New-York tribune., 1908-07-18
ah! the poor old Fathers and all the things
which they did which they really could not do
THE HEARsr-BRYAy RUPTURE.

Mr. Hearsts notice to Mr.. Bryan and MI.
Gompers that he does not ratify the Denver
platform and will not support the Democratic
national ticket will cause little surprise, since
Mr.. Hearst has for some time past Indicated d
lack of faith in the regenerabiity of the DEM
ocratic party. He intimated last spring that he
would accept neither Bryan nor Johnson as
national leader. He now repudates "a dis
credited and decadent old party, wmch mas
neither conscientious conviction nor honest IN
"tention." He breaks openly with Mr. Bryan,
whom he heartily supported in 1896 ana lSU,
and makes the breach irreparabe by sneering
at the Democratic nominee as a political cha
meleon' THE Commoner's' cordial invitation
TO him to take front seat on the Bryan band
wagon is returned with derision and contumey.
1t is evident that Mr.. Bryan will have to
reckon in the campaign this year on the deiec-
tion of various elements which helped TO make
him formidable in 1896 and 1900. He ENJOYS
recalling that he polled 6.509.0o9 and 6,3oo,Vlo
votes in these two canvasses, while ex-Judge
Parker polled only 5.O79.O41 in 1874 But ME.
Parker ran as Democratic candidate pure anu
simple, while Mr. Bryan ran as the choice OF
a miscellaneous assortment of political organl-
cations. In 1896 he was nominated by three
national conyentions-the Democratic, Silver
Republican and Popust-and In 1900 he got
fourth nomination from the anti-imperfallsts
In both those campaigns he stood as an ultra
radical and drew support from all the MINOR
parties of unrest. Mr.. Parkers candidacy re-
PEELED those elements and forced them 10 take
root again on their own account, and Mr.. Bryan
now has to face the difficult problem OF winning
them back.
He is not the idol Of radicalism in 1908 that
he was in 1896. His vogue has passed 10
great extent and the Socialists, Populists, fiat
nd mi1oOarianS generally. WHO
sincerely acclaimed him eight and twelve years
ago now look at him askance. Thomas +. Wat
son who ran with him in 1896 on the Populist
national ticket, is now leading the Popullst
organization and has become one of Mr.. Bryan
most persistent and pungent critics. The OLD
Silver RenubIicaa organization has disappeared.
and the states which il threw to Bryan in 1896
and 1900 have returned to Republicanlsm- Inc
Socialists flushed by their unexpected showing
of strength In 1904. are eager this year TO mann
tain and enlarge their own organization The
Hearst Independence party has been formed
since Mr. Bryan last candidate, and its
vote in 1907 of 121 600 In New York and $4,000
in Massachusetts proves that it is a factor TO
be rackoned with as more powerful thhn
the seeding PopulistS or Socialists. III mas
gained its strength by warning against de
cadent Democracy" and if it puts a natlonal
ticket in the field il Will draw very literally
from elernents which have hitherto supported
Mr. Bryan. The detection Of these elements
probably cost Mr.. Parker more than a million
votes Mr.. Bryan strangely misreads the signs
of the times if he thinks that any considerable
nercentage of those voters can be attracted this
year TO his standard But the elements of strength
on which he can more or less reasonably rely are
incapable of being accurately estimated at this
stage Of the campaign. The Republicans there
fore while they have abundant reason for good
cheer would commit blunder which might
prove dangerous if they should heedlessly neg
lect any chance to make immediate and contin-
uous headway in any part of the country