The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-06-18
Political Comment.
A PecuIiar Sifunfion.

A Peculiar Situation.
That William j. Bryan will be nomi-
mated on the first ballot by the Denver
convention. is about as certain as any
thing can be in this world.
That Mr.. Bryan would have been de-
feated had the Democratic leaders who
are opposed TO him begun an early cam
paign to crystalline Democratic senti-
ment against him, is equally as certain.
The character of the reception ac-
corded Governor Johnson in the south
Indicates that there is strong desire
among southern Democrats TO free
the party of the milestone hanging
about its neck. but while they are
warming up to Johnson the psycholog-
ical moment when they might have Civ
en- support of practical kind has
passed. Bryan had only about ten per
cent of the vote in Alabama to spare,
and his friends had been campaign
Ing in his behalf for months, while
Johnson's friends, with scarcely no en-
couragement to speak of, were able 20
bring their candidate within ten per
cent of victory. Bryan win in South
Carolina because the leaders who are
opposed to him offered no serious re-
sistance. And the same is true of sew
eral other states below the line.
Months ago. when Editor Watterson
opened his batteries Of Bryan and call
ed for new deal, he failed to arouse
any enthusiasm. Many of his contem-
poraries expressed the wish that Mr..
Bryan could be made to withdraw, but
the prospects were so remote they re-
fused to be drawn into the fight. At
Last WattersOn's interest tagged. He
felt that the task was too prodigious
for one man and he retired in disgust.
About that time some eastern editors
thought they saw glimmer of hope,
and began a counter movement against
Bryan. but their affiliations were such
that their efforts were discounted from
the start. The most effective campaign,
indeed, has been that of johnson him.
self, and the progress he has made
leaves little room for doubt that had
he started out few months earlier he,
by this time, would be giving Mr..
Bryan a close race.
tThat Mr. Bryan will be decisively
defeated. is predicted by shrewd poll
ticians o. both parties. He cannot
go before the people with any issues
that will bring him strength. He dare
I'll
ownership. for be would be laughed off
the stump. The Republican platform
viii declare for tariff revision, and the
Democrats dare not meet it 18th n
demand for free trade. AS to trusts,
the Roosevelt administration has done
enough in the way Of regulation to de-
stroy tine effect of any agitation rryan
may undertake. The best he ca n do is
to follow Republican orators ana prom
Use a little more than the Republican
platform offers, but when he comes to
match his promises with Republican
performance, he will discover that he
is making slow Roadway.
And to cap all, very large per cent
VI luc Dchiotidit party dic ulSSuSteQ
at the tenacity with which Bryan
hangs on. at his obstinate refusal to
permit the nomination to go where it
might yield the fruits Of victory. They
are determined TO do all they can to
make his nomination easy, to give him
the pla tform he wants and then dump
the entire outfit overheard, that the
way may be cleared for a reorganiza-
ton of the party lines that are safe
and sane. Thousands of Democrats
who are urging Bryan's nomination to-
day, are doing it in the belief that the
only way to get rid of him is to nomi-
nate and defeat him.-Toledo Blade.