The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-07-06
BY gibson GARDNER

DENVER, july 6.-Plcture Bryan
smiling and full of confidence,
handing out the olive branch, and
you have the Denver convention
as it is.
Bryan wants the East. That sec
tion is no longer 1.-The enemy's
country" Bryan wants the Cleve-
land democrats. They are no long
er traitors to their party" Bryan
wants the PalmerBuckner vote.
Their detection from democracy
has been forgiven and wiped from
memory's tablets.
-Four years ago Bryan appeared
in person before the committee on
credentials and later carried the
fight to the convention floor, to
drive Roger Sullivan from the
party. Today Bryan accepts the
delegation from Illinois at Roger
Sullivan's hands.
Four years ago Tammany was
the tool of Belmont and of Stan
dard Oil to help in nominating
Parker Today Bryan is inviting
Tammany to name good New
York man to run with him.
Four years ago the South allied
itself with the New York leaders
to make Bryan take the gutter. To-
day Bryan and the southern lead
ers will dominate and nominate in
Denver.
Old feuds have been forgotten.
Old sores are to be allowed to
heal.
Even the show of hostility be-
tween the Bryan and the Johnson
following begins to look rather
thin. With Gray's announcement
that he will not permit his name
to be used for first or second place
the Johnson opposition does not
loom so large. In fact, certain
oyertures may soothe the way to
unanimity At this writing it
seems likely that Johnson may
withdraw.
And the platform wrangles will
be quite amiable in their character.
Bryan had his say before the reso-
buttons committee at st. Louis four
years ago; AMI he has made it
plain that Alton B. Parker will
have a similar privilege if he de-
sires it in this town. Bryan even
goes so far as to say that any
plank for which Parker can secure
the approval of majority of the
committee will be incorporated in
the platform.
A friend of Bryan represents the
latter's state of mind in the fol-
lowing interview:
Colonel Bryan honestly expects
to win this time. He knows, or
thinks he knows, today that all
doubt about his nomination has
been removed. All that remains,
as he sees it, is to have this con-
vention go off as smoothly as pos
sible, leaving as few sore spots as
possible. Colonel Bryan did hope
to have Judge Gray as his running
mate. His idea in desiring Gray is
that Gray would stand in the mind
of eastern democrats for the con-
servatism of eastern democracy.
His nomination would go far to
reconcile the old anti-Bryan wing.
The withdrawal of Gray, however,
makes this plan impossible.
Next to GRAY, Bryan will seek
to have the convention choose
some man from the East-from
New York, If New York will get
together and back candidate; but
an eastern man, If possible.
Colonel Bryan anticipates a
campaign somewhat similar to
that of 1900. Dut with the advan-
tage this time with him. In many
ways the republican party is less
homogeneous than 1t was in 1900.
There have heel faction splits. and
q falling off Of the 'reactionary' ele-
ment which were the main support
Of Mckinley. Bryan, In the mean
time, has been growing and gain.
Ing In the peoples confidence.
Eight years ago Bryan polled
6.353.133 votes. Mckinley polled
but 7.207,923 votes. The difference,
you will observe. was but S54,790
votes. The fact that In 1904 Roose.
yelt's plurality was 100000 shows
how many really independent
voters there are today. In a total
of nearly 100000 voters a change
OF 100000 votes Ia small thing.
Such a change has no doubt taken
place within the last eight years,
and Bryan feels that he has more
than gambling chance this time