Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-05-18
Saturday, May 10, 1907.
Bryan and Hearst.

There have been for some time past,
various Indications Of a growing cold
ness between William Jennings Bryan
and William Randolph Hearst, al
though the reasons for such change Of
feeling between these erstwhile friends
has not been altogether apparent. The
public has been unable to conceive why
two men who think 50 much allke
should not continue to act together.
On Monday last a letter from Mr.
Stcaley, one Of the strongest and most
reliable newspaper correspondents IN
Washington and a lifelong Democrat,
apueared in the columns of his paper,
the Louisville COurier-Journal, not
only asserting that there is and has
been for sometime past state of war
between Hearst and Bryan, but also
stating with considerable detail the
events that are alleged TO have led up
To it. Commenting upon Mr.. Stealcy' $
revelation Col. Henry Watterson, the
able editor Of the CourierJnurnal, in
his issue Of May II says:
This will come in the nature of news
to most people 1t was generally sup
posed the two were inserarable. The
stony went, though we cannot vonch
for the truth of it, that in 1909, Mr..
Hearst paid Mr.. Bryan's expenses on
iii. tour around the slnbe-as 50, cial
correspondent for the syndicate Of
Hcarat ncWspapels-an thai, on Mr.
Rfyan's return early III 1901 1t was Mr..
Hearst who hired Madison Square Car
d.-II. y here Mr.. Bryan made his open
ing speech against the Eastern DcniOc-
rarv ana poured hot shot into the pro-
Iosc,. candidacy of Judge Parker.
"'Th" reason for the break between
the Californian and the Nrbraskan is
titus explained by Mr.. Stcalcy:
william Il. Iisarst's friends say that
TIN. irtsI- 81 hie h"lilitT 10 NiIll1m }.
i:lyIm was Mr.. EIyan'a auitui" il IT,
last Democratic National Convention.
Fpr eight years, beginning IN lNn. Mr..
IIurst s friends point out, ~ l"H tlly
Supported n yam, hut wh"r II Tn con-
Vrntipn ~ 1904 Bryan was not 4 candidate
fur III" unminati' ana Hearst was,
Lrran, instead Of helping IL ir@t, r;v.
Iii ern,p"r, to former United State S"na-
tor cnckr"ll Of Missouri. VII" nv no pos
Sibilitv could GlaV" carried off tine u"mi-
nation.
RI" foregoing. coming as it docs from
the. leading Democratic paper Of the
South ccrtainly makes very interesting
reading. However much friends Of
Mr. Bryan may cndcaVnr to max" il
appear nthcrwis" the fact remains that
rhc loyal sum nrt Of Mr. Hearst ana his
NEWSPAPERS ounstit nt-d the most pow
.rful. ANA almost the only vital Gle
m,nte az strength which til" Nebraska
leader hal behind him IN the cam
rai&rg If 1896 and 1900.
Every consideration of personal
pratitu1" and political obligation
,h"uid have led Mr.. Bryan to support
Mr. Hearst in his candidacy for the
Democratic presidential nomination in
1904. but, as Mr. Stralry points out, he
net only failed t" 10 this, but thrrw his
influence. 10 the candidacy Of Senator
"a, krtn Of Missouri. Well might
Hearst. rut to the quick hy this gross
ingratitude have exclaimed in the words
Of ancient Caesar "Et III Brute"
II is true that the Louisville Courier
Journal is not particularly friendly to
Mr. Hearst. although it declares:
Ellis candidacy for mayor Of New
York and aftcrWard for Governor Of
New York was justified at least by the
attending circumstances and condi-
tinns."
"I:ut. il adds. that young man I'M
Thought Of for rcsident-withuut
the least antcccdent cue, or pop
uiar call-should set forth upon
II Pr, sidcntial crusade with moth
ing more than 4 check book and a
brass band-fOr this was the measure
of the HEARST candidacy in 19O4-coud
he r"c"nciled only with II topsy-turvy
state of mind"
1t seems to US that. in the foregoing
paragraph the Courier journal is dis
tinctly unfair u Mr Hearst Indeed il
is strange fact that in all the storms
Of newspaper opposition Of which he has
at various times been the center. the
most bitter and vituperative have come
from newspapers of his political faith.
In spite IF the Courier Journals dis
Iaraging reference above noted. the
fact Il mains that Mr.. Hearst was n
murE better known man, Of vastly
largely personal achievement, in 1901.
than was Mr.. Bryan when he received
the presidential nomination at the
hands of his pnrty in 1905
Mr.. Hearst was Mr. Bryan's strong
est and most effective supporter at
that time, and under those conditions.
Why then should Mr.. Bryan. who af-
fccts 10 share his political views. have
:" coldly deserted him in 1901? So far
as Mr. Bryan is concerned no reason
so far as we know has ever been given.
The Courier Journal declares that
THE very grotesqueness of the 1901
business gave a black eye to his
<Htarsts) gubernatorial candidacy in
1896. He may never outlive the dis