Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1906-05-30

servatlve influence which he has
never had before Mr.. Bryan could
sweep the next Democratic Ma
tonal Convention off its feet as he
did IN 1896 and again in 1900. If
Mr.. Hearst shall be elected COVER
nor of New York. the actual arith-
mctic Of the situation would he
against Bryan more than any other
prospective candidate. Hearst
would be enabled to enter the con-
vention with a delegate strength
second To nobody's, and should
Senator Bailey develop the follow
ing at the South which it is thought
his avOwed candidacy would de-
velop, 1t Is not at all improbable
that the surprising spectacle would
be presented Of Mr.. Bryan being
third in the race in the important
matter of instructed delegates. In
such situation it is conceivable
that the convention would be dead
locked as fiercely and for as Tonga
period n any national political
gathering of recent times.
In spite of the plain facts of his
tory against Mr.. Bryan, he still
has sufficient following to make
him formidable in Democratic CON
ventions. His followers take no
note Of the pathetic experieces of
Clay and Blaine. than whom as a
popular leader he resembles more
than does any man of his time.
They were circumStanced about as
he. In their respective parties
there was just enough unyielding
opposition To defeat them at the
polls. Prejudices of the kind that
Bryan has To combat and which
Clay and Blaine wore out their
lives combating are handed down
from father To son.
There probable stillar hundreds
of thousands OF Democrats i'm the
United States who believe that
BrYan's election TO the Presidency
would mean ruin to the country.
and in spite Of every argument
that might bc brought to bear upon
them to the contrary they could
not be convinced. But this ele-
ment would not have the same
personal prejudice against either
Hearst or Bailey. Other elements,
of course, might assert themselves
against candidacy of either and
continue to call themselves Demo
Gratis, just as the hundreds of thou
sands of Democrats who i'm both
Bryan campaigns voted against
him continue to call themselves
Democrats.
Mr.. Balley's candidacy is as vet
Uniformed, and, of course, unavow-
ed. That he will be drawn into
the contest, however, there are
many reasons to believe. Judge
Parker's earnest if not impaSsion-
ed appeal several weeks ago to the
Southern Democracy 10 assert its
right to the party leadership was
not made without due reflection or
without wise counsel. The Texan
has been growing fast on the nation
within the past few months. News
papers of great influence that had
fallen into the habit of ridiculig him
now speak of Mr.. Bailey with re-
spect and treat him as one man
of large capacity and discernment
in national affairs.
Texas is a more important State
than Nebraska, and the Democrats
went Historically to that sage
brush Commonwealth for its can
didate twice. Thus geographi-
cal considerations will cut little
figure against Mr.. Bailey. That
he could keep Mr.. Bryan from get
ting the delegations of several
Southern States there is no doubt
at all. Certainly Texas would sup
port him with wild enthusiasm.
Mississippi, the State of his birth,
could be counted for him. So
could Louisiana, according to the
admissions of numerous politicians
in that State. Mr.. Bryan has
never been strong in Georgia, Ala
bama, or Florida, and a Southern
man strongly backed quite proba-
bly, could beat the Nebraskan
for the delegations from those
States. Even Virginia might fall
into line against Bryan and in favor
of Bailey.
Should Mr.. Bailey secure the
delegations from no other States
than those mentioned, his instruct