Arizona republican., 1910-07-28
The Passing of Bryan.


 The decisive defeat of William J. Bryan in the democratic state con vention of Nebraska will inevitably affect profoundly his leadership of the national democracy It marks not only his first failure to control the Nebraska democracy since he be- came its leader in 1890, but the first significant overthrow he has sustain ed within his own party since he grasped national leadership at Chi cago fourteen years ago. The dem ocratic party in a few other states has from time to time, since 1896, refused to follow his lead, but those minor defeats were in the "enemy's country" and did not affect his pres tige in the country at large. Fol lowing his capture of the national convention in 1896, he was in abso- lute control in 1900 1904, and 1908. Had he said the word he would have been nominated instead of Judge Parker in 1904
 Hereafter, there can be no doubt, Mir. Bryan will find his leadership disputed in nearly every state. That he appreciated the full significance os the Nebraska contest is obvious from the report of his speech to the delegates at Grand Island as publish ed in our telegraphic columns yes terday
 "Tf I have advocated that which is not good for the state let me feel your wrath" he said. If you find I have done anything not for the good of the democratic party I do not ask your mercy. Who less than I could desire to disrupt the demo- cratic party? Am I not aware what repudiation at your hands will mean to me? It has been said I am mak- ing this fight because I am not a candidate. Nothing could be more untrue"
 Not only was he aware what re- pudiation" would mean to him, but he took care to state that he was  stances, everybody that likes a cour- ageous fighter will admire the bray cry with which he faced the issue. IL was an issue which he might easily have avoided. He started out some months ago on a propaganda of pro- hibition. While advocating in some states the idea of state wide" pro- hibition, his platform in Nebraska was a declaration for local option. That it was possible to defeat him on such a reasonable proposition is all the more significant of his loss Of influence with the democrats who once followed his lead with unques- tioning confidence. We do not doubt that he spoke truly when he charged the liouor interests with selling him out" But not even the liquor interests, powerful and interruptions as they are in many states, could have accomplished his defeat had it not been that his position as leader was already undermined from other causes.
 The defeat of Bryan at Grand ls- land-he himself calls it repudiation marks, in all probability, the be- ginning of his effacement as the sole leader of the democratic party in the nation. A man of such virile force and unquestioned patriotism and integrity cannot be wholly oo- scured-he is bound to have fol- lowing for a long time to come. But since his defeat by Taft in 1908. there was developed throughout the country a spirit of democratic dis- satisfaction with his leadership ana his arbitrary dictation. with his ap- oarent lack of balance, and with his disnosition to advocate fads ana freaks in legislation and constitution ,,aking He can, if he chooses make himself ar important factor fin the nomination of the democratic candidate in 1912. but it would seem ,,,,nossihle for him to regain the as- oendancy which has made him such q unioue figure in national poiitics since his nomination in 1896.