The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-22

the feature of the week in
national politics. Not much
has been heard of the opposi-
tion to Bryan since he was In Wash
ington some weeks ago, and gave the
Democrats who opposed his nomina-
tion ample opportunity to tell him he
sbould efface himself and allow some
Democrat to be nominated VINO couiu
be elccted--an opportunity, by Tue way
Of which nobody could be found VIII
ing to avail himself.
The ute. inability of the opposition
to Bryan as manifested by Democrats
| in Congress to find a Auan Wiling to
nut the, bell on the cat In other words.
to tell Mr.. Bryan to his face that he
should not be n candidate, was dis
gushing or amusing as one viewed II.
The class who viewed 1t In the latter
light undoubtedly prevailed, and the
subject has been the topic OF thou-
sands of photographers, and furnished
Inspiration to every newspaper cartoon-
list in the country.
This unwillingness OF those Demo
Gratis who oppose Mr.. Bryan to tell him
they oppose him or to tell the world
they oppose him makes the average
spectator in Washington decidedly
skeptical when talk of defeating the
Peerless for the nomination Is begun.
1t is a simple fact that the task OF
preventing Mr. Bryan getting the nom
nation is no more difficult than that
| of getting a Democrat of national rep
utation coming out into the open ana
telling Mr.. Bryan and the rest OF the
Democ ra tic. party that If the Demo
Gratis would carry tho election this
fall they should nominate man with
out two defeats to his credit.
<lyays, there is the honorable cS-
4 ,tino. OF Senator psnieLtst Hs .iias
w;thstood MIR. Bryan to his face on
mere than one ccasion. displaying the.
tndepeildenee and courage thereby
worthy OF tho name and fame OF the.
ser,ior Senator from Virginia.
But when 1t comes 10 defeating Mr..
Brvan for the nomination there Is most
seriuus doubt of tne ability of the op-
l,positfon to turn the trick. The DEM
ocratic National Convention VIII be
composed of l,oos delegates. onuer
tho long established rule. a majority
az two thirds is necessary TO nomi-
nation The opposition to Mr.. Bryan.
therefore, will have to muster S3s votes
lin order to prevent his being named
as tho candidate.
some Actual Figuring.
For tue first time this opposition has
corns down to actual figures. 1t Is
claimed, that the New England States,
New York. New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
MARYLAND and Delaware are sure to.
send anti-Bryan delegations to Den
YER The States indicated have a total
representation of 1874 delegates. me
opponents of Mr.. BrHan's nomination
claim that the remaining 1874 votes.
necessary to defeat the nomination OF
the statesman from the West are to
| he had without much trouble. Mime,
sotn. the home of Governor Johnson.
the most formidable candidate for the
nomination after Mr.. Bryan. will GER
tainly send Johnson delegation 70
the convention. and that will mean the
raising OF the total anti-Bryan vons
to o1s. Wisconsin. with &c votes, viii
instruct for Johnson or so uninstruct-
ed. it is claimed, which will leave IS
votes still necessary to compass Mr..
Bryan's defeat.
Other Northwestern States, with the
help of an uninstructed delegation
here and there. possibly from the South.
will. 1t is claimed by the antt-bryan
! agitato s. enable the opposition to MN
| to take the position of defeating Mr.
Rryan. II not OF actually naming the
candidate. It looks rather easy. But
| The Brvan people do not admit every
| thing claimed by the other side. They
l.do not concede that a. solid New Eng
Iland delegation be sent up III
opposition to Mr.. Bryan. They claim
! that New Hampshire Will instruct Tor
BRYAN. and that Connecticut will prob
| ably follow suit. They assert. and this
| is almost certain to be the case. that
Massa chusetts Democrats will split and
lthat contesting delegations VIII pe
| sent to Denver.
Bryan nm Pennsylvania.
IT. is also claimed by the Bryan peo..
ple that there Is an excellent chance
or the Pennsylvania delegation being
instructed for Mr. Bryan. Pennsylvania
Democrats choose delegates In a prt-
mary election. This gives the Bryan
people hope, for while Colonel Guffey.
| tile state leader, is violently opposed
| to Mr. Bryan, it is claimed that the
frank and file of the party In the Key
stone State Is enthusiastically for
Ihm. and that the result of the primary
for the choice OF delegates will indi-
cate this fact. Pennsylvania is en-
titled to IS delegates. Should MIR.
Bryan capture these. u big hole would
! be made In that 194 claimed by the
opposition to him.
Colonel Guffey has been In Washing
ton this week. talking with Democrats
opposed to the nomination of Mr.. Bryan,
So has David b. Hin and so have sew
eral Western Democrats who are
avowed johnson boomers. Mr. Hill,
while avowng that he was out of pol
tiles forever, talked with many old
| time Democrats Of Congress, and 1t Is
impossible to believe that he discussed
sanitation and sociology and the wealth.
or, to the exclusion of all topics hav-
ling a bearing on national politics.
Anti-Drynn Mistakes.
The independent observer, careless
as to whether the Democrats nominate
Bryan, johnson. Gray or Hearst, can
not fail to SEQ that the tight to pre-