The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-09
BRYAN LOOMS UP.
Nothing But Death Can Prevent
His Nomination
Is the Belief of Democratic
Managers in the East.
HEARST MEN FOR HIM.
Editor of American Might Ac-
cept Second Place.
New York Residence Bars Him
From Heading the Ticket.
Republicans Are Turning to
Roosevelt as Only Hope.

Washington, June 9.-The CORE
spondent of the Chicago Tribune wires
his paper as follows:
William Jennings Bryan's familiar
face looms large IN the political sky
nowadays. There is every indication
of a concerted movement to put him to
the front now. two years in advance of
the national convention. and thus head
off all possible candidates and com
binations which otherwise might cross
! his path.
The Democratic managers here be-
lieve Bryan's nomination for president
can be prevented only by his death or
by one of those strange happenings
which now and then dislocate the plans
of political leaders.
1t is an extraordinary thing for any
body to have the solemn pledges Of a
number of strong states so long ahead.
It frequently happens that a president
who actually is in power is Endorsed for
denomination in the middle of his term.
This is the thing, however, which Mark
Hanna. declined to do for Roosevelt,
the Ohio convention going on record
/ to the extent of the actual pledge of
/ support.
Best Thing for Party.
But in Bryan's- case all this is differ
ent and one Democratic state conVen-
; I1On AFTER announcer mas not Only pau
! him complimentary attention but has
pledged him the delegates in advance
and has done it in such way as to
make the pledge practically part Of
the platform.
For a long time there was a belief
among political leaders that Bryan's
Nomination not only cannot be averted
/ but that. all things considered, it was
the best thing that could happen to the
i party. In the far east there has been
4 fear of Hearst. He has never done
anything much to create fear because
with all his fadicalism Mr.. Hearst is
/ temperate, self-contalned man himself
/ and Is much less of demagogue than
/ many men in his own party who have
/ made virtue of denouncing him.
/ In New York City, in Boston, and in
various sections of the east there has
4 been a disposition to turn to Bryan as
4 the lesser Of two evils Mr.. Hearst repre-
/ senting the greater evil in the opinion
/ of the old corporation Democracy rep
resented by the Belmonts. the old Whit
ney element, Ryan. Henry G. Davis,
and others.
western Enthusiasm Significant.
But what strikes politicians here as
the most significant thing is the out
burst for Bryan coming from the west,
where his original strength came from.
He is being Endorsed there apparently
on his merits and because the rank and
file of Democracy appear to love him as
the great element of the Republican
party loved Blaine twenty odd years
ago. Expressions OF admiration and
] pledges OF support from Arkansas, South
Dakota, Missouri, and Indiana inside of
a couple of days are not dictated in
any way by hostility to Hearst, but are
apparently genuine demonStra lions of
local affection for Bryan.
The rapid fire of the conventions has
made an extraordinary impression here
in Washington. and both Democrats
and Republicans are even now ready
to admit that Bryans nomination two
years hence is as inevitable as anything
ever is in American politics.
Friends of Mr.. Hearst call attention
to the fact that the outburst for Bryan
has not involved in any state thus far
heard from opposition from the Hearst
element On the contrary, it is de-
clared the Hearst men are Bryan men
and this is certainly largely true among
the members of the house of represen-,
tatives. The inference from this is that
Hearst viii be willing in the long run
to take second place on the ticket with
William Jennings Bryan, and it must
be admitted this would be an extremely
strong combination at the polls
Bar Another Eastern Man.
Democratic leaders long ago aban-
doned the idea they could have any
hope of success with another eastern
candidate. Parker made such a mess
of it from the day of the convention
to the day of action and was controlled
by such an unpopular crowd of politi-
clans in New York state that the south
ern and western Democrats have in
sisted from the start that the candidate
must come from west of the AlIeghan-
les if not from south of Mason and
Dixons line.
( This has been one of the strongest
objections to Hearst among regular line
Democrats The men from the south
and west have not been afraid of his
radicalism, but, on the contrary, they
were much impressed by the extraor-
binary fight he put up in New York
city. Had he chosen his home In Chi
cago or San Francisco he would have
been particularly acceptable to a large
percentage of the rank and file As it
7 Is, Bryan seems to have captured the
ina ginati of the Democratic multi
tude and he will, In ali probability go.
into the convention with an initial sup
port SO great that it can be likened only
to that which Roosevelt had at Chi
cago II 1904.
Turn to Roosevelt.
The correspondent Of the Chicago
Record-Herald sends out the follow
There has been much discussion
here within the last few weeks as to
the Republican national ticket in
1908. It has been practically con-
! ceded that as the situation stands to-
day Vice President Fairbanks is in the
lead for the Republican nomination to
head the next national ticket. But as
to contest at the polls between Fair
banks and Bryan the most astute poll
ticians are satisfied that the Nebras-
kan. who twice before has led his
party in unsuccessful battles. would
have all the best Of it.
With this understanding, the ques-
| ton arises What will the Republic
I cans do when it really comes to nam