The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-01
DON'T LIKE BRYAN'S SPEECH.
MANY DEMOCRATS OBJECT TO
HIS RAILROAD THEORIES,

And FIND Through IL All q faint or So
clallsm which They Say II UndemO-
Cratic-BauSNma Advises Bryan to
Let the sullivan Trouble An Alone.
Tho very greatest dissatisfaction was
expressed yesterday by Southern Demo-
Gratis over Bryan's declaration for Federal
ownership Of railroads. Yet not a mothers
son Of a Democrat from the South cared
to give an individual interview expressing
| d~isfavor. The Boutherners simply con-
tented themselves by individually n col
lectively declaring that II Bryan persisted
In thrusting his views on this subject upon
the Democratic national convention OF
1908 the Southern delegates would be
opposed to him to q a and should Bryan,
overcoming all objections. become the
candidate Of the Democrats for President
In that convention q rumber Of Southern
Democratic States would go over to the
Republican column.
The Southern Democrats reiterated their
views which were stated in THE SUN early
In the week and which In effect were that
with Federal ownership Of railroads the
Jim Grow" cars, which all Southern rail-
roads provide for negro travellers, would
be abolished The ~Southerners went on to
say yesterday that Federal ownership OF
| railroads would cause a social upheaval in
I all States below Mason and Dixon's line.
~ II had a talk with Mr.. Bryan on this
highly important subject said an iniuen-
tial member Of the Democratic national
committee yesterday, and / learned from
him that when he declared for Federal
ownership Of railroads in his speech at the
Madison Square Garden he wished it to be
distinctly understood that he was only ex-
pressing his personal views on the matter
and that he would not persist in thrusting
these opinions upon the Democratic national
convention two years from now.
%Mr. Bryan" continued this Democratic
national committeeman, lis a far different
man from the Bryan Of 1895 and 1900, when
he persisted in the 10 TO 1 free silver ratio
plank contrary to the advice Of his warmest
friends. 1t was all very we'll to let Bryan
have his way on the matter in 1895, but
after the prodigious defeat Of that year
because Of the free silver plank, Mr.. Bryan
had no right to again insist upon the same
disastrous plank in 1900. But he did, and
again the Democratic party was smashed.
Bryan now, to some of his closest friends,
is rather inclined to admit that it was a
great mistake to stand by the 10 to l issue
in 1900. The lesson that Bryan reaped in
that year because Of his persistency in
advocating free silver at 10 to / has
taught him not TO be so improbable in de-
handing that his own personal views be
accepted by the Democratic party; and for
that reason he will not insist that Federal
ownership Of railroads be inserted in the
Democratic national platform in 1903 il a
majority OF his friends conclude hat IL
would be unwise and disastrous"
Several Democratic national committee
men said that a majority OF the committee
who had come on from different States to
welcome Bryan were very much dissatisfied
with his speech. They not only objected
to the Federal ownership Of railroads, but
it was stated by these committeeman that
there was a flavor of socialism about il
which was un-Democratic and which has
caused dissatisfaction in the minds of a
majority Of the committee"
The Roger C. Sullivan incident will not
down. Mr.. Sullivan, national committee
man for Illinois, accompanied his brethren
to the Battery to welcome Bryan, but Bryan
and Sullivan did not meet, although Sullivan
attended the Madison Square dc monstration.
Victor Baughman, the late Senator Gov
mans representa- i've on the national COM
mittee for many years, who is to succeed
his chief as committeeman for the State,
II was learned, had a conversation with
MIR. Bryan over Bryan's demand that the
Illinois Democrats boost Sullivan out as
their member Of the national committee.
That water has gone over the dam,
Mr.. Bryan Mr.. Baughman is reported to
nave said to Mr. Bryan, and while IL was
a mistake, in my judgment, on your part
IL would ne wisdom now to let the matter
f, drop. and 1 should like TO know, Mr.. Bryan,
il the matter is to be dropped"
Il do not care TO say anything more about
that Just at the moment, replied Mr.. Bryan,
but / am TO look into both sides OF this
case. | am to hear both Sides
Mr.. Sullivan was spoken of yesterday
BY members of the Democratic national
/ committee as a very sturdy fighter. and
they recalled that in the convention Of 1904
Mr. Bryan at a meeting Of the committee
on contested seats bitterly attacked Mr..
Sullivan, and yet the Hi nois delegation
elected Sullivan as the States representa-
tive on the national committee.
Mr.. Bryan was very severely criticised
Yesterday by committeeman for adopting
what they said was Republican p~aternRlism
in the affairs of the Democratic national
committee: and they insisted that Mr..
Bryan, not only in the Sullivan case, but
also IN declaring for Fed eral ownership
Of railroads, was attempting to tear down
and to destroy the foundation stones OF
Democracy-States' rights.