The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-05-29
Eres1denEla
Slate taking
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Bryan, Hearst or Bailey
From StilI another point OF view the
Democrats seemin better shape at the
present rnomentsfo for the big fight two
years hence than dc the Republicans
and that is that thus early IN the pre-
lirainary sf-iunish 10 movements o.
mystery as to The selection OF the
leader are going on Only three names
are az this time being seriously con
sidered by the masses and the leaders
OF the party. They are William Jen-
ninss Bryan, William Randolph Hearst
an,. Joseph Weldon Bailey Mr.. Bry-
ans candidacy, OF course. has Become
as fixed thing in the politics OF this
day as was thato Henry Clay, amonS
the Wings, more than half century
ago. and Of James G. Blaine. among
the Republicans, twenty years ago
The Nebraskan has written lette--
from the juneles OF India to FRIEND
in St Louis, saying that he would be
governed by circumstances In the
matter Of again asking for his partys
nomination. The only other thing he
could have said was that in no c!rcurn-
stcnces would he accept third nom
nation Hence, Mr. Bryan may be
considered in the race for his 2arty'S
leadership.
De Lancey Nicon. of New York, who
was in Washington last week, declar-
ed that he was for Bryan against all
Corners, and minated that whatever
influence may be controlled by Alton
B. Parker will be exerted for the twice
defeated candidates nomination. II
Mr. Nicoll speaks by the card. and
| II Judge Parker represents anything
Of moment in the party, then it follows
that at least a portion Of the conserra-
tive elements which forced the unin-
spring New York jurist upon the
Southern Democrats in 1904 Will throw
its influence to the Sebraskan. whom
these Influences once fought desper-
ate1y- Nothing stranger than this
could happen in American politics:
nothing stranger has happened. unless
| it be the Endorsement by a faction of
the Democracy Of the nomination Of
Horace Greeley.
Hearst as Factor.
But it is by no means certain tina.
even with the support of cocserrativ::
influences which ne has never had be-
fore Mr. Bryan could sweep the next
Democratic National Convention of
its feet as he did in 1886 and again III
1900 II Mr. Hearst shall be elected
governor OF New York. the actual
arithmetic Of the situation would be
prospective candidate Hearst would
be enabled to enter the convention
with a delegate strength second to no
body'S. and should Senator Bailey de-
velop the following at the South which
1t is thought his avowed candidacy
would develop. it is not at all improb-
able that the surprising spectacle
would be presented Of Mr. Bryan be-
ing third in the race in the important
matter Of instructed delegates In
such a situation it is conceivable that
the convention would be ieadlocked
as fierce1y and for as long period
as any national political gathering OF
recent times
In spite OF the plain facts Of history
against Mr.. Bryan, he still has sufd-
Gent following to make him formida-
Bile in Democratic conventions. His
followers take no note OF the pathetic
experiences Of Clay and Blaine. than
whom as a popular leader he reSem-
bles more than does any man Of his
time They were circumstanced about
as he In their respective parties
there was inst enough unyieldinS OF
position to defeat hem at the polls
Prejudieces of the kind that Bryan
has to combat ind which Clay and
Blaine wore out their lives combating
are handed down from father to SON.
There probably still are hundreds
OF thousands OF Democrats in the
United states who believe that Bry-
ans election to the Presidency would
mean ruin to the country. and in spite
OF every argument that might be
brought to bear upon them to the con
trary they could not be convinced
But this element would not have the
same personal prejutlices against
either Hearst OF Bailey Other ele
ments. Of course. might assert them
selves against the candidacy of either
and continue to cali themselves Demo
Gratis, just as the hundreds Of thous-
ands of Democrats who in both Bry-
an campaigns voted against him con
tinue TO call themselves Democrats.