The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-06-27
States He Will Take No More
Dictation From Nebraskan
AS to Denver Convention
Plans.
BACKED BY OTHER Ma
TIONAL Committeeman.
johnson Followers Have TAX
: en- New Life and It is De-
clared Bryan Will Have a
Hard Fight.

Denver, Colo, June 27.-National
other members of the Democratic ma
tional committee came to the parting
OF the ways with w. J. Bryan last
night and declared they would take
no more dictation from him as to con-
vention plans. Straightway the John
son people wired from Minnesota, en-
gaging six additional rooms at their
headquarters. The direct issue is ov-
er Bryans desire to have Theodore
Bell of California, as temporary chair
man. Sensationalists here go SO far
as to assert that the breach will Wild
en- to such an extent that Bryan will
fail to get the presidential nomina-
tion.
From the aspect Of a peace confer
ence the preconvention situation has
suddenly taken on the appearance of
unrelenting war, anything may
now develop in the final results of the
coming convention.
There are five members of the sub
committee who are practically on the
firing line-all disposed to fight any
program which Mr.. Bryan may die
tate. The five are:
Thomas Taggart, chairman of the
national committee.
Roger C. Sullivan of Illinois.
John T. McGraw of West Virginia.
Clarke Howell of Georgia.
Col r. NJ Johnson of Texas.
This makes five of nine, and If
sixth were needed Urey Woodson, of
Kentucky, secretary of the national
committee. fills the quota.
The failure of James c. Dahlman,
mayor Of Omaha, and national COM
mitteeman from Nebraska, to arrive
in Denver with the papers" which
were the basis of the tentative agree
ment between Bryan and the anti
Bryan element, as indicated by the
statements which Norman E. Mack of
New York made after he came in from
Lincoln, lies at the bottom Of the sud-
den and sensational shift in the cur
rent of affairs.
The real reason for the surprising
stand which the conservative lead
ers have taken, rests as stated upon
the insistence of Bryan that Theodore
E. Bell of California shall be the tenn
porary chairman and, indeed it is de-
clared from authoritative sources, that
Bell has been apprised by Bryan that
he Is the chosen one and has prepared
his speech, as per the advices from
Lincoln.
Insist on Bell.
II is one of the assured facts that
Bell will not be the temporary chair
man unless the convention follows the
precedent set at Kansas City in 1900,
when David B. Hill was turned down.
and chooses Bell for the temporary
craftsmanship against the candidate
whom Chairman Taggart will present
to the national committee.
Who the temporary chairman to be
chosen by the subcommittee at 4
O'Clock this afternoon is still an
uncertainty. 1t is undoubtedly true
that no agreement has been reached,
and 1t is equally true that no more ad-
vice will be taken from Lincoln.
The sensationalists here see prospect
For a complete throw down of the Bry
an program, which may reach as far as
the failure of Bryan to be nominated.
! Under any circumstances the harmo-
ny program went shooting skyward
last night. and what Bryan now gets
from the convention will be his be-
cause he fought and won.
The Johnson men here nave sudden
sly and excitedly taken fresh hope.
They now assert that Bryan can not
win on the first ballot by two-thirds
vote and that Johnson's nomination
is assured on the third ballot. In this
respect last nights developments lie
along the line of the forecasts which
went out from time to time from the
johnson headquarters in Chicago.
Nevertheless the Johnson enthusiasts
have changed their tune from requi-
EN- and a story of what might have
been to budding and joyous pean of
what may happen.
1t may be thorough going bunk" so
far as the infusion of life into the
Johnson boom is concerned, but as to
the relations now existing between the
leaders who will have complete control
of the early convention details. and
who have large gobs of votes to deliy-
er at the critical moment. and w. j.
Bryan, the case is clear, and the odds
are thoroughly against Bryan
Bryan Forces Stirred.
The Bryan forces are stirred to the
depth by the radical change in the sit
uation. Mr.. Bryan is said to be per-
sonally directing the battle from his
end of the wire. but the Denver con-
nection has been switched from the
Continued on Page Four.)