, 1908-10-06
REGION CLAIMED BY BRYAN BY
FORCE OF HABIT SHOWN TO
BE LARGELY AGAINST
CANDIDATE.
Republicans Greatly Encouraged at
Growth of Party Strength, With
Prospect Of Capturing Many Con.
sr~essionaI Distriets-Many Demo.
orats Did Not Favor Nomination
Of Nebraska Man at Denver.

Washington, d. c., Oct. 6.-Nowhere
in the country are political conditions
more interesting, more involved than
they are in the southern states. The
section of the United States lying
south Of Mason and D,xon's line, which
is generally counted safely democratic
is badly torn up this year. There is
not the slightest doubt that there Is
a strong inclination on the part OF
many conservative southerners to
break away from what Is known as the
democratic party. There is a chance
for Taft in one OF. two southern states
besides Maryland, while the south's
republican membership in the house
is expected to be increased materially.
Southerners Like Taft.
There is that in the makeup of the
great Ohioan that makes southern peo-
pie like him. His earnestness Of pur.
pose, his high sense OF humor, his well.
established reputation for fair-dealine
and his u~nsullied record as a public
official are well known to southern
men. Many of them have come in per
sonal contact with him during the
past FIVE or six years and he enjoys
great popularity throughout the south
South Against Bryan.
With the exception of Texas and Ar
kansas, there was hardly a southern
state whose leaders wanted Bryan to
be nominated in the Denver conven-
ton. They fought hard against it and,
could the supporters of Judge Gray of
Delaware and Governor Johnson OF
Minnesota have been brought together,
the Nebraskan would have re-
ceived the nomination.
Gave Up In Disgust.
At a conference held in Washington
in March, which was attended by the
leaders of the Gray and Johnson sup.
porters, and a number Of southern
senator's and representatives, it was
conclusively shown that Bryan could
be defeated at Denver II the two forces
would combine against him. But
neither would, give way to the other
and SO the matter was dropped, the
southern men gave up in disgust and
many OF them, elected as delegates to
the Denver convention, stayed away
and sent a%lternates.
Headed OFF Detection.
This was particularly true Of Louis
lana, only a few of whose leaders ap-
peared at Denver. In Alabama half
the leaders were already committed to
Johnson, but ill-adv.sed managers of
the M~innesotan's campaign, whose zeal
outran their discretion, gave publicity
the fact too soon, and the Bryanites
were able to head off the detection
before the state convention was held.
Still, most of the Alabamans are but
lnkewarm in their support of the Ne
braskan. Representative Clayton of
that state was chairman Of the Denver
convention, but his is an individual
support.
Georgia Half-Hearted.
North Carolina and South Carolina
were for Bryan. So was Texas, owe
whelmingly. Georgia vas .half-heart.
ed, as was Virginia, most of. whose
leaders, including Senator John Daniel
and Senator Thomas S. Martin, both Of
whom have been opposed to Bryan.
Mississippi's strongest public man,
John Sharp Williams, now a member
of the house, but soon to represent his
state in the senate, split with the Ne
braskan two years ago, when the lat