The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-08
Contest, if It Develops, Will.
Precipitate Bitterest Fight
in History Of Party.
BRYAN OPPOSITION
TAKES HEART AGAIN
Pennsylvania Situation Offers
Desired Opportunity to Foes Of
Nebraskall- Situation Serious
and Committee Report Be-
ing Anxiously Awaited:
AS to Vice-P Presidency.

q
AS to ice-Presidency.
- ENvER, COL, July 1.-THE pos
::t:: ;$.
---7 ployed by officers Of the con-
vention to- day IN sending the Pennsyl-
vania controversy to the committee on
credentials is the one hope to the allied
opposition to the nomination OF the
! Nebraskan.
This opposition is proceeding on the
belief that the committee on credentials
will report against the contested dele
gates from Pennsylvania and in favor
OF the election Of Colonel James NJ.
Guffey for the national committee. In
which event a minority report will be
made. The first test Of anti-Bryan
strength therefore will occur over the
adoption OF the report OF the committee
on credentials. and 1t promises to be
the bitterest OF the convention.
Should 1t be decided against the
Bryan men. some OF whom have an
nounced purpose to railroad" the
lPennsylyanfa leader out of the party,
In accordance with the expressed wish
OF the Nebraska candidate, unquestion-
| ably 1t will encourage the opposition
| OF Mr.. Bryan to renewed efforts to
defeat him for the presidential nomi-
nation.
Holding Conferences.
No sooner had the convention ad-
journed to-day than the anti Bryan
| ma fo Sa
situation. AT several OF these i1tor-
NAL conferences the consensus OF opin-
ion was that the Guffey Bryan fight
furnished an issue on which the anti
Bryan men could take their stand, and
supplied the rallying ground thnt has
been needed In order to concentrate
their forces. It was asserted by anti
i Bryan forcests tonight that the re.
lfusaI to-dax2pf Temporary Chairnlan
i Bell to recognize the demand OF Gui-
fey men for roll-oall on the ques-
tton OF sending the Pennsylvania case
Ito the credentials committee has
brought to them many recruits, and
that these. added to the force that has
lbeen against Mr.. Bryan on all other
points. promise victory for Colonel
IGuffey tomorrow.
On the other hand. the Bryan men
claim to have Colonel Guffey's scalp
II
| leader and declare that they are not
worried in the least.
Much Is being made by the Guffey
men Of the difference which Mr.. Bryan
has had with such men as Roger Sulli-
4 van. Of Illinois; John T. McGraw. OF
i West Virginia; certain OF the Demo-
cratic leaders OF Texas. Tennessee.
Wisconsin. Michigan and other States.
They profess to believe that the dele
cations from these States are anxious
to administer rebuke to Mr.. Bryan
A for his alleged interference with the
4 States In selecting their representa-
/ tives in the convention after the States
| themselves had declared in favor of the
i nomination of the Nebraskan.
4 Should the anti-Bryan men prove to
be correct in their estimate OF the sit
iiSuation, Mr.. Bryan without doubt will
be defeated in his attempt to overturn
4 Gufey in Pennsylvania.
i Situation Serious. ii
4 It Is not unlikely that contest over
4 this issue would engender the bitterest
kind OF feeling, and would have an
important bearing on the vote of the
convention after candidates have been
Il lsplaced In nomination for the presl-
4 dency.F It is conceded that II Colonel
i Gufey should be defeated. the opposi-
j tiona to Mr.. Bryan would end, and all
J. the lighting practically would be taken
! out of the anti-Bryan men. The Me-
] braskan's friends then would have a
clear road to the adoption Of whatever
\ }character OF platform they favor, and
a no showing whatever would be- made
Il against him for the nomination for
!. first place on the ticket. Should the
a Bryan men be so disposed they could
I dictate also the nomination for the
& ice-presldency. tsS, 35
Il Gossip over the candidates. for Vice
President has been nearly oyershad-
!; owed by the events Of the day. and
. there is little change in the situation.
There are nearly 100 men in the field.
a Such leaders as found time to give
Iattention to, the vice -presidential fight
tto-ntght, however, seemed to think that
), the Bryan -Guffey contest having be-
coma "a national alsconventlon issue, there
|, is little hope left Of the nomination
. of a conservative Eastern p Democrat on
!. the ticket with Mr.. Bryan, The feel
a Ing was that there+1s such grave dam
!, fger8of the alienation OF the eaconserva-
4 tive wing. Of the party that no mar
81 ,,|srepresenting that7wing would consent