New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-01
THE SOUTH REJECTS 1T.
Leaders Think Bryan's Railroad
Scheme vii Defeat Him.
From The Tribune sureau. ]

From Tns Tribune eures1I
Washington. Aug. 31.-That Mr.. Bryan's radi-
calism will insure his defeat in the next Demo-
cratic national convention is the prediction made
with decided emphasis by prominent Democrats
who passed through Washington on their way
South to-day. Bryan's declaration IN favor cf
ultimate federal ownership OF railways constt-
tutes In the eyes of the southerners a grave
offence. and Is declared 20 demonstrate that ths
Judgment of the peerless leader IL as unsound
as when he disrupted his party with free silver
when he attempted TO prevent the nomination
of Judge Parker In the closing hours of the last
Democratic convention.
Should William Jennings Bryan happen to be
President OF the United States when the gov
ernment takes possession of the railways of the
country. OF the trunk lines he can re-
main President for the rest OF his life. and can
found Presidential line composed Of his prog
eny." declared Representative Livingston. OF
Georgia. to-day Mr. Livingston went on to
express the belief that the Democrats Of his
state would take Mr.. Bryan to task for his
| statement and implied that unless the peerle'
one'' repudiated his statement, or az leas
hedged. he could not command the support OF
the Georgia delegation.
Senator Bailey another prominent Demo-
crat who expressed his disapproval Of Mr..
Bryan's railway views in unequivocaI language
Mr.. Bailey would not say anything for pubIiea-
tion. but there was no mistaking the view he
took Of the leaders, declaration. and il is un-
derstood that both Senator Bailey and Senator
Culberson Iabored with Mr.. Bryan before he
delivered his speech, endeavoring to induce hin,
to eliminate the Objectionable declaration.
Representative Livingston further said that
in his estimation every sensible person should
await the results Of the working of the railway
rate law Just passed before jumping forward to
something more radical and more centralizing
and another prominent Democrat asserted that
the real reason for Representative John sharp
Williams's departure from New York just on
the eve OF the Bryan demonstration was his ur-
willingness to participate I'm affair in which
the man exploited for Democratic Presidential.
candidate was determined commit himself
to a policy which the entire South regarded
with the strongest disapprovaL
At Democratic headquarters In this city an
attempt was made to find comfort In the fac.
that Mr. Bryan merely asserted the belief that
we must ultimately come to government owner
ship Of the railroads. but it obvious that
the Nebraskan's slip had caused serious distress
TO those who have his welfare and the success
of the Democracy at heart.
The emphatic utterances OF the southernsrs
in and passing through Washington recall
former combinations OF New York State Demo
Gratis with the Solid South. and it is remarked
that MIR. Bryan must not lose sight OF the fact
that the South sends one-third the total number
of delegates 10 the national convention. This
fact was brought to his notice yesterday while
there still time for him to correct his
speech but with that pertinscty which led hin,
TO espouse free silver long after the seIs
members OF his party had perceived that IL VAS
a fanacy he refused to be Influenced. and sent
those who would have advised him for his own
interest about their business.
1t is noteworthy that many of the men who
were Ioudest IN their advocacy OF Bryan az
Democratic candidate yesterday are disguised
to-day and declare that his radicalsm and MS
obstinacy will prove his undoins long before
the Democrats meet in national convention. ami
this opinion is almost unanimously shared
among the Republicans m Washington.
Director of the Mint Roberts said to-day that
II was folly 10 advocate government owner
ship at this time. that the country not
ready for such radicalism and that the new
rate law should have fair trial before further
corrective measures discussed