Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-02
HOW ABOUT IT, BILLY B.?
THAT'S WHAT DEMOCRATIC
POLITICIANS WISH TO KNOW.
They Concede Peerless Leaders Nom
ination, BUT How About His
ElectionP

Can Bryan be elected if he is nominated
This is the question which a good many
leading southern democrats are asking
themselves and one another these days
Since the visit of the Nebraskan to the
National capital this week and the failure
of the timid movement to request him to
withdraw from the field not a few demo-
Gratis who would like to see the party
unite on another candidate are trying to
become resigned to their fate and are pre-
pairing to grin and bear 1t.
That the sentiment in certain parts of
the south at least is setting strongly
against Mr.. Bryan as candidate was evil
denced yesterday by the remarks of sew
eral southern senators who hold their
fingers on the political pulses of their
states so delicately that not ffutter es-
throbbing down in the southland. which
might be properly referred to as knock
ing of Mr.. Bryan as presidential pos
siblity according to these senators, that
the merest novice can detect it.
No Decided Sentiment.
One senator from a leading southern
state talked freely with a representative
of The Star about Mr.. Bryan yesterday
afternoon. He had just finished reading
his mail and his mind was fresh with the
political ideas of his lieutenants.
There is 20 decided sentiment in my
state in favor of any particular demo-
cratic candidate for President" he said.
but the majority Of the business men of
the state are opposed to the nomination
of Bryan. for the reason that they doubt
If he can be elected. 1t is conceded that
he will be nominated. but there is un-
l,4o fIr-c a,f
that some new candidate could be selected
who would have much better chances of
success.
The senator further said that If the
democratic party could be united upon
some strong candidate other than Mr..
Rrvan who would harmonic the various
elements of the party. the present condl-
tons would be very favorable TO MS
election. He said the sentiment favorlng
this view of the present democratic poiil-
cal outlook is very strong IN MS s'a'e
beyond all question.
NO one questions for moment, ne
said the integrity and high character
of Mr. Bryan. but ii is question OF Tue
election that the people of my state are
thinking about
It Looks Bryan's Way.
As the weeks go by and the time Tor
the national conventions grows nearer II
seems to democrats here that the leaders
of the party all over the country are ap-
nsreptly agreed that the nomination OF
Mr. Bryan becomes more certain, out'
strange as il undoubtedly is, the element
of the party that thinks his chances Tor
election are poor continues to increase In
size, almost proportonately. they say
And the strangest thing Of all, say the
uiseacres. is that at the same time 'he
conviction. is steadily growing IN 'he
minds of all good democrats that the
,.,ances for party success are going to be
better next fall than they ~, nave ga o cen
for wears 1t is a pretty pickle, ana one
tbat is making many wise party ieader
shake his head in despair.
Meanwhile, however, according 10 ,he
democratic politicians al the capitol
nearly all democrats are proceeding upon
the assumption that Mr.. Bryan VIII De
NO newt nominee. At present the anti
Rryan members are not showing ehthusl-
asm for the man who is conceded TO nave
the nomination in his grasp. but 'heH say
that when the die is cast there Will De
no turning back. and the old hfe VIII
burn as brightly as ever