The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-09-01
HISTORY OF THE
BRYAN SULLIVAN AFFAIR.
Tampa Herald.

The most talked-of thing in Demo
cratic politics these August days Is
the Bryan-Sullivan affair out in H.
iinois. If it shows nothing else, it
points to the fact that Mr.. Bryan is
not afraid of losing a vote or two by
talking hold of question which he
considers he is on the right side. In
other words, Mr.. Bryan is showing
the country, at loss OF a number OF
votes, that he is not only fearless In
matters political, but that he is on
the side Of honesty even in partisan
affairs.
Away back in 1904, Sullivan and
his political partner. Hopkins, had
control of the Illinois Democratic
State Committee They were opposed
by the Carter Harrison forces in
Chicago and by the Hearst forces in
the country Sullivan was not consid-
cred loyal to the party, in that he
had opposed the regular Democratic
ticket. but as many others did that
during the Bryan campaigns, that act
was not considered criminal. There
were other reasons why Carter Harri-
son and Hearst and the friends of
Mr.. Bryan opposed him, notably
among them being that Sullivan was
so dictatorial in running the State
Committee that 1t was almost lmpos-
sible for any one to secure recognition
without first swearing allegiance to
Sullivan.
At the State convention in 1904,
Sullivan and Hopkins undertook TO
run things. Frank Quinn was made
chairman and George Grenna was
made secretary, and both OF them
were tools of Sullivan and Hopkins.
They unseated all of Carter Harrison's
delegates from Chicago, and expelled
from the floor of the convention
number of country delegates who were
admirers of Hearst or Bryan. The
convention was a disgrace to the par
tv from start to finish. and its nomi'
nees were slaughtered at the polls.
Mr.. Bryan then and there referred to
the proceedings as tralnropber
methods" and declared that he would
have nothing to do with any such
proceedings.
Sullivan was made committeeman
for the State of Illinois, over the pro-
tests of all other factions, and Mr..
Bryan himself made fight at the ma
tional convention in st. Louis against
him. However, Sullivan. was success
full at the st. Louis convention, large
" because of the Parker following not
being willing to go into a fight lined
I'D on the side of Mr.. Bryan.
Politician that he Us, Sulliven saw
the trend of affairs for the Nebraskan
end he concluded that II was about
time to get In the bandwagon. He
cav and knew that the State was for
BRYAN and he came out In interviews
advocating the nomination of the ora.
tor for president in 1908. Then 1t
was that Mr.. Bryan notified Sullivan
that the best thing he could do would
be to resign from the national COM
mittee. and then it was also that Sui
livan said he would do nothing Of the
sort
From London Mr. Bryan wrote an
open letter to the Illinois Democrats
denouncing Sullivan. and in that let
ter he made it pretty plain that he
did not even want the support OF
such men as Sullivan. Sullivan came
back with caustic letter, calling the
Nebraskan a few names-so there you
ere.
II is quite evident that Mr.. Bryan
is not expecting to be elected presi-
dent through the aid Of the men of
the Sullivan stripe. There is no
doubt but Sullivan has many friends
and that Mr.. Bryan's letter will lose
him a number of votes, but 1t Is also
true that many respectable people
have been pleased with the attitude