The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-19
Love IL n flower, the seed OF which
10 brought by the wind, and flowers
where 1t drops.-Dalznc.

( y L
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THE BATTLE NOT ALWAYS TO THE
3Es5 STRONG.
Editor of Times-Dtspatch, R,chmond,
Va:
sir.--There seems to be widespread
belief that the next Democratic prasi-
DENTAL nomination will go to Mr..
Bryan. This belief appears to be based
on the argument that Mr. Bryans fol-
lowing Is large enough, under the two
thirds rule of Democratic conventions,
to prevent the nomination Of any other
candidate, and that therefore the only
course open to lie party is to nomi-
nate Mr.. Bryan. Consequently the ma
jority OF the party leaders throughout
the country, believing that Bryan's
nomination is foregone conclusion,
are unwilling to sacrifice their party
influence by attempting to organize
against him.
To tho student who is familiar with
the history Of Democratic conventions,
4 the nomination OF Mr.. Bryan, however
probable, is by no means an assured
thing. Take, for example, the conven-
ton OF 1874. Martin Van Buren,. who
succeeded Jackson In the presidency,
was nominated in 1910 for second
term, but defeated by Harrison. AL
most Immediately his friends began
3 the canvass for a third nomination,
and in the four years that followed
Democratic conventions In twenty-four
of the twenty-six States declared in his
favor. and more than three-fourths OF
the conventions instructed their dele
gates to vote for him. The nomination
appeared to be his beyond doubt.
but the opposition, Though small, was
determined. and when 1t became known
through a letter from Van Buren,, pub
1ished about three weeks before the
meeting OF the convention; that he
was not in favor Of the immediate an
nexation Of Texas, the opposition went
toswork in earnest to secure change
in Instructions or to persuade delegates
to disregard instructions When the
convention met In Baltimore. May 81,
1S44,, 1t was found that Van Buren,
still had a large majority. but the
opposition proposed the adoption of
the two-thirds rule. and with the aid
of a number of delegates who were
Instructed for Van Buren,, but who were
not enthusiastic, 1t was adopted. and
has remained to this day the rule of
Democratic conventions. On the first
ballot Van Buren, received LAG out OF
a total Of 266 votes. but as the new
rule required lis votes for choice.
the balloting continued, and on each
successive trial Van Buren, lost ground.
;
placed In nomination the name of James
1 X Polk, the first dark horse" and
on the ninth there was a stampede
to him, and he received every vote in
the convention.
When the convention of 1852 met,
Lewis Cass, who had been the Demo-
cratic nominee four years before, was
the leading candidate. but after the
first ballot his strength gradually
On holl q
name of Franklin Pierce was introduced
with the.-fifteen Votes of Virginia. and
on the forty-ninth he received all but
six votes in the convention. The con-
3vention of 1868. owing to the condi-
tions in the South, was hardly a repre-
sentative Democratic body, but the
ultimate nominee, Horatio Seymour, of
New York. who was president of the
convention, was not placed In nominal
ton until the twenty-sccond ballot,
when stampede ensued and he re-
ceived unanimous vote.
Let US apply the lessons of history
to the present situation. A large ma
jor!ty OF the Democrats of the country,
for reasons already stated undoubtedly
expect to see Mr. Bryan nominated by
the next convention, but there Is very
little genuine enthusiasm for him In
any section. How can there be enthu-
4 siasm for man who has twice led his
s party to defeat, and who still advo-
Gates with an obstinate and fatal per-
y sistency issues that most people re-
gard as dead beyond the possibility OF
81 resurrection? Only last week Mr..
Bryan Is reported to have said in a
speech at Danville, Ill., that there was
n not a plank in the Chicago platform
that is not stronger now than in 1896.
81 Unless Mr.. Bryan can command two.
d thirds OF the votes on the first ballot,
e he will lose the nomination, for he
cannot afford, after being twice hon
ored by his party. to resort to a policy
of obstruction.
What are Mr.. Bryan's claims on the
Democratic party? The issue to which
he consecrated his life. and which
# brought him into prominence, is dead,
and with the collapse OF that issue he
" should naturally have retired from the
leadership of his party; hut his re-
81 1narkable gifts as a speaker enabled
him to keep himself before the people
y and to secure 81 second nomination
S The campaign of 1900 should have been
waged on the issues growing out OF
the Spanish War, and man not idan-
tilted with the silver issue put up tc
lead the fight. Aside from the fact
that he was unwilling to lay aside thu
sEss shibboleth of sixteen to one, there was
another reason why Bryan was not tht
i#SS logical candidate for his party TO name
He had gone to Washington a t crlli
] cal stage OF the discussion Of the Span
fish treaty and used his influence Will
d democratic Senators to secure enough
~ votes TO ratify 1t, on the plea that 1
was the only way to bring the war t
an end. and that the future OF tn
s Philippines could he settled In tn
n ys next campaign. This step was grea
mistake, for. as the events showed, !
is Tar easier to check hasty action o
q II = matter OF such weighty import tina
10 reverse 1t, AS far as prolonsing II
war was concerned, Spain was in I
condition to renew hostiltties, and Il
United States could not IN justice ha,
4 ssa none so. afterarejecting Il treaty. y
Ss terms OF which had been dictated
Epain, Feeling that there was lit
loxic In his being selected to wage q