The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-11-23

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What sort Of answers will Mr.. Bryan
get to the autograph letter which, it
is reported, he has sent to about
twenty prominent leaders of the DEM
ocratic party suggest ting a conference
at an early day for the exchange of
views on the political situation? viii
they agree that such a conference at
this time, or at any time in the inn
mediate future, would be advisable
from the standpoint of party harmony?
1t looks very much as If it were Mr..
Bryan's purpose to get into posi-
ton where he would be considered the
partys leader. 1t may be that he will
receive favorable responses to his let
ter, but, if he does, it will be be-
cause he has asked only those in diff
ferent parts of the country whom he
has reason to think are friendly to him
and his ambition.
The impression seems to be that he
has sent very few of the copies Of his
letter to Southern leaders. 1t is a
question whether he will get a favor
able response from any Democratic
leader of the South of more than local
influence. There are two or three
Southern states in which he still has
a good many admirers, but even in
these, it is doubtful If there are Demo-
Gratis of national prominence who are
willing at this time to join any move
ment that seems to have for It's pur-
pose the bringing of Mr.. Bryan to the
front again.
There is no evidence that he would
be a strong leader in 1908. His declara-
ton in favor of government ownership
of railroads isn't popular in the South,
and it is a question whether or not it
is in any other section. 1t is one of
the declarations of the Populist party,
but that party didn't poll in the recent
election as many votes as the Socialist
party. Besides, Mr.. Bryan himself
isn't as popular as he once was. He
failed to carry his own state in 190O
and in the recent election he endeav-
ored to have elected a Legislature in
his state that would send him to the
Senate, and failed.
1t wouldn't be surprising If the con-
ference he has asked for wouldn't be
as we'll attended as he hopes it will
1t is said that one Democrat of ma
tional prominence, who. received one
of his circular letters, takes the posi-
ton that no good could result to the
party at this time by a conference
such as Mr.. Bryan proposes. 1t is diff
ficult to see how it could. The effect
of it would be, in all probability, to
reopen the factional war that was end
ed by the nomination of Judge Parker
Besides, the party leaders are not
ready now to outline a policy for the
guidance of the party in the next pres
idential contest. They want to wait
and see what the developments are be-
fore taking any action that would seem
to indicate what the future course Of
the party will be.
1t is stated that Mr.. Bryan hasn't
extended an invitation to Judge Par
ker to take part in the conference.
That fact alone would be productive of
discomfort in the party. Judge Par
ker is the head of the party, and will
continue to be until the meeting of
the next National Convention. To ig-
more him in any conference held by
men regarding themselves as Demo-
cratic leaders would certainly create ill
feeling in the party. 1t would amount
to a declaration that Mr.. Bryan doesn't
regard him as a representative Demo-
crat, or else that he intends to try
and reorganize the party along lines in
harmony with his own ideas.
Mr.. Bryan will find that he has made
a mistake in the step he has taken.
The Democratic party will not follow
him, and If he persists he will accom-
plish nothing more than divide the par
ty into two hostile camps.