The Washington herald., 1908-02-24

William Jennings Bryan. after a tour
lasting several months. through the
South, the East. and the Middle West.
much resembles to-day the man who will
make the most natural noise for the
nomination for the Presidency at the
Democratic national convention at Den
Yer.
When Mr. Bryan came TO Washington
several weeks ago, IL was loudly heralded
in certain newspapers that he would be
here Informed that his day as the leader
of his party were ended and It was pre-
dicteG that he would be compelled 10
retire to the seclusion of Lincoln. there
TO spend his days in peace
That rumor died. died hard. but surely:
and if Mr. Bryan was ever informed that
such retirement was the desire Of East
ern Democrats. it must have been done
through newspapers. because he never
admitted having heard il elsewhere.
Has Grown Greatly.
Since his visit TO Washington the con-
Vietion that Mr.. Bryan will again be the
candidate of his party has grown TO be
practically undisputed in most quarters.
Will be shown TO the Nebraskan at Den
yer will come from some states OF the
East. notably New York
New England Is at present wavering
in the balance. Steps have already been
taken for the formation of a Bryan club
in Connecticut. and there has been some
activity in Massachusetts also.
Without giving any consideration 20 the
possibility of Mr. Bryan's winning over
New England. as seems at least believ-
able. there is no question that he has the
West from the Pacific TO the Mississippi
for him. The Western States will send
10 the Denver convention 3eS delegates,
all instructed for the Peerless One.
The states from the Mississippi 10 the
Alleghenes are also lined up on the
Bryan side Of the Denver convention. and
he himself Is convinced that in one of
these. ever shaky Indiana, he will get
the fifteen electoral votes.
No man has yet appeared who can get
the South away from Mr.. Bryan, and
there is but markedly little ground for
any assertion that he will not carry all
the States south of Mason and Dixon's
line
Is No Other Man.
In all these States there Is really no
man known 10 the great mass Of the
people as is Mr.. Bryan. He has been in
the public eye so continuously and so
much more prominently than any other
figure Of any national Importance in his
party that his Endorsement by the South
and West is almost a foregone conclu-
sion.
The few attempts which have been
made TO bring another candidate into the
field have so far failed. for lack both of
candidates who were willing TO enter and
for hackers Of sufficient strength to
warrant the taking of such men Sc
Tiously.
Gov. Johnson. OF Minnesota. the one
Western man who has been mentioned as
possible rival TO Mr.. Bryan. declared
his views upon the matter recently in
explicit terms. Gov. Johnson will not be
a candidate. he said. and he knows, most
likely.
OF the other men who have been men
toned. Judson Harmon of Ohio. has
fallen apparently upon hard and stony
ground, for his boom has died a-borning.
snd not even in his own State (Ohio) has
he received support. Mr.. Bryan carried
Ohio away with him in his vest pocket,
after a short but busy visit
Judge Gray. of Delaware. the one other
man who has been mentioned of late, is
not considered as a candidate under the
present outlook. Judge Gray would no
doubt receive the support Of New York.
New Jersey. his own State. and possibly
the larger part of New England, but out
side Of that he would probably make but
little headway.
Carries About All.
Mr.. Bryan seems to carry the West
frem the Pacific 10 the Alleghenies. with
sos delegates. in his right hand, the South,
with go delegates In his left. and tucked
under his arm will be the 42 delegates
from the Territories.
Without counting upon vote outside Of
this, Mr.. Bryan would have go delegates.
which is just fOrty-eight more than is
necessary for securing the nomination.