The sun., 1908-05-13


An Open Convention at Denver.
The claim Of more than two-thirds Of
the delegates to the Democratic national
convention which il sent out from Lin
coin in the interests Of Mr.. BRYAN was no
doubt inspired by him on the eve of his
journey to Washington to be present at
the Governors conference, where Mr.
BRYAN will have to stand comparison
with JOHN A. JOHNSON of Minnesota as
an available candidate' for the Demo-
cratic nomination for President.
The appearance Of Governor JOHNSON
at the national capital in an official ca
pacity while Congress is in session and at
time when the result Of the primaries
in Minnesota is fresh in the minds Of pub
lie men cannot be relished by Mr.. BRYAN.
He no longer holds unchallenged the CEN
tire Of the stage as a Democratic Candi-
date and it must add to his annoyance
and deepen his fears that Governor
JOHNSON is to make tour of the South
when the Governors conference ia over.
As Mr.. BRYAN is private citizen and has
not held any Office for fourteen years
there is no reason why he should have
been invited TO the conference called by
the President, except a purely political
reason originating in the desire Of Mr.
ROOSEVELT TO aggrandize Mr. BRYAN as
a Democratic leader. Unfortunately for
this design, as we'll as for the ambition
Of Mr.. BRYAN, his rival the Governor Of
Minnesota had to be invited too.
Very different is the position OF Mr.
BRYAN as a candidate now from his
position in 1900. His partisans strive to
create the impression that "a there was
no opposition TO him then there is none
now that need be seriously considered.
But the facts demolsh this theory. In
1900 there was absolutely no obstacle in
Mr., BRYANs path TO the nomination,
East, West, North or South. The ma
chinery Of organization was either in
the hands Of his friends or controlled by
politicians who recognized the futility Of
any resistance. Although it was not
the practice Of New York conventions
TO instruct their delegates, the oonven-
ton Of 1900 instructed for, Mr. BRYAN and
its delegates were bound by the unit
rule In the Pennsylvania convention
on April s, 1900, every mention Of Mr.,
BRYAN's name caused a howl Of joy"
and the delegation to Kansas City was
The Maryland Democrats
in their platform on June 5 declared;
We note and record the fact that With unparal.
leed unAnlmlty the Democrats lD county and State
entons have sIEnlned their desire that WILLIAM
JENNINGS BRYAN shall again be selected to lead !
the Democratic party"
Mr.. BRYAN's election was actually pre-
iicted in the Maryland resolutions. The !
New Jersey delegates were not instructed,
but the platform adopted by the State
on May 81 contained this
tribute:
we recognize WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN as the
popular tribune OF the people, able, fearless and
honest and worthy 10 receive at their hands the
nlGhest political honor"
The Delaware delegates were also in
structed for Mr. BRYAN. In Vermont
he convention expressed faith in him as
he party leader, and it was announced
hat the delegates would vote for him as
4 unit. Maine and Connecticut we're
infected with the same official enthusiasm
Tor Mr.. BRYAN, and in the other New
England States his nomination was re-
yarded as inevitable and unacceptable,
md there was no organized opposition to
him. Mr.. BRYAN even indicated the
platform before the convention met, and
declared that the Democratic ticket was
ure TO win because
THE people are with us this year and they are
q sympathy with the principles which will be en-.
'odled In the kansas city platform and which rep
ssent the feelings Of the great mass Of the Amer
ran people"
Mr.. BRYAN affects at this time TO re-
,ard his nomination as assured and he
alks in the same fulsome strain about the
uccess Of the ticket to be led by his name;
nut he knows that he will not be the
My candidate before the convention at
)enver and fears that the nomination is
Tipping from his grasp When Mr..
RYAN keeps the types Of the Commoner
ot with appeals TO the American people,
rints his own name more than two
undred times in one issue, and is re-
uced to sending out tabulated claims
{ delegates from Lincoln, the tide has
lrned and the signs are that the gather
lg at Denver will be an open conven- I
ion in which any one Of Mr.. BRYAN's |
ompetitors may carry OF the prize Of &
he Democratic nomination. I
-- 4
american and English school Teach [
ers, Z
II will hp remembered that In IONA NJ a | I