The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1906-09-07
BRYAN'S POWER LOST.
Ends His Chance for NOmina-
tiOn By One Speech.
Democrats Who Saw In Him q
Moses Are Sorely Disap-
pointed.

Washington, Sept. 5.-Two months
ago William J. Bryan was as good as
nominated for President in the opin'
ion of most Democrats. To-day
there are almost as many Democrats
who question the wisdom of placing
his name at the head of the national
ticket in 1908.
His advocacy of the Government
ownership of railroads is the cause
of this sudden revulsion of feeling.
Never before. perhaps, has such
tremendous enthusiasm for an indi-
tridual been SO precipitately and eff
fectually dampened as in this in
stance.
Last Thursday night Madison
Square Garden in New York. with a
capacity of 20, 900 or more, could not
hold the crowd that wanted to see
hear and cheer the great Commoner.
Within twenty-four hours he was al
most being execrated by the rank
and file of Democracy because, in
stead of proving to be the long
awaited Moses. he has again sunder-
ed the elements of his party. which.
for ten years discordant. were fast
reaching a state of homogeneity.
TOO REVOLUTIONARY.
Government ownership Of rail-
roads is too drastic and revolution
AIRY a proposition. in the judgment of
conservative Democrats, more so
than the free coinage Of silver at l6
to was in 1896. ...-..--
Some Democrats of an intense ma
ture actually shed tears when they
discussed the situation, so deep and
poignant is their disappointment.
There is no denying the fact that
Mr.. Bryan was led into his great
blunder by his own egotism. He
was confident that anything in the
form of an economic novelty he
might advocate would take like
successful vaccination with the DEM
ocracy, and when party leaders ex-
postulated with him not to urge
Government ownership of railroads
in his Madison Square speech, he
grandly and contemptuously waived
them aside and declared he knew
what he was doing, and that it was
all right.
Such men as Senator Bailey of
Texas, Gov. Folk of Missouri. and
other prominent Democrats labored
with him to omit that portion of his
speech. They urged that it was a
mistake and would not be kindly re-
ceived. They intimated as plainly as
was consistent with good manners
and reverence for his commanding
prestige, that it might render him
unavailable for the next Presidential
nomination. But it was in vain. He
said he had thought it all out, and,
believing it was sound in principle,
would stick to it. He stuck to it all
right, then followed the ice water
douche.
Bryan may be the candidate in
1908, but he can't, make the plat
FORM" muttered Bailey fiercely.
HE can't be candidate and plat
form. too. | can tell you," and the
tone in which he said it indicated
that if he had anything to do with it,
Bryan would not even be the candi-
date.
Bryan must explain himself be-
fore Georgia Democrats indorse
him." declared Livingston emphati-
cally. 1--WE are not going to help
nominate a man who would cause
the creation of the most stupendous
political machine in history, and
that's what Government ownership
of railroads. with their million and
a quarter of employees, would mean.
Why, man who was President when |
that thing happened could perpetu-
ate himself in office--could establish |
a dynasty in the White House!
Strange Story.