The San Francisco call., 1908-07-01
BRYAN CANNOT
DICTATE UPON
PARTY POLICY
Chairman Taggart OF Democratic
National Committee Voices
Stand of Leaders
Alton B. Parker Announces he
Will Oppose the Proposed
Anti-Injunction Plank
Confidential Whisper lntimates
Nebraskan Is Prepared to
Yield After Fight
By Raymond
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL


DENVER, June 30.-"It was prob
ably all right to let Bryan have his
way about the organization of the con-
vention," said Tom Taggart of lndi-
ana, chairman of the democratic ma
tional committee, to me at noon to-
day. THAT is matter in which he is
personally concerned. When it comes
to the platform the convention itself
should take matters into its own
hands, because the platform is for the
future guidance of the whole party
and is something the candidate must
abide by as well as the humblest mem
ber. / do not believe in radical labor
plank or any other radical plank, and
/ think the convention will decide the
matter for itself. paying due regard
to the wishes of Mr.. Bryan, but not
considering his views as final"
This statement by Chairman lTaggart
expressed the whole sum and sub
stance of the fight on the platform.
The leaders are quite willing that
Bryan should be nominated and they
are almost willing also that he should
choose his running mate, If he sees
best. They do not believe he should
assume to dictate the policy OF the
party. because that Is something for
which the next candidate, four years
from now, will have to stand sponsor.
If radical labor plank is adopted
next week. and 1t is not yet certain 1t
will not be, it will none the less creep
into the platform against the de-
terlnined wishes OF the most response
BILE leaders who are here on the
ground Tom Taggart, Roger Sulli-
van, Ex-Governor Thomas and other real
leaders do not wish to see anything
radical as a surrender to the Com
pers element.
SULLIVAN STANDS BY BRYAN
Roger Sullivan's interview yesterday
has been taken by some Bryan men
as an indication he would prove treach-
erous to the peerless leader" so far
as the nomination is concerned. Sulli-
vans opposition to the anti-injunction
plank is on matter of principle only and
he accentuated this fact by giving out
the following formal statement today
when 1 dictated the interview yes
terday, which has been construed by
part of the press as opposing Bryan,
/ did not dream of any such move. I
did not give the anti-injunction plank a
thought in my utterances, / simply tried
to explain the principles of the democ-
racy as 1 view Them / am working
for him and will be his supporter un-
til the campaign Is finished. He will
be nominated unanimously on the first
ballot"
This ought to put an end to weird
stories to the effect that Roger Sulli-
van would join with Jim Guffey of
Pennsylvania and possibly with Boss
Murphy of New York to induce the
delegates instructed for Bryan to vio-
late their pledges and go over to
Johnson or Gray. The Illinois delega-
ton will be loyal throughout the con-
yention, and with the exception of half
a score in Pennsylvania, the eastern
delegates will also follow instructions
This does not mean there is not to be
a hard fight on the anti-injunction
plank.
Word which came from Alton B. Par
ker that he expected to arrive here
tomorrow or a few days later for the
purpose of leading the fight against the
anti Injunction plank, caused consid-
erable chagrin among some of his own
supporters. They fear that as the last
democratic nominee for president.
Judge Parker may not be treated with
all the consideration which ought to be
due to a man who has held such a no.
sition in the party.
PARKER's PLACE UNCERTAIN
Judge Parker evidently supposes he
will be the New York state representa-
tive on the committee on resolutions.
and probably the chairman of the com
mittee as well. This is by no means
certain. 1t will be remembered that
Boss Murphy once before rurned down
David B. Hill for this same place. He
is quite likely to favor Judge Van
Murphy's friend, and one good feature
in the Tammany chieftain's makeup Is
loyalty to those who have done him a
political service.
If Judge Parker comes on here. as
he says he will do, to lead the fight
against the anti-inJunction plank. he
may be put in the embarrassing posi-
tion of finding himself not a member of
the committee, so he will have to do all
his work from the floor.
Parker Is not in favor with the CON
trolling element In New York politics.
and as he is bitterly opposed to Bryan 8
position on the labor question the fear
of his friends that he may be humfli-
ated here In Denver is only too well
founded.
learned today from men who have
been very close to Bryan that he uro-
poses TO stand out for his anti-int,tnc-
At the same time 1t is whispered con-
fidentially that the candidate for the
presidency is quite prepared to have
the convention modify the plank and
take some of the radicalism out of II.
BRYAN INJUNCTION PLANK
The Bryan modification of the Com
pers plank as adopted by the Nebraska
convention says:
I'VE favor such a modification of the
laws relating to injunctions as will
first prevent the issuing Of the writ in
Industrial dispute. except after notice
to the defendants and a full hearing;
second to permit trial of such by a