Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-23
COL, BRYAN SPLIT
LIBERAL PARTY

Special Cablegrsm to The Star.
LONDON, September 22.-William Jen-
nings Bryan may, as cabled dispatches In
dictate the republicans in the United States
are claiming have succeeded in splitting
the democratic party in two. thereby rel
dering impossible his nomination aid
election President. These things do not
concern the average Englshman and con-
sequently do not interest him. But should
he again visit England in the near future
it is safe to say that the prime minister,
Campbell -Bannerman. and the liberal lead
ers will give Mr.. Bryan the cold shoulder.
No matter what he has done is doing
to the democratic party in the United
States, Mr.. Bryan party splitter
must be wonder For he has succeeded
in "splttng'' the liberal party in such
fashion that it is questionable whether &C.
B. the prime minister is Familiarity
called. can ever unite it again If the liberal
government falls within the next few
months. the most powerful influence,
strange as it may seem, in bringing about
this result will be the visit of American
politcian-Mr. William Jennings Bryan.
When Mr. Bryan was in London the lib
eral government made much of him. He
was welcomed eve.ywhere-at the palace OF
the king. at the home of John Burns. at
the clubs of the Irish members of parlia-
ment, at the country seat of w hltelaW Reld,
the American ambassador to Great Britain.
Naturally these things and the fact that he
was discussed by the newspapers as
presidential possibility did much to focus
public attention upon the Nebraska man.
His speech, undoubtedly clever, certainly
splendid bit of oratory at the peace gather
ing for the submission of disputes to The
Hague some other impartial International
tribunal for investigation and report, before
the declaration of war or the beginning OF
hostilities, as well as his visit to Sir Henry
Campbell Bannerman early in July, caused
f1,a ~ fta mi n
that a compact to promote universal
peace agreement was in the air. Certain 1t
is that a friendship was formed between
the liberal leader of England and the demo-
cratic leader of America.
And yet it appears to have been Mr..
Bryans fate to deal a blow to Campbell
Bannerman, his new-found friend more Sc
we're than ever dealt by Mr.. Chamberlain.
Mr. Balfour or any of the great opponents
of the liberal party in England. For it so
happened that the labor party was on the
verge of breaking with the liberal party.
And it so happened that Mr.. Bryans first
speech at Madison Square Garden after
landing in the United States has furnished
the excuse and the opportunity.
Some of Mr.. Bryan's friends and adj
mirers among the laborites here In London
are saying that Mr. Bryan himself will not
feel badly about this fact-that he will not
object to being regarded as great edu-
cational force" all over the civilized world.
But this viewpoint does not help Campbell
Zimmerman and the liberal leaders in their
present dilemma.
For Mr. Bryan's American speeches have
furnished the workingmen of England
just the issue which they mcclellan issue
which they did not and understand
themselves until Mr.. Bryan called it to the
attention of his American audiences.
Scarcely had Mr.. Bryan left the Madison
Square Garden for his home in the western
part of the United States before the trade
union congress, in session at Liverpool,
without any discussion, unanimously in
I
to introduce a bill providing for the ma
tionalzng of all railways, canals and
mines In the united kingdom.
To understand what this really means it
must be understood that the trade union
congress yields powerful influence over the
labor party and the labor party Yields
powerful influence over the liberal party.
When 1t is also remembered that the mem
bers of parliament not paid salaries
as in the United States: when it is remem-
bered that the trades unions furnish funds
literally for the support Of the labor men,
bers of parliament. it can readily be seen
that such wish Is equivalent to COM
mand =
Even the conservative papers have taken
alarm and are doing everything on this
side of the water to belittle the influence
which Mr.. Bryan has acquired over here,
because of his agitation for the government
ownership of the railways. The London
Times, which as conservative force is nat
urally opposed to government ownership,
declares:
1T seems to be held in New York that he
has failed-or faiied, at least, so far as his
efforts to convert the Empire state that
all-important factors of victory, are con-
cerned. 1t is significant that the journal Of
Mr.. Hearst, who is estimated to control
100000 democratic votes in New York state,
should be altogether silent. The rest of the
press is almost entirely hostile. If We may
judge from a brief Geographic summary,
Mr.. Bryan has been distinctly uniucky in
his choice of new policy to take the place
of free silver.
The London Express says:
The Shrewd common sense of the Master
of Elibank recognizes the facts as they are.
Speaking with authority Scottish govern
ment whip, he has outlined the plan of a
liberal crusade against socialism. The coun-
try would be glad to see his suggestion
taken up with spirit by the government.
But will the government do so? Probably
not. So sure next session comes,
shall find short-sfghted politicians rising TO
deprecate the talk OF cleavage In the lib
eral-labor ranks, and to suggest that all will
be well so long as nothing more is said
about the matter. The cleavage is wider
and more vital than the Master Of Elibank
shows. New forces. as he says. are awaken
ing in the country, and the changes which
they herald are vast indeed. The party sys-
tenn, on its present lines cannot last
Speaking of the attacks of Mr.. keir Har-
die upon the liberals, the London Daily
Telegraph says editorially:
I'VE now learn that liberalism represents
fierce INSCRIPTIONS strife and competition,
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the strong, the rob-
berry of the weak. liberalism we are
told has ever been a devotee of mammon.
1t will be seen that MIR. keir HaIGie, after
considerable experience of liberalism and its
aims. has found himself forced TO disagree.
in more than details. with the testimonial
which the liberal party wrote for itself, in
the hope of saving its admirers trouble.