The Washington herald., 1907-02-16

ONAuvcEaAS AFRAID OF TAFT.
William Randolph Hearst is organizing
to make his influence felt in the next
Democratic national convention. Organ
izers for the Independence League are
already at work in Iowa, Indiana, and
other of the Central Western States. Mr.
Hearst is believed to be attempting 10
force recognition from the nominee Of the
convention, who, presumably will be
William J. Bryan. But just what il is Mr.
Hearst is after. nobody pretends to know,
LOT nobody ever knows what Mr.. Hearst
is trying 10 do
despite the assurance which has come
from all those who have talked with Mr..
Bryan at Lincoln recently that his heart
Is not set on the Presidential nomination.
ms friends are showing an activity which
Is greater than any other now being
manifested in the Democratic ranks.
These friends say that, no matter what
views their leader may entertain. they are
convinced he can be elected President.
and they are not going to take any
chances on the nominating convention.
In1nstructed Delegations.
The movement differs somewhat for diff
ferent sections Of the country The best
organization is that for the New Eng
land States 1t is proposed TO send an
uninstructed delegation from each of
these States, but the organization which
IS engineering the movement is composed
exclusively OF men whose personal 10y
atty to Bryan the leader himself viii
Vouch for. Each of the New England
States has IT'S own organization, with a
central organization for New England
10 which it reports. and the promise is
made that only Bryan men viii go to
the convention from any of these States.
and that they viii not go instructed, but
VIII hold themselves in readiness to sup
port any other candidate who will carry
out the policies for which Mr.. Bryan
stands. if. for any reason, the nomination
OF the Nebraskan is undesirable.
Mr.. Bryan himself, IL is said, may con-
clude that he does not desire the nomi-
nation, and in that event all Of the New
England delegates VIII be prepared to
rush for the man on whom the Bryan
mantle will fan. Not less than sixteen
States including New York New Jer-
sey, Illinois. and Indiana. have. either di-
rectly Endorsed the candidacy OF Mr..
Bryan. or adopted resolutions compliment
Ing and congratulating him.
Democrats Not Confident.
1t is one Of the most remarkable de-
Velopments in recent politics that. aside
from the pronounced Bryan supporters,
Democratic leaders do not entertain
hopeful view of the fight for 1905 None
OF them views the situation as entirely
hopeless. but the party has been defeated
70 badly and so frequently Of late that
It's members seem to lack political cOur- /
age.
The Republicans. on the other hand, /
view the campaign of 1905 with alarm. 4
They regard New York as decidedly I'M /
certain, no matter who may be the Re /
publican nominee. They believe that even 1
Ar. Roosevelt himself would find it diff /
cult TO carry that State Other States /
which certainly would be found I'm the Re 4
publican column with Roosevelt as the 4
nominee are placed i'm the doubtful list /
should a candidate of corporation tenden- 4
cies be chosen. BY corporation tendencies I
is not necessarily meant candidate with 4
corporation connections but one who re- |
luctanuy has been forced into a support 4
of the administration. Such a nominee /
"a large part of the Republican member /
ship of the House believes. would mean
an uncertain result I'm Ohio, Indiana, iii /
nois. Wisconsin, and even in Iowa and !
Kansas.
Taft Feared by Democrats.
Next 10 Roosevelt, the man whom the
Democrats fear as a candidate above all /
others is Secretary Taft Taft. too. is re-
garded by the Republicans on the House
side as their most available candidate. the
Presidents well-kHown position being
kept In mind. The hostility 10 the Sscre-
tdry in the Senate. however, is Just as in
tense as it is to Roosevelt. Perhaps the
indictment is a broad one. but the disin-
terested view in Washington is that a
very considerable number of Republican
Senators would prefer to see Bryan
elected rather than have four years more
of administration by a Roosevelt Repub-
lean A day does not pass but one hears
the remark that if a Democrat were in
the White House a Republican Senate
could block him without calling down
upon itself the wrath Of the party.
The Senators whose tenure Of Office
seen. secure are on an entirely different
basis from the Representatives. who must
go up or down with their Presidential
candidate. The recent elections by the
legislatures Of the various States give the
interests which have always looked 10 the
Senate for help almost an absolute guar
antee of protection. Nothing short of a
political revolution could change the
Senates sentiment Even If there should
DE q clean Democratic sweep in 1908 If /
would not give that party control of the
Upper Body, and with this guarantee of
security Il iWTHTOerCf AZ 20 L.
chances on the aunihilatlon of Roosevelt
ism !n the Republican party
Republican politicians have keener
appreciation than have the Democrats of
brydns running qualities. In the States
which are safely Democratic Mr. BRYAN
Is not nearly as strong as in the States
whore Republicans are IN control The
South is not. and never has been. enam-
cred Of Bryan, but his popularity in In
diana and Ohio apparently is greater now I
than az any other time in his career. and :
the same statement would apply to New /
York Connecticut and New Jersey.
Popular I'm Middle West.
4 prominent citizen of Columbus. Ohio. Z
now in Washington, was discussing the /
hold Of Mr.. Bryan on the people of his
state with a group of Republican poll J
ticians- On February 20 the Columbus
Board of Trade is to give its annual ban
uuet Ordinarily not more than two or /,
three hundred people are assembled on 4,
that OCCASION. The membership OF the '
club is loo. representing every import $
ant business interest of the city. This {
year Mr. Bryan was invited to deliver the
chief address. and was asked 10 talk in
q non-Dolitcal way on his travels abroad.