Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-23
IN "THH ENHMYs COUNTRY"

AN AlA - a.
The Parker Belmont coterle Of Demo-
Gratis In New York city and state Is
casting about for a candidate who may
he able to defeat William ], Bryan In
the next national convention,
1t comedies that Judge Parker viii not
again DO u candidate, but Il also claims
that New York state viii be opposed to
Bryan, as II has always been, News
papers of the metropolis-the wish being
father to the thought-deelare that Mr.
Bryan win have no support east OF the
Mississippi river, but they have enough
political sagaeity left to admit that the
nomination win be made by tho west
and south-notahly by the west,
Judge Parker, It Is alleged, favors n
southern man for the nomination and
would gladly give the New York dele-
cation to Senator Daniel of Virginia,
if the Democrats of that state ask for
the support of New York. There has
been some talk In the east OF Judge
Gray of Delaware. Senator Rayner of
Maryland, Judson Harmon Of Ohio and
former Governor Francis of Missouri,
but It happens to be true that each OF
these Democrats Is friendly to Bryan,
especially Governor Francis, who has
declared himself favorable to Bryan's
nomination, Therefore none OF these
will be or can be In the running.
As the latest agreement on the part
of the Parker Belmont group, semi
official announcement Is just made that
Judge Parker will willingly acQuiesce
in the election of a delegation from New
York favorable to Jesse r. Grant, II the
south fails to request the delegation for
q southern man." 1t Is further stated
that New York Democrats concede
that the west and south will dominate
the national convention and that the
candidate will be from one or the other
of these sections, Nothing seems to be
moro certain at this time than that the
New York leaders viii be passive on all
matters to come before the convention,
save any proposition to commit the
Democracy to the government owner
ship of railroads"
The milk of the cocoanut lies in the
last sentence. New York is apparently
pluming itself for a single fight, as
usual, with all the present indications
that there will be no occasion for
fight. Mr.. Bryan has never declared
himself in favor of the government
ownership of railroads, except in the
event of failure of government regula-
ton. The people are not now prepared
to express themselves favorable to gov
ernment ownership. Even the Demo-
Gratis of the west have not so declared.
Why, therefore, should it be prejudged
that the government ownership prin-
ciple will enter into the national Demo-
cratic platform or convention? 1t is
not an issue and probably will not be.
Fact of the matter is, the old golditei
wing of the New York Democracy con-
tinues to nurse the sore occasioned by
it's utter rout by the western Democracy
In the convention of 1886. Until that
year New York had been permitted to
write all the platforms and nominate
all the candidates. But there came
time when the west and south revolted
and made an effort to place the party
in closer relationship to the people
west of the Alleghenies. The nomina-
ton of Bryan in 1896 was mere Incl
dent of that revolt. The revolution was
a success, Immediately upon the adop-
ton of the platform, and the acceptance
of Bryan only an afterthought.
Fortunately for the Democracy of the
present, the Parker and Belmont group
does not now constitute the Democratic
party or represent the Democratic
voters of New York. These leaders are
out of commission. They had their way
in 1904, with more disastrous results
than ever accrued to Mr.. Bryan or
western Democracy. 1t is now up to
them, to their patriotism and their
Democracy to place their intelligence
and experience at the disposal of the
national party and not sit down like
children to make faces at their brethren
across the street for imaginary Ills.