The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-05-01
SAYS BRYAN HAS
BARRIER IN HIS
PATHWAY
WALTER wELLMAN ASSERTS
NEsRAskAN rs SURE OF MA
JoRiTY or DELEGATES. BUT
MAY LACK Two-THIRps VOTE.

& CHICAGO. May l.--After conceding
that William Jennings Bryan Is In the
lead in the present stage of the strug-
gle for the Democratic presidential
Nomination. and will have clear ma
jority or the delegates to the national
convention in Denver, Walter Well
mnn. writing to the Record-Herald
from Washington. says:
Bryan is not having the easy road
10 victory his friends thought he
would have a few weeks ago. The
opposition is showing unexpected
strength. Gov. Johnson is gaining
ground. not so much inactual dele
gates as nthe spread of a. belief
among the Democrats that Bryan may
4 be beaten after all and that Johnson
would have am uch better chance OF
election
THE refusal OF Connecticut to in
dorse Bryan, the attitude OF New York,
Pennsylvania, Maryland. New Jersey
and some of the southern states, indi-
Gates Enthusiastically that IL things con
finue as they now are Bryan will lack
tWothirds when the convention meets.
hut Is pretty sure of a majority. The
Democrats OF the south have not as
yet given much sign OF what they are
going to do. III the south should nap
pen TO join the conservatives OF the
east and New England and stand out
against Bryan, the struggle will be a
sharp one. The politicians OF the
south are not favorably disposed TO
Bryan, but / learn from men who nave
fraveled through that section the rank
and file are enthusiastically for him.
This may account for the Bryan pro
clivlties OF such representative south
eru Democrats as Henry Watterson
cpd Clark Howell.
eAs In the Republican party, where
1he White House is at ioggerheads
with the leaders In congress. SO in the
Democratic ranks there are indica.
lions OF growing bitterness between
The Bryan and Johnson contipgents.
Mr.. Lynch. of st. Paul. mas been in
Washington several days filing the
newspapers with optimistic inter
views as TO the growth ofthe John
y ron movement and the decadence OF
Bryan. This has reused that old war
horse OF the Nebraskah's camp, Willis
Abbott. and Mr.. Abbott has plenty
Of things to say to the bold Mime
ectan!
"a Lays stress On Nichigap.
Abbott says.
Lynch lays great stress on the &C
fion or Michigan when the state COM
lfllftcc refused 10 indorse Bryan by a
majority OF, one Internationally
31Ichigan II a state that never hns been
earned for q Democratic presidential
Z tickcf--and ytt ne ignored the action
OF thc West Virginia state committee.
which indoroed Bryan by a vote OF ten
to I'VE. and the action OF the Ohio state
conmittec. which also Endorsed him
MY own Information, IL may
+numbIf set 20 up against his, and he
<4S bcc1f working at this for two
months. while 4 have been actively in
. <rrtrttd IN it since 1896, Is that not
s understanding his statement, every Pa
s ci0< coast state VIII send Bryan dele
% 44<fon. While II IA wholly nrobable
[<fh4t some % the southern states may
not instruct. the friends OF Mr. Bryan
>tu1f<riy refuse 10 accept AN uuinsfr0cted
<<Ia<attof, rs a johnson delegation
Va So Observation-Disclosures the war OF -wOrd3
1r<~crn fhess rival campaign rnnnaE-
MA n - <ac< that the Democratic
|(natiou has not yet sufficiently de .
<lcp<d 90 enable neutral observers to
IH&>i(< tn4 stntns with anything APP
fo10i>f0x 4crur1cy"