The sun., 1908-07-09
JIM KERR or cLEARWATER.

Tor Democrat II appears next TO the I'M
| possible. This 10 the inevitable conclusion
that must follow any investigation Of the
Pennsylvania point Of view OF tho now
famous Byrsn- -duffey war at Denver. Oi
course the Denver point OF view 10 perfectly
easily grasped. Colonel GufYey 10 q wicked
representative OF tho interests and the
corporations. q @bushwhaolser' with unholy
associations. James Kerr OF Clearwater.
on the contrary, whom Mr.. Bryan has Sc
lected to lead the fight for the salvation OF
Pennsylvania. for its deliverance from COR
porate domination, is quite as necessarily
the prophet OF the proletariat. tho original
simon pure Bryanite Of the vintage Of 90.
ltlooks somewhat different In Philadelphia.
however. There the first Democrat who is
interrogated will reply with conviction:
But Jim Kerr is D corporation man.
Then will follow long list Of Kerr's cor
porate affiliations, railroad and coal con-
nections mainly. although they include q
newspaper which has always opposed Mr..
Bryan. Even the more conservative declare
that Kerr IN almost millionaire. This Ia
tho first shock.
The second revelation is even more ap-
palling. To hear 1t In It's full significance
II should come from genuine Bryan man.
man who does belong to the vintage OF
1905. He will say:
Jim Kerr amt for Bryan; never was.
vote for Bryan either time Afterward
little investigation will confirm this as
sertion. In fact. there 10 q story to be
heard In political circles that at no very
remote date Mr.. Kerr said at conference
in Philadelphia hotel:
"Of course the election OF Mr.. Bryan
would mean the ruin Of the railroad and
manufacturing industries OF the country
And Mr.. Kerr 10 q railroad man. This COM
ment the Bryan men accept. as do the people
OF the State generally as q measure OF the
intense. boundless and unrestrained en-
thusiasm Of Jim Kerr for Bryan.
Yet there Ia another thing which appeals
to the Bryan man with deep poignancy,
which explains In way his deep disgust
at the Denver episode. During the two
Bryan campaigns Colonel Guffey unloosened
some $4,000 Of his tainted money He
did this on two occasions. Guffey himself
intimates this IN his Bryan letter. and
Philadelphia Democrats who know confirm
1t. As they say in Philadelphia:
Jim Guffey has been the angel Of the
Democratic stock company In Pennsylvania
for at least twelve years"
Now the Bryan Democrats are not all
grateful; that would be too much to expect.
But their real anxiety lies In the fact that
James Kerr Of Clearwater corporation con-
neotions and all, has the local reputation
Of being a tight wad.' And given
choice between tight wad" and the
good thing" 0ufrey has twice proved to
be, the Bryanites Of Pennsylvania have
no misgivings. their duty seems clear.
They tell you frankly that they believe
that Bryan has backed the wrong corpora
ton horse. The other day at Denver
Kerr made some remark that was intended
to reassure the Bryan Democrats OF Penn
sylvania on this money question.
And every one In the State who knows
Jim Kerr ls still smiling said one i'm
partial observer.
Then. Of course. there are Bryan men
for other than campaign fund purposes.
These men feel that in view of Kerr 8 record
In the last two Bryan campaigns and his
known convictions as to the effect upon
corporations Of Bryan's election Kerr Is
not the only man in Pennsy ylvania fitted
by nature and destiny TO carry the State
for their champion. They think they under
stand why Kerr has "hitched his wagon
to a star but are a little nervous lest
the net effect be to depress the star.
1t looks different then in Philadelphia,
this contest which in Denver is sich SIM
pie war between naked vice and manifest
virtue By way Of giving Kerr Manhat-
tan standing, moreover. 1t Ia customary
to recall the fact that he owes his present
position In life to Tammany Hall. Not so
many years ago some one discovered Jim
Kerr leaning against corner in Fourteenth
street trying to muster up the necessary
courage to enter the Wigwam.
III l can get the Tammany delegation
I can be the Clerk OF the House OF Repre-
sentatives at Washington said he. He
succeeded. Then came lucky speculations
In coal lands, and then a fortune. with the
consequent financial connections with
railroads and otherwise. After all this
came a renewal Of political ambition. In
1895 and in 1900 Mr. Kerr the flnancier was
Mortified at the Bryan doctrines. but in
1908 Mr.. Kerr was reused to fury and
rebellion because Colonel Gutfey, who had
previously invested s1Oo.ooo in Organism,
opposed tho Nebraskan. OF course Mr..
Kerr had no thought in the earlier years
Of becoming the Democratic national COM
mitteeman. Perhaps. moreover, he thought
in those campaigns that Mr.. Bryan had
more chance Of being elected than he has
In 1908.
The rebellion Of Kerr his contest for
Bryan as against the wicked corporation
-bushwhacker' Gufey is 80 local gossip
runs, the result Of carefully planned pro-
gramme 1t was agreed before Mr.. Kerr
rebelled that the "rump" delegation should
60 to Lincoln and be hailed by Bryan; this
was part Of the contract. IL was settled
that Guffey should be elected. The only
unexpected thing. apparently, was the
Guffey manifesto.
OF course there Is naturally suggested
a question as to what the effect Of this rum
pus will be upon local politics. The Penn
sylvania Democrats expect the turning down
Of Guffey at Denver. but when asked about
local effects they say.
"Oh, It won't make much difference here.
Guffey will save the money this campaign
might have cost him. Then when Bryan
has got his Guffey will walk back. Only
miracle. such as the election OF Bryan,
could help Kerr The plain truth is that
this tremendous battle, which is having