The Democratic advocate., 1907-06-28
Letter From Washington.
Special Correspondence of the Advocate.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., June 20, 1907

Special Correspondence of the Advocate.
WASHINGTON, d. c., June 20, 1907.
This week has been prolific of semi official
statements. Beveridge has been to Oyster
Bay, and presumably with authority, an
nounces that "We" are not standing so aw-
fully pat as some folks suppose. The state
ment Beveridge writes for the "World' is not
as specific as the curious desire, but IT an
nounces that "natural causes should be
reasonable and avoid producing panic, just
because ii is found necessary to revise some
scandalously oppressive schedules. The whole
significance of this semi official statement is
that revision is accepted at Oyster Bay as an
inevitable issue.
Then comes Bourke Cochran home from
Nebraska, where he has seen Mr.. Bryan. He
repeats what so many who have seen Mr..
Bryan lately know to be true; that is, that he
is in doubt as to whether he will be a candl-
date or not He thinks it is too soon to de-
eide. These two great orators, according to
the newspapers. spent their time in talking
about the platform.
Finally, Norman E. Mack returns abroad
to report Of fields and individuals beyond the
pale of candidacy, and says that Richard
Croker will return to the States, but only TO
vote. The hope expressed by Mr. Mack that
Mr. Hearst and Mr.. Bryan will, for the party
good. make up their differences. has brought
out The first explicit statement concerning the
basis Of ih.. I, ud between these two gentlemen.
None Of Hcarst's friends, whom the New
York n-NsI apcrs sought would speak for pub
iication. but it ss., learned that there is still
very pronounced i'll feeling on the part of the
Hearst people against Mr.. Bryan, and the
reason is given thLo:
Mr. Hearst, in 1896 and 1900, personally
through his newspapers supported Mr.. Bryan
for the Presidency. In 1904 Mr.. Bryan was
not {, candidate for the presidency, while Mr..
Hearst was. and Mr.. Hearst felt that he should
have Mr.. Bryan's support. Instead of re-
quitting the political loyalty of Mr.. Hearst,
Mr. Bryan went upon the platform and
seconded the nomination of former United
States Senator Cockrell, Of Missouri, who had
no chance of being nominated. Some of the
Hearst people, who were seen, declared that
Mr. Hearsts friends would do everything pos
sible to defeat Mr.. Bryan for the nomination
next year, and that if they accomplished their
purpose, Mr.. Hearst would not run for Presi-
dent as the candidate of the National Inde.
pendence League.
Peculiar significance is lent by these state
ments, which are admittedly inspired from
Hearst sources, to Mr.. Bryan's recent utter
ance concerning the Hearst Independent
League, to the effect that 'from Socialistic
standpoint, there will be reason enough for
third part; but that from Democratic stand
point, a third party will be unnecessary
Neither the broad and charitable states
manship which enlightening travel is sup
posed to produce, nor the Christening effects
of defeat and reputation, are apparent in
this disclosure, and thoughtful Democrats are
justified in wondering whether the promising
party outlook is to be clouded by personal
rivalry petty enough 10 do credit to a town
meeting and involving personal ambitions
and no principles.
Some of the ignoble results of this quarrel
between the candidates may be seen in the
recent exposure of Mr.. Bryan's undignifed
method of hanging around box Offices and
personally collecting and bestowing, in bag
carried for that purpose, the actual cash for
his work as a lecturer, instead of having
clerk or secretary do it,
While this and other small items of purely
personal interest may be entertaining to
groundlings and professors of department,
they cannot contribute to healthy public dis
eussion about matters of principle.