Evening journal., 1907-07-26
Friday July 90, 1907.
BRYAN AND HEARST.


UST at the time the formal announcement of
the avowed candidacy Of Colonel BRYAN for
the Democratic nomination for President comes
the further statement that the forces of William
Randolph Hearst arc active. Down in Kentucky,
under the very eyes of Colonel Watterson, the
groomer of Democratic dark horses. Hearsts
agents are picking up supporters and preparing
for the battle of next year. The Hearst cam
paign will also be extended through the middle
west
Il looks now as though the Democratic battle
for the nomination will be between Bryan and
Hearst And in such conflict the chances are
largely in favor Of the Nebraska candidate. 1t
would be very hard, indeed, for Hearst to weaken
Bryans hold upon the masses Of his party.
Hearst, in his last campaign in New York, did
not prove himself strong, a vote compelling
candidate. Had some other man been running
on the Democratic ticket that candidate most
likely would have been elected Hearst was
weaker than his colleagues on the ticket
The so-csued independence League a scheme
of Hearst's to get under the Republican. vote and
win any radicals that may have held allegiance
TO the Republican party. failed to accomplish its
purpose Had Hearst been chosen governor.
or even did he to-day occupy the mayors chair
in New York, TO which many believe he is Justly
entitled, he would have been formidable oppon-
ent Of Bryan but in his present position it does
not appear at all likely that Hearst can do more
than make trouble for the Democratic conven-
ton.
One Of the strong points in favor Of the domi-
nation Of Bryan in the party is the weakness of
the opposition in the party to the Nebraska
leader Lately the efforts of the so-called CON
servative Democrats have abated With MANY
supposedly influential Democratic leaders in the
opposition to Colonel Bryan. and with many in
fuential newspapers at their beck and call, they
should be able to stir into tangible form their
opposition. But while united in the opposition to
Bryan, they are as one for no candidate They
are running hither and thither booming this
man and that one, without any definite concen-
tration Of energy upon any one Of the many
names that they have brought before the coun-
try.
There is Colonel Watterson, for instance urg-
ing the governor Of Northwestern State, who
is scarcely known in the East, and who is prob
ably as radical in his views as is Colonel BRYAN.
BY far the best candidate upon whom the
conservatives, so-called, could unite with any
show Of winning the nomination, would be our
own Judge Gray If they were all united upon
him, determined 10 concentrate their energies in
one direction, and for one man, the conservatives
might have chance Of defeating Bryan Judge
Gray, it would seem, should easily get the votes
in the convention Of the Southern States, where
Bryan is not supposed to be as strong as he once
was.
It will be an easy victory for Bryan at the con-
vention if the conservatives continue the cam
paign Of talk, mere talk, about the desrabty Of
Judge Gray or some other person. The aggres-
sive work under such conditions of the followers
OF Mr. Bryan will enable him early to capture the
conventon, with the ultimate outcome another
defeat for the party, that is unless the Republi-
can reactionaries are able to undo the work OF
president Roosevelt and his supporters.