The weekly true Democrat., 1907-08-30
bryan Not the Whole Choose.

The Chicago Record Herald of last
Tuesday a week says that Col. VIM.
Jennings Bryan will not be permitted
to be a passive candidate for the
Democratic Presidential nomination.
He will have to speak up if he wants a
chance at the job.
Before the Democratic National Com
mittee meets in December to fix the
place and date for holding the national
convention, Mr., Bryan will be forced
practically to declare himself an active
aspirant for the nomination.
A decision TO this effect was reached
in Chicago Saturday at conference in
which National Chairman Taggart and
Roger c. Sullivan had q prominent
part. In the conference, it is under
stood, were representatives of enough
elements to make the ultimatum good.
Gov. Joseph w. Folk, of Missouri, is
to be the wedge used to pry Mr. Bryan
off the lid which has kept possible can
didates of Democracy quiescept The
penalty for refusal to abide by the will
OF the national leaders Is the transfer
of the delegations of Illinois, Indiana
and the conservative" States from the
Bryan column TO some other candidate
probably Gov. Folk.
WOULD CATCH BRYAN.
The proposition, it is understood, Is
to have authoritative announcement
made from Missouri that Folk is ready
to get into the Presidential race. Then
a deputation OF Folks friends will ask
Mr.. Bryan to declare himself for the
Missouri Governor. A refusal will be
considered as a declaration Of war, and
Bryan will be forced TO fight for the
Missouri delegation.
Such a situation is what the conserva-
tive leaders are hoping for. So soon as
such a condition appears on the horizon
the opportunity will be at hand for
battle between the Bryanites and the
unfriendly State organizations, which,
it is claimed, will espouse the Folk
cause.
Chairman Taggart carries a commits
sion with him, It is said, to do and act
for the solid Eastern strength in the
next national convention.
Mr.. Sullivan has been closely in
touch with the Middle Western Demo
Gratis, and those who have followed de-
velopments closely have little doubt
that he IS competent TO speak for a
number of States in the Mississippi
valley.
FOLK WILLING ENOUGH.
A. &. Stewart, president of the st.
Louis Board Of Police Commissioners,
and known as Gov Folks closet friend
in St Louis, was not at the conference,
but he had been in Chicago for two
days, and Mr.. Sullivan had bulletins
fresh from the front TO carry TO the
conference as indicative of Gov. Folk s
disposition. That Folk is willing 10 get
into the Presidential contest is taken
as assured.
Mr. Bryan may be compelled 70 show
his hand in another way before the Ma
tiOnal Committee meets There Is no
doubt under existing conditions that
Chicago is the choice Of a large major
ity Of the National Committee as a
place for holding the convention, and
the plans are now under way to push
the deal through The doubtful guam
tity about Chicago winning when the
committee meets is furnished by Mr..
Bryan himself Should the Nebraskan
maintain the position that Roger Sulli-
van must get out of the national or
ganization, il is presumed that he will
not favor Chicago, the Sullivan stamp
ing ground.
An attempt on Mr. Bryan's part 10
line up the national committeeman for
Cincinnati, possibly, or any other city
than Chicago, will be taken immedi-
ately as an unfriendly act by the con-
servatives and precipitate the trouble
for the Nebraskan a bit earlier than is
now expected.