Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-13
.bRYAN'S LEADERSHIP
Clouds on the Horizon, Which
May Grow.
COMMITTEEMAN SULLIVAN
He Has Been Too Hasty in Advice in
Regard to Him.
THE HEARST MEN GRUMBLING
Proposed Reception in Hands of His
Enemies-Jerome's Appearance
in New York Politics.
THE HEARST MEN GRUMBLING

Ever since Mr Bryan announced his
homecoming and preparations have been
under way for an enthusiastic reception in
his honor in New York city the whole DEM
ocratic party has been stirred up over the
event to such an extent that it has seemed
that his nomination for the presidency two
years hence is an assured fact Several
state conventions have declared for him.
and in order that they may have preferred
seats on the band wagon many men prom
,nent In the party have expressed their be-
lief that his leadership in 1908 in inevitable
Whlle no one questions the wonderful
personal power that Mr.. Bryan exercises
over his party as he has exercised it for
ten years, and while he is head and shoul-
ders above any man in his party in the de-
gree OF confidence he holds among the rank
and file Of the democracy, there are small
clouds on the horizon of his leadership that
of extension in such way as to eclipse
his wonderful popularity when the time
comes for the next democratic convention
to nominate candidate for the presidency.
Committeeman Sullivan.
bryan's stand In the case of Sullivan, the
democratic national committeeman from
Illinois. by which he proposes to fight to
put Mr.. Sullivan off the committee, Is re-
garded by many Of his friends as unneces-
sary and ill-advised because they say every
state should be left largely to take care
of the election Of its own representative
on the committee. and even If Mr. Bryan
did not approve the tactics of Sullivan he
would be in better shape to confine his ac-
t1vity toward him to times when his Gre
dentfals come up in such a way that they
may be challenged. They do not believe he
should become an active participant in a
Lactlonal hght outside his own state. The
hight on Sullivan, they declare, means an
extended bitterness toward Bryan in Chi
cago, which only requires an opportunity in
order direct it toward some other candidate
Then, too, former Senator Smith of New
Jersey, who fs dubbed the New Jersey
Belmont" claims he has letter from
Bryan accepting an invitation to go into
New Jersey under the guidance Of Smith,
and that has called forth protests from
Sm1th's enemies that have already grown
to the degree of carrying a threat Of dis
ruption of the party.
Hearst Men Grumbling.
In New York city, on the eve of the re-
ception, the Hearst men are grumblng in
a most discordant way. They have taken
ahront from the fact that the reception
has gone into the control of some of the
most bitter personal and political enemies
OF Hearst, and their natural jealousy of
Bryan makes it natural that they should
feel inundated upon seeing the reception
controlled by men not of their own kind.
Their ambition is to land their chief in
the position of national democratic leader.
and they know that Hearst is a pigmy be-
SIDE Bryan In his possession Of the conf
dence of the party at large. But they are
relentless and are watching for an oppor-
tunity to score points for Mr.. Hearst.
And now Jerome's friends are urging him
want him to accept any kind of nomination
he can get. If the democratic convention
will nominate him, so much the better. If
the Independence League will come back
of his candidacy they would welcome it.
But whether these influences indarse him
or not they want him to be a candidate. and
his closest friends make it known that he
is willing to lead the party. He is ready for
another Whiriwind campaign throughout
the state instead of within the city. If
elected he could name his successor as dis
trict attorney and still see that that Office
is conducted on the lines laid out by him.
Even some Tammany men want him be-
cause they do not like Hearst and they
believe he Is a winner, and they know
that there is no hope for one of their own
kind.
Jerome as Governor.
If Jerome should be elected governor of
New York, which republicans do not be-
lieve can be accomplished, Bryan might
look well to his laurels for national leader
ship. Bryan's loyalty to the old issue of
Aiec ShSeT uldue HldLy uemOCrarS VINO
were prepared to forgive him for the past
renew their hostility toward him. He has
enemies within his party who will be at
the next convention in full force. Some of
them might not like Jerome in every re-
spect, but such things always resolve them
selves into a choice between what they
would regard as two evils, with Jerome's
fine record for forcibly enforcing the Jaw
to his credit as a strong card before the
people.
OF course, these undercurrents of unrest
within the party will not affe,t the won
derful enthusiasm that is sura to meet Mr..
Bryan on the Both of this month. They
may never gain such Importance to chal-
lenge his leadership. Bu- they are being
discussed as ominous warnings of the pcs
sfbility of danger toward his leadership.
which SO many of the rank and file regard
not only as undisputed, put inuisputa BILE
since the pitiful fiasco attending the wan
dering OF the party toward Judge Parker
as a Moses to lead them to victory.