Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-07
Good CHANCES IN SOUTH
Republicans Expect to Make Inroads
in Several States.
TAFT WILL MAKE BIG GAINS
Southerners DisIiked Nomination OF
bryan and Party ORGANIZATIONS
Are Torn UD In Many
Places.

WASHINGTON. oct. 6-Nowhere in the
country are political conditions more inter
esting. more involved than they are in the
southern states. The section Of the United
States lying south Of Mason and Dixon's
line, which is generally counted safely
democratic, is badly torn up this year.
There is not the slightest doubt that there
n a strong inclination on the part of many
conservative southerncrs to break away
from what is known as the democratic
party. There is a chance for Taft In one
or two southern states besides Maryland
while the south's republican membership
IN the house is expected TO be Increased
materially.
There is that in the makeup OF the great
Ohioan that makes southern people ike
him. His earnestness of purpose, his high
sense of honor, his woll-established repu-
tatlon for fair dealing and his unsullied
record as a public official are we'll known
TO southern men. Many Of them have come
IN personal contact with him during the
last five or six years and he enjoys great
popularity throughout the south.
with the exception of Texas and Arksn.
sas there was hardly a southern state
whose leaders wanted Bryan to be nomi'
mated IN the Denver convention. They
fought hard against II and. could the sup
porters Of Judge Gray OF Delaware and
Governor johnson Of Minnesota, have beer
brought together the Nebraskan never
would have received the nomination. At g
conference held In Washington In March
which was attended by the leaders Of the
Gray n johnson supporters and a mum
Der of southern senator's and representa-
tives, IL was conciusively shown that Bryan
--.Nl - d.FoaNoa ~ nanuar ~ the two
forces would combine against him. Blu
neither would give way to the other and
90 the matter was dropped, the southern
men gave up in disgust and many Of them
elected as delegates to the Denver conven'
ton, stayed away and sent alternates.
L~ouiaiana LEADER Disguised.
This was particularly true of Louisiana,
only a few Of whose leaders appeared at
Denver. In Alabama half the leaders
were already committed to Johnson. but
~i1l-advised managers OF the Minnesotan's
campaign. whose zeal outran their dis
erection, gave publicity to the fact too
soon, and the Bryanites were able TO head
off the detection before the state con-
vention was held. Still most Of the Ala
bamians are but lukewarm in their sup
port Of the Nebraskan. Representative
Clayton of that state was chairman of the
Denver convention, but his is an individ-
ual support. North Carolina and South
Carolina were for Bryan. So was Texas
Overwhelmingly. Georgia was half.
hearted, as was Virginia. most OF whose
leaders. including Senator John DAME
and Senator Thomas $. Martin, both OF
whom have been opposed to Mr.. Bryan
Mississippi's strongest public man, JOIN
Sharp Williams, now a member of tn,
house, but soon to represent his state IL
the senate, split with the Nebraskan two
years ago, when the latter returned from
his tour abroad and declared for govern,
ment ownership of railroads.
In Kentucky. Bryan's interference II
the senatorial fight made him many enc
mics among democrats. The democrats
did not want to elect Beckham to this
senate. but Bryan told them they should
do 1t. Whereupon they turned arounC
and elected a republican. when they mac
a majority OF four votes on joint ballot