The morning journal-courier., 1908-01-21
Tuesday. January 21, 1908.
AN EFFORT AT ORGANIZATION.

city of New York conference of "old line Democrats" for the purpose of de- termining upon the ways and means of uniting the historic party and offering to its enemy in November an effective and possibly victorious front. Former Justice O'Brien is one of the more conspicuous leaders in the movement and from him we learn through newspaper interview that if there is to be any hope in the future of the Democratic party it must come from a united front. At the same time this front must stand on a conservative, solid basis of real Democratic princi- ples
 It may be taken for granted that un- less the factions of the Democratic party agree out of a desire to count for something in the country to some way concilate their more or less ill., tempered differences of opinion they might just as well give up holding a nominating convention To that ex- tent we take it Judge OBrien and his friends must be in accord with MT Bryan and his friends. As a broad proposition in the science of politics, that organization wins in a partisan contest which is supported most en- Enthusiastically by it's members and sup porters. MT. Blaine was defeated in 1884, because of widespread disafrec- tion in the Republican ranks. MT. Cleveland was defeated in 1892. MT. Bryan in 1896 and 1900 and Judge Parker in 1904 for the same reason It Is not ia the point that the disaffec- tion can be Explained on philosophical grounds and to the satisfaction of the Democratic wing which did the knif- ing at the polls. The record of the knifing stands where it can be read of ell men, and it emphasizes the fact that unless that practice is departed from victory is an impossibility. And 1t is, too, as one looks at the situation from an unprejudiced point of view, because both factions of the party have suffered in about the same degree from bitter inside opposition that that cb I< ,lo while crying quits, views the future from the point of view of what is best for country and party rather than for what is best for individuals. The fac tion which ignores that fact can fairly be suspected of not wishing Demo- cratic unity
 It is obviously one thing to state thus calmly fact which cannot be denied, and an entirely different thins to confidently point out the way to 2 convincing reconciliation. We should say the way will not disclose itself ir an attempt to discredit or ignore eth CT faction Judge O'Brien is quoted a. saying: MT Bryan's influence witt the rank and file of the party is un deniable, and no fight for the restora tion of the party could be satisfactori ly carried out by antagonizing this in fluence. MT Bryan has recently sai, hof terests Of the party seemed to deman, the candidacy of some other man h, would retire from the field If he i great enough to take a stand like thi l think there is hope for our move ment" There is no question at all o the personal influence of MT. .Bryal with the rank and file of his party. I Is a demonstrated fact, and it is s much of an influence with them tha he car confidently rely upon their SUD port, if he desires to become a candi date for the presidency because he be lieves he can carry the election. Tha being so, a practical view of the sit uation would appear to force one to
 conclusion that any conference whict omits from it's attendance either Nil Bryan himself or some one authorize to speak for him must fail to produc party harmony. Nor will party ha, mony come in all likelihood if th movement is successfully carried int the nominating convention to defes Mir Bryan. His friends, who are le zion, would surely resent that treat ment and the Democratic party woul again have to experience Parke campaign in which the ve. pocket vote would do what open or petition did in 1896 and again in 1e0' The conclusion is irresistible then ths any movement undertaken for tn reconciliation of warning Democrat
 must this year anyway reckon at tll outset with MT. Bryan He must z, press a willingness to canvass the si
 uation and to confer with those wh have not been in harmony with h