New-York tribune., 1906-09-13
EOT RID OP BRYAN.


tits easier 10 make a bad bargain than 10
onmalest. Having elected and installed party
leader. It IS not 30 simple q matter 10 recall his
commission and annul his title. In the first
heat OF ths reaction following Mr.. Bryan's
Madison Square Garden speech many foolish
atl1ngs were said about reducing the Nebraska
statesman 70 the ranks and hunting Cd some
Dther leader less given 10 candid statements
a-d risky generaliZattOns. Because the Hon.
join Sharp Williams. the Hon Joseph W.
sBElEys the Hon. John W. Daniel and other emil
jnent figures IN the Parker renascence OF 1908
1ound AIr. BryGn's railroad ownership and oper-
adm theories extreme and impracticable, the
cry was raised that the conservative Sourh-the
Den0cratic Soufh-hRd broken with the new
Header and would desert him as a candidate for
dhe Presidency. "The New York Times' was
reading HIN daily out OF the Democratic party,
and bis eclipse as a factor in the next national
congeution was predicted with airy and ofhand
cerrtuce An Bryan II was argued had hope
lessly rent the party by his public ownership
sDeech. ana the party In its rage and disappoint-
1nsnt would turn and rend him
We are not so sure that Democrats generally
arc anxious 10 recall the mandate publicly and
enthusiastically given 20 Mr.. Bryan. So far as
we can see, the party is TOO deeply committed 10
drzw back now. II Insisted on buying a pig IN
a poke and cannot sidesteD its investment.
1sidOr Rayner, OF Maryland said the other day.
he is not infatuated with the idea OF throwing on
The government the task OF operating Two hun
dred thousand miles of railroads. He IS willing
% admit that Mr. Bryan may be visionary and
snistIinn- But that does not necessarily dis
quality him for leading the Democratic party
81 think" Mr. Rayner remarked. that the Dem
"Oratic party would do better 10 nominate
"nan Of convictions and principles than a fig-
"urehead or a nonentity. would rather have
"a man wrong, II he Is honest than a swimmer
"with the tide who is afraid 20 buffet the waves
"and is only making for the shore" Two South
ern statesIGeorgia and Delaware-have held
conventions since the delivery Of the Madison
Square Garden speech. Both apparently took
Mr.. Rayner's view OF the situation, for both
Endorsed Alr. Bryan for the Presidential nom
ination IN 1908 In Connecticut yesterday the
state convention went out OF its way 20 avoid
either attacking or indorsing the Nebraska
statesman, thus emulating the even-nlindedness
OF the Congress district convention IN West
Virginia which last week denounced 'paternal-
ism" and Capitalization" in round terms and
then eulogized Mr. Bryan as "the ablest eK-
'Donent OF the principles Of our party, an hon
''est fearless statesman and unselfsh patriot
''and a safe. courageous and intrepid leader"
u does not look. IN fact, as IL the Bryan
deposition would so through according 90 sched-
uie- 'Ihe ETening Post" tw1ts us with trying
% magnify TIE effect OF 'parOchial issues In
Tie election, Rnd neglecting 10 notice that ''the
''hard headed voters OF Maine failed 70 respond
80 Mr. Tafrs argument that Roosevelt is the
'issne" II IS generally conceded-and rightly
--thnt the Eouor question was the controlling