Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-01
BRYAN cAMPENS
DEMOCRATIC ARDOR
Conservatives DepIore His Un-
changed Radica|ism.
CURSES LOUD AND DEEP
Poured on His Head by Party Politi-
clans.
IN THE SHADOW OF 1900
Bryan Did Not Consider Practicability
of His Proposed State Rights.
Concessions.
Poured on His Head by Party Politi-
clans.
IN THE SHADOW OF

| Special From a STAFF Correspondent.
NEW YORK, September 1.-The most
casual observer could not fail to note the
sudden dampening of the ardor of the
democracy over Mr Bryan, due to their
| disappointment over his espousal of the
| radical policies at time when they looked
| for him to lead the hosts back to conserva-
! tism. You hear expressions of the regret on
| all sides am not referring now to the re-
marks of the great leaders, for their atti-
tude was a foregone conclusion, but to the
opinion of the plain man in the street
In the past twenty-four hours have been
mingling in crowds assembled especially to
do honor to Mr.. Bryan, and at least to
crafty curiosity and see the notable COM
moner When ruling sentiment dominates
a mass of men it is not hard to recognize
it, and outside of the little group of enthusi-
asts such as George Fred Williams, Lentz
of Ohio, Garvan of Rhode Island, and the
New England radicals who have surround
ed Mr.. Bryan and had his ear, 1 have heard
nothing but expressions of regret and DIS
appointment from democrats over their
leaders new policy.
Their disappointment is the more bitter,
for it seems that somehow they had been
led to believe that the returning Bryan,
broadened by foreign travel and inter-
course, was changed from the provincial
politician of the Platte, and that he was
70
the struggling tribes of the democracy and
lead them from the wilderness to victory.
Even the veriest laymen in politics
among these masses whose expressions
have heard since yesterday recognize that
their hero has sown the seeds of discord
in their party, which will further separate
the factions as time goes on.
Coming from the laymen to the poll
ticians who make politics their business.
you can hear nothing but curses. loud and
deep, on Mr.. Bryan. because they realize
the possibilities of harm that lurk in Mr..
Bryan's course. They are resentful be-
cause he has done this thing in spite of
their protests, in defiance of the warning
given him before he landed and before he
opened his lips
Bryan Was Warned.
know of my own knowledge that Mr..
Bryan was told plainly and emphatically
twenty four hours before his Madison
Square speech that he would split his
party, ALLEVIATE strong interests at that
time favorable to his candidacy. If he ad-
vocated government ownership. Men
argued with him. pleaded with him and In
at least one notable case threatened MIN 2,
he persisted. And he went right along
In his course, with the excuse that he did
not have 10 call mass meeting of the
democracy to formulate his own opinions.
The memory of the convention of 1900
is still fresh In the minds of democratic
politicians, how Mr.. Bryan against the
advice of older and more experienced
democrats insisted on reiteration of the
Chicago platform and how with sigh
these men at last yielded to his stub
bornness and against the judgment OF the
majority put in the platform that swept
the democrats to defeat.
win Mr. Bryan be stubborn in this
case? Governor Folk of Missouri one OF
the stanchest friends of Bryan, who still
is In New York. asks that question and
expresses an answer in the negative. He
thinks that Bryan will either yield his
Judgment to the convention or withdraw
himself from the race If he thinks that
such concession would be qualification.
Governor Folk does not approve Of gov
ernment ownership or state ownership OF
railroads. He says Missouri has had prac-
tical experience with state ownership; that
forty years ago the state practically owned
the roads. having advanced money to build
them taking liens on the property. The
next result of the transaction in the end
was that the state came out loser to the
extent of about '$23 100000.
Leader Didn't ..efect.
The southern democrats Of prominence
who still in town say that Mr.. Bryans
proposed concession to southern states
rights sentiment, by having the government
own the trunk lines and the states own the
other lines. shows that Mr.. Bryan did not
give moments reflection to the practical
side of the question. All the railroads in
the south that amount to anything for the
southern people, they point out, are the
Southern railway, the Louisville and Nash
ville the Chesapeake and Ohio. the Atlantic
Coast Line and the Seaboard Air Line, each
of which is a trunk line and would have to
be owned by the government. AS the case
stands now the states retain measure of
control over the trunk lines operating with
In their respective borders
In New Haven yesterday Mr.. Charles s.
Mellen, president, of the New York, New
Haven and Hartford railroad, recognized as
one of the most progressive railroad man
ayers In the country, and liberal in granting
that the public has some rights, freely dis
cussed Mr.. Bryan's policy of government
ownership.
Mr.. Meilen pointed out one feature OF
government ownership which Mr. Bryan
has never discussed, but which railroad
men recognize-that Is, that the transfer
of the roads to the government would be
profitable to the interests which control the
ownership of stocks, as the price to be paid
in taking over the roads would make a
handsome profit for many holders of securi-
ties that are now of doubtful value.
Mr. Mellen went on to say that as soon
as the government took over the roads,
rival corporations would be formed to
transact the postal business and other
branches much cheaper than the govern
ment could undertake 1t.
A Good Railroad Outlook.
AS a railroad president, looking out for
possibilities of profit, Mr.. Mellen would well
come the change, but citizen and pa
triot he would deplore it, because it would