New-York tribune., 1907-09-16
THE OPEN HEARTED SOUTH.


,r,,o ,,olitical oninfons of the Hon. Furnifold
MI andeI simmons. senior Senator from North
Carolina are entitled TO respectful consldera-
tiou. Mr.. Simmons has shown some capacity
for reading the future. since long before ihe
Democratic National Convention OF I904 was
held he announced in the Senate that the Dem
ocratic party would put in the field 'Judl'louS
and judicial" Presidential candidate. In that
forecast he improved on the earlier conjecture
Of ex- Senator James X. Jones. twice chairman
Of the Democrats National Committee that the
Marty vvould probably hunt ont some safe jurist
ar moro ar less obscure business man. Inc
convention did select nominee who WAS judi
cious and judicial and safe" to the point or
running his canvass al one-quarter 10 ha1f speed
pressare. our gifted contemporary The Even
ing Post" hailed him when he was dominated as
The Man at Last" and his finish certainly mad
some at-the-last features.
Mr. Simmons feels the spirit OF prophecy
.gain stirring within him. He was asked the
other day in Washington TO foreshado" me a'
tion Of the Democratic National Convention of
1ane and RESPONDED with some views which
have the merits of insight and Candor- The
North Carolina Senator's state Of mind reflects
that of the average Southern politician, gov
erned as it has been for generation IN Such
ma tiers as the choice Of a Democratic natlohaI
ticket not by considerations Of principle. but
merely bv motives Of temporary eXpedlehcH'
The South has been willing to blow hot or cold
on anv national issue and has shifted from
conservatism TO radcalism and from radicaism
10 conservatism as one or the other seemed 10
nromise more practical results in a campaign
for the Presidency The South has been of two
hearts two minds and two voices. and, like
Orator Puff it is still not little in doubt AS TO
which tone will he more persuasive next year.
As Mr.. Simmons truthfully puts it, the South
is still intensely loyal to Mr.. Bryan. 1t regards
him las the greatest advocate of the peoples
rights and interests whom this generation has
produced The people Of the South-or, II
may be. the politicians of the South-do not
agree with him all along the line. They dis
"agree radically with him." Mr.. Simmons re-
ports, "on the questions of government owner
ship of the railroads and the initiative and
referendum Yet. despite these trifiing differ
ences, they for him heart. soul and voice
up to n certain limit-and should he say the
word or let anybody else say il fer him, the
Southern delegates would support him i'm the
next Democratic convention without conditions
and without hesitation.
So clear and unselfish is the South's devotion
10 Bryan that it is willing to nominate him
while repudiating his two present paramount
, doctrines. Yet the South has another mood.
1t pledges its support to the Nebraska states
man. ''the greatest advocate of the peoples
rights and interests whom this generation has
''profuced.' But il hopes he will be sensible
enough not to take that pledge too seriously
As Mr. Simmons automatically describes the
situation: There is n widespread hope in that
section 1.-THE Soulful. shared by many of Mr.
''Brvan's warmest admirers that he will not
'.he n candidate" HonOrng him for his pre-
eminent services and admitting his right TO lead
ership. the South would yet gladly see him i'm
moIate himself and pass the nomination along
TO somebody whose eligibility Is based on the
fact that he has carried a Republican state and
is not yet. well enough known in a national
sense To- have attracted the enmity of any one of
the ffty-seven varieties of Democrats. The
South is willing TO take 4 gamblers chance on
the unknown If Mr. Bryan will only stand aside
If he permits il there will be drawing from
the hat, and the nomination will go to Lewis
Stuyyesant Chanler. John :. Whalen. Martin H
Glynn. Julius Hauser or William s. Jackson
all of whom have shown their ability to carry
New York and each of whom may live to be
"an advocate Of the peoples rights and inter
ests even greater then Mr.. BRYAN The South