New-York tribune., 1908-05-10
BRYAN N PENNSYLVANIA.

PENNSYLVANIA is the keystone Of the opposl-
tion within the Democratic party to Mr.. Bryans
denomination for the Presidency. The most san
guine anti-Bryan manager would hardly De rash
enough to maintain that Eastern hostility TO Mr
Bryan's candidacy would be sufficiently forml-
dahle TO give the national convention pause, II II
appeared that in the second largest Eastern
state Mr.. Bryan had actually captured mayor
ity of the delegation. Dispatches from sources
hostile to Mr.. Bryan have given the Impression
that only a handful of delegates favoring his
nomination were elected at the Pennsylvania
Congress district primaries April 16. But
this impression seems TO have been entirely mis-
leading "The Philadelphia Record one OF thc
strongest anti-Bryan newspapers in the Chlteo
States. has taken the pains TO canvass Ihe
sixty-tlree delegates so far elected ttwo cahu'-
dates being tied for second place in one OF the
thirty-two districts) and it reports that on me
face of the returns Mr.. Bryan has clear n'I-
iority in his favor. Says our Philadelphia con-
temporary:
The Record" has made canvass of the state
during the last ten days, upon the result Oh
which this newspaper makes the statement con
fir1ning the claim of the Bryanltes. tnat al ule
primary elections in the several CofgreSsiroIa'
districts ma iority of the sixty four men erect
ed 10 60 10 the Denver convention were either
openly and honestly in favor OF the no1nlilalloii
of BRYAN or had submitted the question TO a
vote of the people end had been by them in
r
structed vote for Bryan.
The wishes of the rank and file do not always
go of course, in Democratic politics, ana Inc
Record reports that there is plot afoot among
the Democratic machine politicians to defeat the
will of the, voters. In the six Congress dlslrlctS
In Philadelphia for instance, the twelve uete-
gates elected ran on q ticket on which after Tue
name of each was printed the sentence: taV'rs
the nomination of William ]. Bryan Yet Only
,fatf hoy
slider themselves bound by their instructions. the
other ten holding that they are not committ"1
10 any candidate Says THE Record" on this
point:
There is no particle of doubt that every one
of the twelve delegates from Philadelphia Is
legally and morally hound to vote for BRYAN,
nor is there any doubt that ten OF the tWeiVe
are ready to ignore the instructions and permit
DonnelIy and Ryan use them as an asset III
their efforts TO deliver something TO help SoloI1l
CIuffey make good his determination TO hand!e
The PENNSYLVANIA delegation to the Democratic
National Convention his political asset.
Outside Philadelphia 81 delegates were
elected there being tie in one Of the Congress
districts in Allegheny County. OF these 3l, II
are for Bryan. for Gray and % arc un-
committed. Adding the 12 votes in Phlladelph'd
the BRYAN delegates would number 36 and the
opposition % with one district delegate still 10
he chosen by lot in Pittsburg. and four dele
large to be chosen by the state conVeIl-
fion which meets next "Wednesday. 1t will thus
be seen that Colonel Gufey can secure ma
iority in the delegation only by abettlng an1
prof1ting by the treacheTy on foot In Phllad"l-
mia, where the delegates accepting election rs
BRYAN men are now ready 10 repudiate instruc-
tions for the sake Of saving his prestige as
leader.
We are not surprised that The Record.
though entirely disappearing Mr. Bryan's candi-
dacy, equally disapproves the Goebel methods
now being employed 10 manufacture an anti
that the leaders Of the Bryan movement in that
state have almost monopoly Of the brains and
character left in the Democratic organization
Ex-Treasurer Berry, the head Of the Bryan
League is the one Democrat since Psttison's day
who has done the state real service. and he mas
the respect Of the people Of Pennsylvania without
regard to party. Associated with him are other
Democrats who want TO lift the organization
from its present depth of degradation and make
il creditable and useful factor In politics
Every honest Democrat must sympathize with
these aims. and The Record if 1t has to choose
between the clean Bryan element and the un
clean anti BRYAN element, naturally prefers 10
stand for progress and decency, even If coupled
tenporarily with Organism. IT takes the proper
stand when Il says that common honesty must
be observed in party management and. come
what may at Denver IL will not be party to-
nor will it condOne, the overturnnS OF the
popular will by any acts OF treachery or bar
gain and sale