The San Francisco call., 1908-07-10
COMPE[SBOURBONS
TO Do HIS BIDDING
Bryan'S Methods of Control Are
Without Parallel in Ma
tiOnal Politics
Theodore Bell Makes Better
Showing as Chairman
Than Clayton
By George Van Smith
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL

DENVER, July Sit remained for
William Jennings Bryan to introduce
and successfully practice the methods
Of the ward boss in national politics.
The ousting of Colonel James Guffey'
Pennsylvania delegates and the seating
of eight delegates who let Bryan con-
troll the party machinery in Pennsyl-
vania was without parallel in national
politics. The same kind of practices
have been justly condemned by Bryan,
and every political orator who has posed
as reformer or party purist during the
last decade. None will pretend to de-
fend Colonel James Guffey. He may
be all that the Bryanites contend ne
is. It may be true that he belongs alb
solutely to the Standard Oil company. 1t
is true that he is opposed to Bryan. 1t
is true that Bryan has been glad TO
accept the assistance of Guffey in for
mer campaigns. 1t is equally true
that Guffey is a democrat, and it is
equally true that he would be Pennsyl-
vania's member of the democratic ma
tional committee for the ensuing four
years. if that right given him by the
electors of Pennsylvania had not been
forcibly taken from him at the order
Of William Jennings Bryan.
COMPELLED TO DO BIDDING
That William Jennings Bryan could
compel his convention to do his bid
ding be 1t right or wrong, was demon
strated today when Chairman Clay
ton announced to the convention that
the new national committeeman would
be named as soon as the new Pennsyl-
vania delegation had elected Colonel
Guffey's successor. The convention sat
significantly silent. 1t had obeyed the
orders of it's master, but it was not
proud Of its work.
BY his impassioned TRADE against
the alleged improper domination of the
republican party by President Roose-
welt, Chairman Clayton took formal
cognizance of a bit of absolute political
despotism never before known in ma
tional politics.
No man who voted TO unseat the
Guffey men at the commoner's COM
mand has attempted to present show
ing Of right on his part. Some have
insisted that the end justified the
means None has gone further. The
reason-and the only reason-for the
unseating of eight delegates from
Pennsylvania was to prevent the cleo
tion of Colonel James Guffey to the
national committee. The eight men un-
seated were elected by overwhelming
majorities at primary elections con-
Quoted by the state, and came TO Den
of Pennsylvania and credentials signed
by the secretary of the commonwealth.
They were unseated not because they
were elected by fraud. or that there
was anything questionable about their
claim to seats in the convention. They
were unseated because they would not
vote for Bryan's choice for national
committeeman.
BELLS EXPLANATION
I asked Theodore Bell of California,
who as temporary chairman was the
commoners chief representative, to
Justify his vote with the majority for
the majority committee report which
unseated the delegates elected in Penn
sylvania. He told me that he was fight
ing corporations and that he had been
told that the eight from Pennsylvania
were corporation men. I asked him II
those men were not duly elected. He
was not prepared to deny the legality
of their election, but he insisted that
when improper persons are properly
elected the win of the electors should
have no weight with a convention. He
summed UP the situation with Il am
against corporation men, and that is
the only way we can get at Them
Quite regardless of the manner in
which he obeyed the orders of the
coHmoner. Theodore A. Bell OF Napa,
Cal, made good as temporary chair
man. When he surrendered the gavel
today to Congressman Clayton of Ala
bama the young Californian was the
recipient of a demonstration which
amounted to an ovation. And 1t was
well deserved, too.
PRESIDEs WITH DIGNITY
Bell did himself and the man who
selected him credit as temporary chair