The San Francisco call., 1908-07-06
Reply of Pennsylvania Makes
Old Warh0rses Smell Battle
in Ranks of Democracy
New Workers Sigh Over Absence
of David B. Hill and Possible
Opposition Leader
Nebraskan Dominates COnven-
ton and VIII Dictate Plat
form and Running Mate
By Raymond


DENVER, July 5.-"E only old
D. 3. were upstairs" said one OF
the New York leaders when he read
the statement Of Colonel James NJ.
Guffey OF Pennsylvania, which grid
ironed William Jennings Bryan in the
highest style Of art. II was Ike a
strong. fresh breeze IN the nostrils OF
the old warhorses and they snelled
battle from afar when they read the
statement actually signed by one Of
the most prominent democrats in the
country, declaring Bryan was guilty
of "A brutal assault" that he was his
own arrogant self" that he was a con
victed falsider" and "an migrate" and
denouucing his Sinking palaver."
Il IS no wonder that the New York
leaders Iouged for the old days Of
David Bennett HIu. who now, unfor-
tarstely is in Europe With half
dozen Letermined leaders and the same
number Of expert convention orators
the Guney-Bryan row would develop
convention disturbance of such proper
rions that ID would probably cost Bryan
the nomination. Il is just the kind Of
thing that Hiu enjoyed and he would
make the most Of the Extraordinary
situation. The GUhey letter might not
have beaten Bryan four or eight years
aeo. bur IL would have been made the
basis Of a sensational attack which
would have set the convention by the
ears and probably would have resulted
in a free fight before the session was
over
democracy. the good old days are over.
Guffey has made q series Of strong
points against Bryan. He has shown
that the peerless leader, while dis
.zou-irE interference in local affairs,
has. in fact. interfered by having
sought 10 secure the removal from
political Office of John T. McGraw in
west Virginia. Of Tom Taggart in In
diana and Of Roger c. Sullivan in
Illinois.
Apparently Gufey proves his case.
and yet the strange ching about IL all
IS that West Virginia, Indiana and
Illinois viii cast their votes for Bryan
at least on the first ballot
FIGHT on CONVENTION FLOOR
Colonel Gufey probably viii carry
the fight to the floor of the convention
and the result VIII be q sensa tional
episode for the benefit OF the galleries,
but the present outlook is that this
win not prevent the nomination Of
BRYAN. who controls the convention ab-
soIutely and who is strong enough TO
withstand any attack made upon him
at this late day. IF he should not be
nominated on the first ballot, as he
surely Is 10 be- there would be an en-
tirely different story TO tell II is al
most impossible TO suppose he could
secure the solid delegations of Illinois,
Indiana and West Virginia after they
had fulfilled the spirit Of their instrUc-
tions by voting for him on the first
ballot
Nothing illustrates the complete con
troll Bryan has over the Denver con
ventiOn so well as his difference of
ouiniOn" with Gufey. II arises over
such a trivial thing as the presentation
by Guney Of some bits OF stained glass
FOR the windows OF the commoner's s
residence. FafrvieW. il attained ma
rional Importance because Of the fact
that Bryan in this case made a public
attack upon q. man whose democracy is
lrnbIemished, whatever may be thought
Of his political methods, and whose aid
in the past was welcomed by the party.
Guney certainly responded with spirit,
and the general opinion among the
Democratic leaders as expressed by one
~
with half a dozen determined lead
ers. as I said, the stained glass win
dows and the more serious charges Of
Colonel Guney's letter might have re-
suited in the downfall Of Bryan. but
those leaders were lacking. the dele
gates are Indifferent and their disposi-
zion 10 climb into the band wagon is
more apparent than ever before. Al
most every delegation arriving is for
Bryan
OPPONENTS LACK LEADER
Blue eyed Billy Sheehan and some
OF the other eastern leaders met with
Johnsons managers today and AT the
close of the conference announced that
in their opinion there were in the con
vention 345 delegates who would vote
against Bryan. There are that many
not bound by instructions, but IL is out
OF the question TO suppose that all of
them could be induced 70 stem the tide
which is set so strongly toward the
Nebraskan.
II is just here that the lack Of
leadership is 50 painfully apparent in
the anti-Bryan camp Johnson can
command a few votes. Gray can con-
troll as many more. but outside this
there is no reason 70 believe that the
great mass OF the uninstructed, un-
pledged delegates would vote against
Bryan. There absolutely is no one in
the nti-Bryan camp who has either
the capacity or the bravery TO head