The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-06-20
SOME ARE VERY SUSPICIOUS OF HIM
HIS FRIENDS SAY HE WILL BE
STRONGER IN 1908 THAN
EVER.


is being received by democrats in con-
gress is causing republican leaders to
sit up and take notice Up to a short
time ago the mention Of Bryan as a
presidential possibility was regarded
as a joke; the peerless leader" was
listed as a dead one. But the surpris-
ing popularity of the twice. defeated
candidate is beginning to make a diff
ferent impression. 1t begins to look as
if Bryan would have to be considered
when the next campaign opens, is the
report that comes from Washington.
During the recent debates in the
house of representatives frequent ref
erence has been made to Bryan, and
the mention of his name evokes as
much applause as it did in the days
when he was crying aloud for the free
coinage of silver. But Bryan is not
mentioned now as a free silver advo-
cate. This painful topic is carefully
avoided. He is held up as the friend
of the people, the enemy of the trusts,
and the exponent of pure politics and
clean business. 1t is not the same
Bryan who faced the voters in 1906
and again in 1900. 1t is a new Bryan,
with new ideas and new theories.
Friends Do Talking.
One of the most remarkable things
about the revival of Bryan is the fact
that the resurrection occurs at a time
when Bryan is out of the country; at
a time when he has nothing to say for
himself His friends are doing the talk
ing; they are expounding what purport
to be his views, and the democrats have
taken up the cry and are shouting
wildly for Bryan and good govern
ment." When Bryan arrives in New
York he will see for the first time evil
dences of reviving confidence on the
part of his democratic friends His
home coming will be very different
from his departure.
Some Are Suspicious.
The leaders of the Bryan agitation in
congress are men who stood by the
"boy orator" in his two losing fights;
but there are many gold democrats
who bolted the party in 1896 and 1900
who are today advocating the nominal
ton of Bryan in 1908 They are not as
enthusiastic as the old free silver DEM
ocrats, because they are suspicious of
their man. There is a marked fear
among this class that Bryan, if NOM
mated, will dig out Of the grave the
old free silver issue, will revive the
money question and make that a par
of his stock in trade. If he should be
nominated and should revive the sill
yer question, the gold emocrats would
again bolt; but until there is such a
manifestation they are willing to get
on the band wagon along with the
original Bryan men.
Bryan and Hearst.
If the democratic national convention
should be held today the party would
have to choose between William ].
Bryan and William R. Hearst Senator
Bailey, of Texas, would be in the rum
ming, but at the present time either Of
the sensatlonalists would be able to
beat him out. Bailey's popularity is
just beginning to grow, Bryan and
Hearst have been widely ADVERTISED,
and both are posing as friends of the
common people" Today the democrats
would have to choose between Hearst
and corruption and Bryan and fanati-
cism. Hearst would be handicapped
by the opposition of Tammany and
probably would not carry his own state.
This would go a long way toward
nominating Bryan.
Democracy and Reform.
attempt to reunite their party in the
next campaign on a reform platform
They will tenounce municipal, corporate
and government evils that have been
by the Roosevelt administra-
ton, and will make their appeal to the
people on this one issue. They will
overlook the fact that the exposures
have been made by President Roosevelt,
a republican, and will omit to mention
the fact that great reforms have been
made by a republican administration
The fact that great evils were uncov-
cred during a republican administration
is enough for them; they will use this
fact as an argument in favor of a
change.
Valuable Capital.
The democrats will be able to make