The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-12
YET 1T APPEARS BOTH
WILL BE NOMINATED
Activity for Johnson and Gray
Gives Interest to Fight, but
Bryan's Selection Almost
Observation-Disclosures
ed Delegates All
Against Taft.
mcs-Dispatch Bureau.
Munsey Building,
Wa.tlngton. d. d.. Aprll /

rF Taft and Bryan snould be the Re-
publican and Democratic nominees,
respectively. the curious feature
II OF large section OF the followers
OF each candidate being in extreme
doubt as to whether their leader could
be elected would be presented.
The chief ground Of the opposition
of many Democrats to the nomination
OF Mr.. Bryan has been all along openly
expressed to be the fear that man
with two defeats In his record Will be
unable to achieve victory. There are
thousands. possibly hundreds of thou
sands. of Democrats who would hail
with gladness the election of Mr.. Bryan
to the presidency. who believe that
some other man would be more likely
to lead the party to victory.
Secretary Tafts Weakness.
If tho sentiment in Washington be In
any way similar to that of the rest of
the country. 1t Is probably true that
~ many Republicans believe Mr.. Taft
cannot be elected as there are Demo-
crafts who believe the nomination of
Mr.. Bryan would mean national defeat
Secretary Taft's record makes many
Republicans fearful. While on the
Federal bench he delivered some pretty
scathing decisions in denunciation Of
workingmen's unions. He approved
every step the President took in the
case of the negro battalion dishonor-
ably dismissed from the service for
shooting up" Brownsville. The oppo-
sitlon If labor unions. and especially
the opposition OF the large body OF
negro voters In certain States of the
North, cutie naturally cause sincere
apprehension on the part OF Republi-
can leaders.
1t is just as easy to find Republi-
can In Washington who says Secretary
Taft cannot be elected. If nominated,
as it Is to fnd Democrat who says
MIR. Bryan cannot be elected II made
the nominee of the Denver. convention.
Brynn is Fighting johnson.
There have been no recent remark
able Developments on the Democratic
side in connection with the campaign
fer the presidential nomination. Dur
ing the past week South Dakota Sc
lected a delegation to the Denver con-
yention instructed for Mr.. Bryan. This
IS about all OF positive character
which has come out for some time. The
fact that the Democrats of Minnesota
are making hard fight to, capture that
State for Johnson, as against Mr..
Bryan. Is regarded by the Bryan peo-
pie as very significant. IT Is alleged
to indicate the weakness of Governor
johnson as a candidate. that he has to
make fight for the delegation from
his own State. One of the chief argu-
ments advanced for the nomination of
Governor johnson is his great strength
IN the West and Northwest. Already
the Bryan people have hedged in the
johnson forces pretty effectually. North
Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Wis
consin have chosen Bryan delegations
johnson did not get a delegate in any
of these States. But there will be
considerable anti-Bryan strength in the
Denver convention.
Three Now In Fight.
With Gray headquarters opened II
Washington this week. andHa johnson
bureau already at work in Chicago, Il
would appear as though the Denver
convention might be something mor'
than a Bryan ratification meeting af
ter all. The Johnson people are dis
playing great deal of activity, an,
much literature is emanatng frou
the Chicago bureau. The Gray head
quarters have not been open sufiicien
time to tell Just what will be tn
character of the campaign which vii
be made to capture delegates.
The advocates of Judge Gray an.
OF Governor Johnson have this in com
can carry their own States, and a
many more as Mr. Bryan can carry an,
several besides. 1t Is undoubtedly TIL
lstter that are needed for Democrati
victory. But the fighting ground o
the two candidates opposed to MI
Bryan are different. Governor John
son would rely in greatest measur
Northwest The strength of Judg
Gray, on the other hand, would b
chiefly In the East, particularly in hi
own State OF Delaware and In Ney
Jersey, New York and Connecticut.
"Nay, Nay,' Says Douglas.
Jealous friends of Governor William
l.. Douglas, of Massachusetts, opene
headquarters in Boston, from which
was proposed to direct campaign 70
his nomination at Denver. Governo
Douglas, however issued statemen
early this week, In which he requeste
that Ills rame be not considered in con
nection with the Democratic presiden
tinl nomination.
1t will be decided in few week
now whether there be any possibilit
OF the nomination of any candidate saw
Mir. Bryan Opponents of Mr. FBrya
frankly admit that the matter Is prf4,
tically decided already, and that h
will be made the nominee on the frs
ballot, If few States Of the Eas
should be instructed for Mr.. Brya
within the next week or two, or |
they should send Bryan men, thong
nninstructed, the fight will be seen I
be ended 1t Is a fact that Bryal
people slre seriously claiming that the
will gather number Of delegates !
Minnesota, and 1t is even Aclaimed tho
majority OF the States delegatio
will be fop Mr.. Bryan. or course, unde
the unit rule the vote OF the entir
tn