New-York tribune., 1908-09-29
nR. BRY4N,s PREDICAMENT.

We are disposed to agree with our nelshpor
''The World that Mr.. Bryan has lost announcer
valuable legacy. Three weeks ago ne Was
cheerfully basing his canvass for the fresluehes
on the claim that he was the rtghtfui heir oi
the policies and political prestige OF the hoose
yelt administration. He even went so lar as
TO insist on being credited with the authorsnip
and success of the Roosevelt programme anu
m mononoIize the succession by posing not only
as the sole legitimate son but as the only sun
yiving parent The right of the present owner
of the estate to bequeath it was Ignored. me
will WAS already signed sealed and Delivered
in Mr. Rryan's facile and buoyant Inauguration.
Now comes a repudati ton from the hoIoef ol
the property thus alphabetically devised Oh
the statement that he has ever mace 'esta-
ment in Mr.. Bryan's favor. The estate says
the testator was never meant for the Neprashd
claimant and could never have been meant lor
him since he has never shown the qGallnca-
tions necessary to administer it. An ehtreN
different disposition of it is 10 be hlade' ana
tho only possible role left to Mr.. Bryan in the
proceeding is that of a dsgrunted contestant
The controversies of the last week have shown
that be has gradually been forced TO change his
attitlde from that of an eager claimant for a
nossession which he highly values to that OF an
acrid critic who is disposed TO dsparage the
worth of what he sees slipping away from
him If this process continues much longer
we shall probably hear Mr.. Bryan denying
that be ever considered himself President
Roosevelts heir and vehemently protesting that
he would never have accepted the inheritance
had it been forcbly thrust on him.
Mr. Bryan's predicament Is, however. only
the logical result of his efforts to play both
ends against the middle He has sought 10
win favor both as conservative and as a radl-
Sc stora NO. 9
every element in the Democratic party some
excuse for supporting him. AS The World
iustIv saws. The Democratic managers seemed
TO believe that they could capitalize Mr. Roose-
''velt's Western popularity as Democratic as
.set" They were heart and soul Tor Claiming
the Roosevelt heritage IN the West, Whlle III
4he East THE World was supporting MI
BRYAN on an anti-Roosevelt programme, ana
ex-Secretarv Olney was arguing that Bryanlsih
was safer and saner" than Rooseveltlsm anu
that BRYAN should be elected because ne Wouiu
be hobbled in the Presidency and coulu not
eccop,nIish ANYTHING in that Office really dis
tasteful TO Democratic conservatives. In lhe
West Mr.. Bryan denounced the Republicans IN
Congress who. he said had failed TO carry
through the full Roosevelt programme In the
Fast he and his supporters have tried TO prove
that Democratic success would only mean a
four years interregnum of deadlock and mac
ton.
4 campaign based on such contradictions was
bound TO fail The recent exchanges between
the President and Mr.. Bryan have made II I'M
nossible for the latter to continue the pretehce
of kinshfp and hership. The Democratic can
didate has been obliged TO define more Sharply
his relations with the administration and its
nropramme and to contrast what he has done
and intends to do with what it has done ana
what he has nevertheless sought 10 claim credit
for. His disingenuous tactics have forced him
into a situation in which he will have TO make
good as principal, not merely enjoy the frut OF
another's labors as selfapponted heir