New-York tribune., 1908-05-20
THE SOUTH FOR BRYAN.

The loss of Alabama on Monday probably
means the frosting of Governor John A. John
sons Presidential hopes. Mr.. Johnsons sup
porters have realized that he could not e4-
pect 10 enter the Denver convention III the
role of savior of the party without some
substantial Southern support. The East is
i'm bad odor at Democratic national gatherings,
and A Western standing as the East
candidate could not greatly impress the Presi-
dent-making states of the Mississippi Valley
To nominate Mr. Johnson it would be neces-
sary TO ioin the South TO the East, as was done
in 1904 to nominate Judge Alton b. Parker
Alabama was picked out by Mr.. Johnsons s sup
porters as the most hopeful bit of Southern ter
ritory In which TO proselyte- One OF tne Ohi'ei
States Senators lent his aid to the movement
and as Alabama was TO hold primary for the
choice of delega teS-at-large and dlstrict uele-
gates an excellent opportunity was offered ror
testing the alleged drift away from Bryan.
The test proves that there is no widespread
disaffection toward Bryan among the Demo
cratic voters at the South, and practically ends
the Johnson campaign in that section
II NAV he admitted that the Governor OF
Minnesota made respectable showing i'll the
Alabama primary, and that he might na'e
done better had he begun work carrier. Inc
Tribune has said repeatedly that the prolnoters
of the Johnson canvass started too iate. Inc!
should have begun TO fight Bryan eight montns
ago. If Governor Johnson had had any serious
intention of contesting for the Presldenual
nomination he should have made his plans
known before the national convention call was
issued. He waited, instead, until he was ma
rooned in the Northwest before announcing
his candidacy. BY that time Bryan had
captured the delegate from Iowa, Kansas
Nebraska. South Dakota, North DAKOTA anu
Wisconsin. and Governor Johnson was pe
leaguered in his own territory He was SUD
iected 70 the enormous handicap of having
10 appeaI for the support of other sections or
the Union not as Mississippi Valley candi-
date Iur as the candidate of the Eastern con-
servatives Seeking a Presidential nomina-
ton is a serious matter, Involving preparation
and forethought. The Johnson managers
grossly miscalculated the effort needed TO put
his candidacy a promising basis
II is amusing to see the anti-Bryan news
papers hereabouts struggling to adjust their
preconceptions TO the result of the Alabama
primary 1t has been their favorite conten-
tion that Bryan was foisting himself on the
party in the South and that his success in
gathering IN delegates there was due TO the
lamentable cOwardice and supineness or
Southern leaders Those leaders, we were told
again and again. had only TO unite ana act
on their own convictions, and the Bryan Dub
ble would be pricked. This Judgment was
however wofuy mistaken The Southern
leaders as a class. do not like Bryan and would
gladly rid themselves of his leadership But
they have to consult their own interests ana
they only follow the law of self-preserVauoh
in publicly supporting Bryan. whatever they
NAV say about him in private. Ihey realHe
that he has their constituencies behind him,
and that If they made open war on him they
would be in danger of losing their own leader
ship. Senator Bailey and Representative john
Sharp Williams for instance, have little use
for what they call Organism. But they could
not maintain themselves in Texas and in Mis-
sissppi if they declined TO support Bryan TOT
the Presidential nomination. The New York
Evening Post and The New York World
have been confused by the comedy which
Southern Senators end Representatives nave
played. They are now beginning to realize
that Bryan can easily dispense with the sup
port of the Southern leaders, for he IS 1ar
more serviceable to them than they are 10
him. On popular vote in any Southern stare
he could defeat them and their PRESIDENTIAL
candidate They therefore tied up TO nm
and can give him little or no trouble III the
Denver convention. Alabamas vote indicates
that the South will cheerfully fall III hne
behind the West in renominating Bryan.