The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-07-15
Consolidated Aug. 2. 1881.
GOSSIP FROM FlIRV|EW.
ANNOUNCED THAT GONIPERS
WILL SUPPORT BRYAN.
National Committee Meets at Fair.
view Today and VIII Probably Sc.
lect q Chairman.


support William Jennings Bryan in
the coming presidential campaign. In
political circles today this announce
ment overshadowed all others, even
the arrival Of John w. Kern, the vice
presidential nominee.
While Mr.. Gompers' support was
promised to the ticket. he specifically
denied any present, intention of taxi
Ing the stump In the coming campaign.
Reports gained currency that the la
bor leader would speak for Bryan. but
he made : such announcement. He
left Fairview after Is minutes, inter.
view with Mr.. Bryan. At present 1t is
believed there will be no need for Mr..
Gompers' service in an oratorical
sense. and Mr.. Gompers does not ex-
pect to be called on to speak publicly
In the campaign.
The Republican convention, Com
pers asserts. ignored the demands OF
labor. while the Democrats acknowl-
edged them In their platform. His
course. he said, is clear and he will
do what Is demanded Of him in the
interest OF labor as best impressed In
the platform adopted at Denver. As
the situation Is at present, Mr.. Com
pers' effort can be better expended
elsewhere than on the rostrum.
In his interview with Mr.. Bryan,
Mr.. Gompers was attended by Frank
Morrison. secretary Of the federation,
and James Duncan. also a labor
leader.
The representatives of organized la
Dor and the vice presidential nominee,
John w. Kern. the party reached
Bryan station" by the trolley car.
Mr.. Bryan went out to greet them.
"Ah. there Is the vice president"
observed the leader Of the ticket,
smiling and extending his hand. /.
What Mr.. Kern said in reply was
lost In the confusion, but his smile was
reassuring as he shook hands vigor-
ously with the standard bearer of his
party.
Arm In arm they led the way
to the Bryan home. followed by
Abrams Simmons. delegate at large to
the conventions: John E. Osborne,
member Of the State central commit
tee Of Indiana. and u. 8. Jackson,
chairman OF that committee. Mr..
Jackson. after talking with Mr.. Bry-
an. declared that Indiana would go
for Bryan by 10000 votes. He based
this prediction on a canvass. which he
said he had been making since the
middle Of January. He anticipated
the enrolment Of many Roosevelt Re-,
publicans on the Bryan list.
Mr.. Bryan told his visitors that it
has been reported that he would
Y axe a front porch campaign. He
was BY no means certain Of this, but
admitted that he had promised to
make a speech In Chicago on Labor
day. Aside from this date the cam
didate for the presidency had made
no plans.
Interest today naturally centered in
the visit tomorrow Of the members OF
the national committee. DIR. Hall, ma
tional committeeman from Nebraska,
Yesterday stated that the chair
manship of the committee may be
rendered to Ollie James Of Kentucky.
Campau OF Michigan. Lamb Of In
diana. or Atwood Of Kansas. Today
speculation on the subject had mar
rowed down to Campau and James.
and to the latter largely because Mr..
Bryan has expressed great admira-
ton for his political and intellectual
qualities and to Campau because OF
his admitted business ability.
David r. Francis is out of It be-
cause OF his own plea that though
stories Of his connection with Standard
Oil were untrue. the libels were suf-
hcient to prevent his running for any
office. Tom L. Johnson has been
eliminated. II Is said. by his fiat re-
fusal to occupy any Office where he
might be asked for legislative favors
In exchange for legislative con-
tributions. Mr.. Johnson has ad-
mitted Wall street connections but none
with whom he would care to mix po-
litically.
Current gossip tonight had mar
rowed the contest to Campau Of
Michigan and Lamb OF Indiana. Nei-
ther has expressed himself as desiring
the position but neither has de-
MED ambition In that direction. Cam
pau has been defeated for the nation
al committeeship from Michigan. but