Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-03-26
BRYAN WATCHES FENCES
In Conference with Friends and
Leaders.

ians attribute hidden Significance to
the visit Of William jennings Bryan
in Washington today. The establish
ment of Johnson headquarters here
and in New York and other eastern
cities. and rumors Of a plan to cap
ture the eastern delegations to Dem
yer for the Minnesota man, have
caused some trepidation among the
Nebraskan's supporters in Washing.
ton. Mr.. Bryan will hold several Inn
portant conferences with Democratic
leaders in Washington today.
Tomorrow Mr.. Bryan will invade
Pennsylvania, one of the strongholds
of the opposition to his candidacy,
speaking tomorrow evening in Pitts
burg. Reports state that the mem
bers Of the Pennsylvania Bryan
League have arranged an elaborate
reception for their chief, and that his
appearance in the Smoky City will
mark the beginning of a determined
campaign to contest the state delega-
ton In the interest OF the Nebraskan.
From Pittsburg Mr.. Bryan will go
to Parkersburg, w. Va, and thence
to Kansas City, Mo-, where he will be
the guest Of honor at one OF the great
est political banquets ever held in
the West, to be held Monday night.
On Tuesday he will be in Lincoln and
will entertain the democratic and
populist editors OF Nebraska at a
banquet. Later next week he will
begin a western tour that will in
clude cities and towns in Kansas, Col
orado, Nebraska and Iowa.
While Mr.. Bryan is engaged in
swinging around the circle, his OPP
ponents in the East will be busily
engaged in manufacturing Bryan
thunder, in the hope OF preventing
the Nebraskan's nomination for the
presidency. The anticipates hope
to secure control of the delegations
from New York, Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, Delaware and Massachusetts,,
with possibly several others. In
New York, the Bryan opposition is
headed by Mayor Mcclellan and
Charles F. Murphy. while other
prominent politicians have taken the
lead in other eastern states. While
Johnson is considered the logical
choice Of the anticipates. either
Judson Harmon OF Ohio, or Judge
Gray Of Delaware. would be accep-
table as a compromise.
According to report much work
has been quietly done in organizing
the anti-Bryan men In Pennsylvania,
Massachusetts, and New Jersey, and
the indications are. it Is said. that
the campaign will be a hard one for
the Bryan men to fight. While the
delegations from the four states
would not constitute a third Of the
whole number third being neces-
sary to prevent a nomination. was
stated that the hackers of the move
ment expect that II they can con-
troll the solid delegations from four
important states they will have little
difheulty in rallying other delega-
tions about them, and in that way
massing enough to defeat nomina-
ton on the first ballot.
New York has rs delegates; Penn
sylvania. 6s; Massachusetts,. SO, and
New Jersey. "a. a total OF 202.
There are 965 votes, and Mr.. Bryan
win have to get 643, To prevent his
nomination on the first ballot, his
opponents win have to muster 322
votes. II was pointed out by friends
Of the Nebraskan that he has many
friends in all the states mentioned.
and that. while uninstructed delega-
tions might be sent from each to the
convention, 1t would hardly be pos
slble for the anti-Bryan men to cap
ture all OF the delegates from each
of the states. On the other hand. It
is stated, that with the aid of the
unit rule, solid anti-Bryan delega-
tons might be sent to Denver.
In promoting their campaign the
anti-Bryan forces viii have the CO.
OF Minnesota, which will
send delegation instructed for
johnson. and of Delaware. which has
signifed It's intention OF
sending Its delegates pledged to
Judge Gray. Massachusetts,. through
It's state committee. has refused to
declare for Bryan, and North Caro-
lima, to the surprise Of the Bryan
ties, failed to adopt q Bryan resolu-
ton.