic turesque figure. Twice the candidate of his party for President, running on a platform forced upon the nominating conventions by his compelling person ality and which robbed him of har- monious party fealty, he Is in the po- sition of fighting for recognition against the element which has return ed to power.
 For several days Mir. Bryan and the hand tied Tammany delegates opposed to Parker have been working to one end-the defeat of Parker, but the, have not moved in unison. The Tam many delegates are listed as conser- vatives and the Bryan forces as rad. fcals. and fin consequence their team work has been poor. Bryan was be. lieved to be with Hearst before the contest opened here and after Parker's strength was shown he suggested that the Pennsylvania delegation should put former Governor Pattison in nom- nation, but that failing to find favor he proposed Judson Harmon of Ohio The Ohio delegation. though loyal tc Harmon. loked upon the plan with some suspicion and this idea fell upon barren soil.
 Tammany pursued the fight in at- tempting to- foster the favorite sor campaign and tonight were claimins 400 pledged against Parker. This nun. Der is more than the one-third which would prevent a nomination. The Par. ker forces displayed no alarm at the report that votes were uniting in op. position to the New York candidate MT. Bryan asserted that Parker had no substantial gains and that the op. position was becoming better crys- talized.
 There are many prominent politicians
 
 were compelled to submit to the will of MT. Bryan in the last two conven. lions who are taking unaffected satis. faction in the fact that today they are able to dictate terms. David B Hill of New York. Ben T. Cable and John P. Hopkins of Illinois. former Senator Smith of New Jersey, Patrick A. Collins of Massachusetts, Hoke Smith of Georgia and Bourke Cochran of New York. are among these. On the other hand. there are many per sons taking minor parts in the pro- ceedings for no other reason than tha they held too much power in 1896 and 1oh0. Many of those who stood by Bryan then are not with him now Some have returned to the conserva- tives and others are watching in sill ence the working out of the party program.
 The making of the party platform will be one of the most interesting of the contests It Is certain that many persons disappointed In their inability to exercise their share of authority in ticket making will take up the platform discussion and advance ideas as widely diverging as those presented in the dozen State platform offered for the consideration of the National Con vention The New York delegation is active on the platform question and the Bryan forces are equally alert While 1t is unlikely any effort will be made to reafflrm the Kansas City and Chicago money blanks. 1t Is deemed probable that an attempt will be made to declare for the gold standard Therefore both factions have their ideas as to what the harmonizing pIank should be.