The sun., 1908-01-06
HOPE. BRYAN NAY WITHDRAW
FRIENDS THINK HE WILL NOT
JEOPARDTZE PARTY SUCCESS.


with Democrats in various parts Of the
State. including Grand Rapids. LanAing
and this city. that even the sturdy sup
porters Of William J. Bryan In tho cam
paigns Of 1895 and 1900 are not at all con-
vinced that Bryan would be the strongest
candidate for the Democratic national
convention TO name this year.
Some OF Col. Brynn's friends say openly
that they are convinced that he would
not be the strongest candidate TO nominate.
Many others are thinking. They are dubious
as TO Bryan's strength; they are. as IL
we're. on the fence, and yet 10 must be said
in all candor that they are rather leaning
10 the opinion that some other Democrat
might he named who could come nearer
winning.
Il believe" said one OF Bryan's old friends
in this city to-day. that il Bryan becomes
convinced that he is not the strongest
candidate for the Democratic national con-
vention TO nominate this year he will say
so at the proper time. Mind you, ! am for
Bryan, hut l am not for Bryan as against
Democratic success in the nation. In the
old days I was a Cleveland man, very
strong Cleveland man; but since 1895 /
have been equally loyal in my allegiance
TO Bryan. believe him TO be a thoroughly
sincere man. have no sympathy with
the attacks Of alleged Democratic news
papers on Bryan. l do not believe that
Bryan could be beaten in the convention
for the nomination il he said the word that
he was an out and out candidate, Neither
do believe that IL Bryan were beaten by
anv combination Of Democrats which
refused him the nomination in the con-
yention by the two-thirds vote any
ticket thus winning could be successful at
the polls But as I say. ! believe Bryan
to be so thoroughly an upright citizen
that il he becomes convinced that he would
only lead the Democratic party to third
defeat under his name he will come out
openly and say so. and that he will work
Loyalty and faithfully for the ticket to be
named at Denver
There have been reports in the inner
circles Of Democratic politics that Col.
Bryan was not altogether loyal to Judge
Parker in iOOi." was suggested to Col.
Bryan's friend.
i should hate to think that" was the
reply, "and il did think 80 | should be
an utterly disappointed man. You must
remember that there are Bryan irrecon-
cilables. men who cannot get over Bryan's
two defeats in 1891 and 1900. and they are
mad clean through and will possibly never
he reconCiled to any other candidate except
Bryan. No matter what Bryan did in favor
Of Judge Parker or OF any other candidate,
these men will still be called Bryan irrec-
oncilables. You meet them all over. Some
have been out and out Socialists and others
are totally populistic in their ideas. But
Bryan az n Democrat cannot help that,
cannot change their views; and ! know
Bryan well enough to know that il he be-
comes convinced that he would again lead
his party to defeat he would retire as a
candidate. il he is a candidate to-day.
and become a sort of a premier Of the Demo-
cratic party. Like Seward in 1861. he could
become Secretary Of state. or he could
become almost anything in a Democratic
national Administra ration.T
Influential Democrats. recalling that
Bryan is a very popular candidate during
a campaign. and yet has heen always beaten
at the Presidential polls. and that Nebraska
has turned solidly Republican alter Bryan's
first campaign for the Presidency, have
hunted about for some of the reasons other
than political as TO why Col. Bryan has
found a canker in his popularity Several
Of Col. Bryan's friends in this State said
that one Of the reasons was the Bennett
will contest in New Haven, Conn, and
that Col. Bryan's attitude in this matter
had damaged him. Other Democrats
friendly to Bryan recalled that Col. Bryan =
close friends did not hesitate to say that
he was making So, 900 a year out of his
prominence as a lecturer and as editor of
the Commoaer. all gained through his con-
nection with the Democratic party and the
two Presidential nominations it had given
him, and that Col Bryan's uniform charge
Of 50 per cent. Of the gross receipts for his
own portion, whether it be for a lecture
TO a Confederate womens home or any
other institution Of like benevolent char
Acter, rather rankled in the hearts Of North
em and Southern Democrats. For long
time Il was almost impossible to ascertain
exactly what Col. Bryan charged for his
lectures in behalf of charitable institu-
tions, and since il became known some time
ago that his charge was 70 per cent. OF the
Rross receipts there has been much quiet
and rather insidious comment, and some
times he Ia spoken OF as Fifty Per Cent.
Bryan
But to get back to the actual state of
affairs from a Democratic standpoint in
Michigan. Mckinley carried the State in
1895 by 5000 and in 1900 by 104 ,5s4, and
Roosevelt carried the State in 1904 by 49,
us. The Democratic organization Of the
State has been greatly weakened by these
three terrific defeats. Don NJ. Dickinson
and Daniel j. Campau are no longer con-
sdered OF consequence in the Democratic
affairs OF the State. Mr.. Campau is still
national committeeman, but that place
can be taken from him at any moment,
according to the testimony Of influential
Democrats. Dickinson is practically in
retirement.
It was stated to-day that Democrats like
William F. Connolly, Judge Of the Recor-
der's Court; Mayor William B. Thompson,
Corporation Counsel T. f. Tarsney. Sheriff
James B. Burns, City Comptroller Frank
r., Doremus, Edwin Henderson, Ralph
Phelps, Jr., and B. w. Weadock and
Thomas p. Penniman. two assistants Of
Corporation Counsel Tarsney, and their
friends throughout the State will have
very much 20 do with shaping the Demo-
cratic national situation In the State up to
and after the Democratic national con-
vention assemblies at Denver. Corporation
Counsel Tarsney is a warm friend OF Col.
Bryan, and for that matter all those named
have been very friendly to Bryan; but in
the list are some who say unreservedly that
they do not believe Col. Bryan is the strong
eat Darnocrat for the Denver convention