The Washington herald., 1908-05-26

Claims made by the anti-Bryan ele-
ments Of the Democratic party. which
have shown a tendency to rally around
the standards Of Gov. johnson, OF Mime
sofa, and Judge Gray. OF Delaware. are
declared BY many well-informed Demo-
Gratis in Washington TO be based either
on the use Of rose-colored spectacIes by
the claimants or upon deliberate effort
70 misccnstrue the facts in the cases
cited to support the claims which are
made.
The situation was thus summed up yes
teroay by well-informed Democrat who
is friendly TO MI Bryan:
The anti-Bryar leaders and pre5s
agents-and Il Is worth while 10 bear in
mind the tact that there have ceased
TO be any Johnson leaders or any Gray
leaoers. or any other positive leaders for
they lump themselves together In one
cohort as 'anu-Rryan leaders'-offered
this information: Mr. Bryan has now
only 6l6 delegates. or 81 short Of the two
thirds necessary 70 nominate
Not Based on Facts.
In the first place. this estimate is not
at all accurate The New York Herald.
which has been wholly nonpartisan.
credits Mr.. Bryan with 747 delegates. or
about 70 more than necessary 70 nomi-
nate. But II il be admitted that the esti-
mate made by the ants that Mr.. Bryan
is short 50 votes Of two-thirds majority.
It might also be inquired Of them which
one OF their NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Judge
Gray with his six from Delaware and his
possibility Of a few from Florida. or
Gov. Johnson. with his % from Mime
sota-comes anywhere near 50 votes Of
majority or a two-thirds vote Ia the
convention,
III the votes OF these two candidates
are combined they will come not within
81 Of the number necessary TO nominate.
nor will they come within 500 OF the num-
Der necessary 70 nominate. How utterly
futile IT is for this very small tail 10 ex-
pect TO wag the Democratic dog.
I'm long interview. given out in
Georgia, Gov. Johnson announced. con-
cerning his campaign, that we have tried
10 make a good, fair fight. and we intend
10 keep right on In the same line This
raises the question as TO what IS a good.
fair fight IN politics. and also how far
Gov Johnson is personally responsible for
what his managers are doing in his be-
half and apparently with his countenance.
Illinois One Example.
For example. the regular Democratic
convention Of Illinois instructed its dele
gates for Mr.. Bryan Gov Johnson's
representative and hnancier. F. B. Lynch.
gives out 10 the press a statement that
25otN return postal cards have been sent
out 10 Democrats throughout Illinois,
urging that that convention did not rep
resent Democratic sentiment and that an
organized effort should be made 20 per
suade the instructed delegates 10 violate
their instructions. aside from the cost
OF the clerical labor involved and the
printing. this piece Of Johnsonian fair
play cost for the cards alonS S5.0o0-money
expended 70 persuade regularly instructed
delegates to violate what was practically
an oath Of ONCE.
And. again. in Kansas the State con-
venJion instructed all delegates for Mr..
Bryan Mr.. Johnson's managers invaded
that State, insisting that the instructions
did not express the viii Of the people.
and that Il was time TO correct or TO an
nul them The real Democrats OF the
State accepted the challenge cheerfully.
and at a conference held only a few
days ago, attended by more Democrats
than attended the State convention, the
Johnson forces were swept off the face
OF the earth. Is II a fair or an honor
able policy for man with barrel OF
money behind him 10 attempt TO annul
the action Of a regularly constituted
Democratic convention?
JOhnsOn's Idea of Fairness.
We are making a good. fair fight,
and VIII keep on says the distinguished
11e
the fairness OF the fight IN Pennsyl-
vania- Fifty-three out of sixty-four dis
trict delegates TO the State convention
were instructed by the men who elected
them TO vote at Denver for the nOmina-
ton OF Mr. Bryan A state convention,
controlled by Mr. Guffey, Of the Standard
OIL Company. left uninstructed four dele
gates-at-large. And now the advocates
OF Gov. Johnson are urging. with spe-
ciOus. and. I fear. in some cases, specie
arguments. the theory that the action OF
the State convention, which controlled
four delegates. should control the sixty
four.
These furnish a few Illustrations OF
the sort OF a good. fair fight made in
Gov. Johnson's behalf BY his only inti-
mate political associates. and for which
he must be held responsible. It Is a most
has ceased to be known as his own Candi-
date, but merely as the anti-Bryan can
didate. He himself, in his later speeches.
has lost that poise and self-restraint
which characterized him In his earlier
utterances. This quotation and summary
OF a portion Of his speech at Atlanta does
not impress the reader with his essential
modesty or his devotion 20 the Demo-
cratic rather than to his personal cause;
' The party needs a man who can win. and II
Il thinks am the man. I viii make the fight
! do not think lfr. Bryan viii have overwhelming
strength at Denver. The governor went on 70 say
that the anti-Bryan sentiment Is strong IN tho
South and especially in Tennessee Maryland North
Carolina and Louisiana. and that his friends viii
fight for him In these States.
The record may be searched in. vain
for one word said in a newspaper inter-
view OF Mr.. Bryan attacking BY name
Gov. Johnson, or predicting his defeat.
The governor has been busy denying
that he attacked Mr.. Bryan. but this last
interview seems 10 indicate that he IS
willing to Invite and accept the position
OF chief Of the forces personally and
opposed 10 Bryan and 70 the
great cohorts OF Democratic voters for
whom Mr.. Bryan stands"