The Irish standard., 1908-02-15
His First Appearance Was in the Warm
Campaign 1885, WhenHe Went
Down Before Van Buren.
No Combination Can Now Prevent Bryan
From Securing the Democratic
Nomination at Denver.

From present indications the favor
ite son will play large part in the Re
publican National Convention of 1908,
says Charles M. Harvey in the st. Lou
is Globe Democrat.
Possibly he will figure to some extent
in the Democratic gathering also, but
this is a matter Of conjecture. Mr..
Bryan seems to be so far ahead of ev-
erybody else in the race for the Demo-
cratic candidacy that the prospects Of
making any combination which will
keep a third Of the votes Of the con-
vention away from him seem dark at
this distance ahead of the meeting at
Denver. Several persons are having
their names coupled with the Demo-
cratic candidacy, the most prominent
of them being johnson Of Minnesota,
Culberson Of Texas and Harmon Of
Ohio. None Of these would be likely,
il nominated, to poll as many votes in
the country at large as Bryan He is
a decided favorite of a large majority
of the voters Of the Democratic party.
II the majority rule prevailed in Dem
ocratic conventions, as it does in Re-
publican assemblages, and as it did in
those Of the Whig party, the Demo-
cratic opponents Of Bryan would see
their contest to be so hopeless that
they would give it up. But two-thirds
requirement, which is an anti-deno-
cratic device, leaves a large power in
the hands Of an obstructive and obstin-
ate minority. It is altogether probable,
however, that all serious opposition to
Bryan at Denver will disappear before
July Z, and that he will have a substan-
TALLY unanimous vote in the conven-
tion.
On the Republican side the outlook
is far more uncertain. If the conven-
tion were to meet today Secretary Taft
would undoubtedly have long lead on
!. the first ballot. It is doubtful If he
could have a majority Of the conven-
tion on that ballot, however. There
will be many local favorites in the con-
vention. from present appearances, and
some Of these belong to large states.
Hughes will be presented by New York,
Knox by Pennsylvania, Cannon by Ill
inois, Fairbanks by Indiana, and ex-
Secretary Shaw is making an attempt
to align his old state, Iowa, behind him.
For many years Shaw had a powerful
following in Iowa. AS governor Of the
y state he was a large parsonage, and
when he went, on President Roose-
velt's invitation, to the head Of the
treasury, his dimensions, in the eyes
Of his old neighbors, appeared to still
further expand. He made a fairly ac-
ceptable treasury chief, but when he
left that post, accepted the position Of
the head Of a New York trust company
and removed to New York, he cut all
connection, physical and social, with
the Hawkeye state, and that common
wealth is now, so far as can be dis
cerned, for Taft Iowa has been strong
ly Rooseveltian, and when the presi-
dent took himself formally and finally
out Of the calculation for 1908, Iowa's
leading politicians turned to Roose-
velt's favorite, the secretary Of war.
Mr.. Shaw. however. appears to still
have hope Of getting support from
iowa, and as several months intervene
between us and the time Of the cfoos
ing Of the delegates. lie may be cor
rect.
There is no unit rule in Republican
national conventions. This is one
more respect-the majority rule for
nominations being another-in which
Republican assemb1ages are more DEM
Ocratic than Democratic conventions.