Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-30
Views Of Cautious Democrats.

But cautious democrats are by no means
ready to declare that these hostile events
In several states necessarily indicate the
defeat Of Mr.. Bryan. They point out that,
although it may be very easy to. obtain
sufficient votes to comprise one-third OF
the convention, thereby preventing his
nomination on the hrst ballot, all indtca-
tions point to Mr.. Bryan being the choice
of far more than q majority Of the dele
gates, and that he win be q dominating
69ure in the convention from the outset.
The one hope OF the anti-Bryan men fs
to cheek q stampede and give opportunity
for argument and for wire e-pulling, with
the object Of trying to persuade the rank
support of the leading democrats Of the
east Mr.. Bryan cannot be elected, and
that with their loyal support some other
candidate might be elected.
The outcome Of those efforts and argu-
ments is only problematicai. Two facts
are In evidence-that the democratic lead
ers in the east and in the south are unani-
nous In the belief that Bryan cannot
win and that a majority OF the rank and
file Of the democratic voters in the south
and west are enthusiastically Of the opin-
ion that IL Bryan cannot win no democrat
can. Now, which view win prevail in the
conventiOn?' Will the calm argument OF
the mass and Of the clacQue which Is
certain to be heard in Denver?
Gov. Johnson's Opportunity.
Gov. Johnson's friends think they will
be able to win over the Bryan majority
by holding out the promise of democratic
victory In Minnesota. Wisconsin, the Da-
kotas, Kansas and Illinois by aid of the
foreign vote. 1t will be another case Of
Turing the donkey by holding a carrot be-
fore It's nose. Victory" will be the car
rot.
Democratic politicians who are keeping
in touch with both factions declare that Il
Mr.. Bryan cannot be nominated he will
have to be consulted about the selection,
and that 1t will be useless for the de-
mocracy to put up q man who would gain
the foreign vote in q few states. II it
should turn out that his man was objec-
tionable to the old rock-ribbed Bryan vote
Of the west. There are some whisperings
that Mr.. Bryan will never consent to
throwing his strength to Gov. Johnson
and that il Mr.. Bryan finds he cannot be
nominated he will make a deal with Tam
many and the eastern democrats for a
candidate acceptable to both.
AS the political wheel turns around it
shows some changes in the political situ-
alton. Two months ago it appeared like
ly that all the scrapping would be at the
republican convention and that the demo-
cratic convention would be a dull affair."
Now there Ia a certainty that the demo-
cratic convention. at least. will be lively
with the possibility of smooth sailing at
Chicago.
Mr.. Lynch's Claims Disputed.
Willis J. Abbot paid his respects to Mr..
Lynch this morning. 'Frederick b. Lynch
seems to be the most promising claimant
since the days of the Tichborne trial."
remarked Mr.. Abbott. Just by way of
discussing his theory that Mr. Bryan will
kox, l,olf Af thn oil
Denver convention, let me point out what
he has claimed I'm order to prove his prop
osition. To begin with. he claims all un-
instructed delegations are anti Bryan del
egations. This is notorfously incorrect.
Seven out Of eight of the uninstructed del
egates from Rhode Island are pronounced
Bryan men; ten out Of the fourteen unin-
structed delegates from Connecticut are
strenuous Bryan men. The refusal to in
struct was not due to hostility to MIR.
Bryan, but to the essential conservatism
OF eastern democrats. which has merely
manifested itself in this way. Mr.. Lynch
claims all of the New England states.
The only two that have acted are sending
Bryan delegations, while the primaries in
Massachusetts were swept from one end
OF the state to the other by the Bryan
forces, and the delegation from that state
| will be for him. Mr.. Lynch claims New
York.
II do not know his experience in poll
tics. though 1t must be quite compre-
| hensive, AS he says it Is not work for
children or youngsters. But nobody can
| tell what that New York delegation will
do. New York has never instructed for
anybody except IA New York candidate
| and the fact that IL is uninstructed no W
| IL not regarded by we'll equipped OBJ
| servers as indicating that II will not vote
/ for Mr.. Bryan Oh the first ballot. The
New York Herald. which is not Bryan
paper and which is nearer the scene Of
acton than Mr.. Lynch of Minnesota. says
that New York Will vote for Bryan. He
claims Pennsylvania. Now Minnesota is
long way from Pennsylvania. Washing
ton and New York are much nearer.
The Situation in Pennsylvania.
II am informed, both by letter and
/ through personal interviews with demo-
Gratis who have led the revolt against Col.
| Guffey. who Is pushing the Johnson cam
vass there. that fifty-one out of the sixty
| district delegates I'm that state who have