The Glenwood post., 1908-07-18

tlonB In new Jersey, Ne" AoiA onA
Pennsylvania and have no hesitation
in saying that his candidacy spells de-
feat for the Democratic national ticker
next November"
This is what W. B. Connors, q prom,
inent Democrat who lives in Jersey City
told me Saturday evening while he
was waiting for the special train
which carried 1875 delegates to the ma
tional convention, to pull out for Salt
Lake City, its next stopping place.
"Keenly alive to the possibility of
grasping victory from the jaws of de-
feat, by the nomination of Gray of
Delaware, and thus conciliating the
east which has been and is very bit
ter against the Nebraskan, our dele
cation came to Denver. We were re-
luctant to acquiesce in the choice nf
Kern, not because there is anything
especially wrong with the gentleman
from Indiana, but because he comes
from a section of the country where
Bryan has average strength.
81 am confident that New Jersey
sill 60 from $4,000 to 10000 Republi-
can in the fall simply because Of the
manner in which the so called steam
roller crushed out any opposition to
Bryan's plans, and because of his
Connors. who is man of about As,
spoke in no undecided tone of voice.
1t was apparent from his manner that
he was sincere. His sentences were
quick and decisive, and in giving his
views of the chances of his party,
there was not a word wasted. 1t
wasn't question of man knocking
his party; it was simply an exper-
fenced politician giving clear-cut
statement OF conditions.
l had supposed that possibly some
of the delegates had been led astrav
by the long demonstration which fol
lowed Bryan's name, and said so to
Mr.. Connors, but he shrugged his
shoulders and evidently did not con
slider it worthy of reply for he made
none.
"There is absolutely no hope of tn.
east going for Bryan. None what
ever,' he declared after a pause, as
if he had weighed his words carefully
before speaking.
"Why didn't you make fight for
Johnson or for Gray then!" / asked
him.
One of Mr.. Connor' toes had evident
ly been pinched under the steam roll
ler as it went by the New Jersey de
legation for he answered rather eva
sively:
"The demand for Bryan's candida
cy was one we could not well resist,
but the fact that the party was put
ting up candidate who could not
be elected caused the attitude of the
New Jersey and the Tammany dele
cations in the convention. This also
caused the Connecticut delegates to
keep their seats"
Connor paced up and down the plat
form, with his hands in his pockets
and a big cigar in his mouth. The
thought of the impending disaster re-
sultant upon Bryan's nomination evil
IDENTIFY was not pleasing.
"And how do you feel over the
throwing out of Guffey," I asked OF
him.
Connor's eyes twinkled, and a
broad grin overspread his face.
"That was good good move. He
never was a real Democrat anyhow" "
"And what do you think of John
son s prospects in 1927"
But Connors would not commit him
self on this point, and turned the con
versation into other channels.
In the party Of 1875 were Allen Ben
ny, of Bayonne, congressman from
Hudson county, State Senator Leahy'
State Senator Hinchcliff; "Bob' Da
Wis. familiarly known as the "King
of Jersey City" and Judge Thomas
Magnor. None of the rest cared 10
be quoted, but the prevailing sent
ment was the same-Bryan was =
hopeless case, and was put up by tho
party because it could not get rid OF
him in the hope that the third de-
feat would unloose his strangle hoi !
on Democracy.
These delegates were not slow to
denuonce Bryan almost in Guffey
oxvn words aa the worst autocrat tn