The Washington herald., 1908-04-21

Political Prominence an Asset.
New York. April 2O.-CoL William ].
Bryan, OF Nebraska. arrived in town this
morning and put up at the Hoffman
House.
From the moment last Friday when he
entered the State at Rochester. he had
been surrounded by platoons Of warring
Democrats. He found the State in an
uproaT. He had heard talks OF revolu-
ton, bolts, and contesting delegations TO
the Denver convention. But Bryan is ac-
customed TO all these evidences OF turbu-
lence in the Democratic party. He was a
contestant himself at Chicago in 1886.
Bryan, in coming to New York city,
landed in the hotbed OF the trouble. He
bteakfasted with Col. Henry Watterson.
of the Louisville Courier-Journal. at Il q
Hoffman House. The engagement was =
breakfast at the Manhattan Club. the
home Of the swaIow-tailed Democrats
who refused to support Bryan in his TWO
national campaigns.
Bryan has never been partial TO the
club since and so Col Watterson. in
stead Of being host at the Manhattan
Club, was the guest of Bryan at tie Hoff
man House
a little over year ago Col. Waiter
son announced in the columns Of his
newspaper that he had a dark horse for
the Democratic Presidential nomination
this year. and pretty soon ne trotted out
Gov Johnson. Of Minnesota.
Thinks Bryan Winner.
The Johnson boom fell fiat and the
colonel flung up his hands. he has since
said that Bryan would be nominated at
Denver without the slightest shadow Of
doubt Col. Watterson, after his break
fast with Col Bryan to-day said that
he had gone over in general way the
Democratic national situation with the
Nebraskan. and he added:
Bryan VIII be the Democratic car
dldate without a doubt As for the boom
for Gov. johnson, il came too late and |
originated in the wrong quarters II the l
people who are now so eIamorous for /
Johnson had backed me when / was
booming him year ago, he might have /
had & chance. Taft viii certainly be /
nominated by the Republicans If the
convention is stampeded for Roosevelt, !
he VIII refuse the nomination and insist
on the calling of a second convention. /
The Republicans are as bad of as We are. !
We are both trading in eggs, and some of
them are rotten"
Bryan was ready then for all corners. |
His first visitor was Lewis Nixon, one |
Of New York's delegates-at-large to Den |
yer. and an old personal and political |
friend of Bryan. Then came James Kerr. |
Of Pennsylvania. who hopes 10 succeed /
Col. James N. Guffey as Democratic ma |
tional comitteeman for Pennsylvania. |
Later on Norman f. Mack Democratic /
national committeeman for New York. |
and squads of other New Workers, called |
on the Nebraskan. All told him of the |
rumpus IN the recent Democratic State /
convention.
Troubles OF His Own.
''I have read all about the trouble" said 1
Bryan, "and Of course a lot of Democrats
have talked with me about the matter. |
But I never interfere in local or State !
situations. have troubles enough OF my /
own
It was called to Col. Bryan's attention
that he had charged In an interview at
Lansing that the refusal OF the Demo- /
cratic committee of Michigan to indorse /
his candidacy was due TO corruption, and |
that he also virtually charged that John |
son money was used against him and /
that certain members of the committee /
were bTibed.
IT never gave any such interview" re-
piled Col. Bryan.
1t was next called to the Nebraskan's |
attention that in his newspaper, the Com /
moner. he made the same general charge !
that those who opposed instructed delega-
tions 10 the Denver convention are in
spired by corrupt and improper motives.
YES, that is true, replied Bryan. The
Commoner has stated that money is now
being used to secure uninstructed dele
cations with view TO securing one-third
of the delegates to the national con-
vention with the purpose Of using the
one-third to control the nominations. |
am the editor of the Commoner and
know whereof / speak.
''Will you give the names Of those who
are using the money against your"
Il will not give the names" replied
Col. Bryan, "of those using the money
and neither Will I tell where It is be-
ing used. I don't care TO go further than
what I have said"
HIS Room Needs No Money.
Dr. John w Cox, Of New York City.
a very wealthy Bryanite. was sitting be-
side Bryan. Here's DR.. Cox, Mr.. Bryan
Do you think he's using any money in
your behalf2'' the Nebraskan was asked
''My friends do not need 10 use money
in my interest. replied Bryan.
You bet your life they don't" re-
marked Dr. Cox.
Col Bryan was asked for his views as
90 the movement on the part Of some
Democrats To abTogate at Denver a two
third rule necessary in Democratic na-
tional conventions to nominate the candi-
dates.
I do not care TO discuss that PROPOSE II
ton.' replied Bryan, but being pressed TO II
speak, ne finally said: Your question
is not a practical one. So far as know.
the man who has had a majority has had
two-third OF the convention and It only
occurs TO few men that one-third of a
party controls II. To most Democrats. h
il will seem mors reasonable that a ma 3