The Washington herald., 1910-11-28

1t was learned here yesterday that Rep
resentative Champ Clark. of Missouri,
acting in harmony with the views on the
subject Of w. J. Bryan. was instrumental
in bringing about a change IA the char
acter Of the meeting of Democratic lead
ers to be held in Baltimore on Janu-
airy II.
This affair was originally advertised as
"a conference" TO be held. it was an
nouneed to enable the leaders TO forInu-
late a policy 10 guide the party In its
conduct OF the Presidential campaign OF
1912
Champ Clark. close personal and politi-
cal friend OF Mr.. Bryan and prospective
Speaker OF the Democratic House. was
among those who attended the preliminary
meeting Saturday. and it was Mr.. Clark
who made it known that he was opposed
to "A conference" that might be con-
strued as nothing more or less than a
conspiracy on the part OF Eastern Demo-
Gratis to reorganize with a view TO nullify-
ms ths Bryan influence in the Democratic
national convention OF 1912.
lie Opposed the Conference.
Mr. Clark and other Bryan leaders
showed their teeth when the Baltimore
harmony conference" was first proposed
Mr.. Clark discouraged the idea, and hos
tile utterances concerning il appeared In
the Commoner 1t was said here yester-
day by a friend OF Mr. Clark that the
Missourian told the Baltimore leaders Mr.
Bryan would probably decline TO partlci-
pate in any conference dominated by
Eastern or local leaders"
Mr.. Clark thereupon suggested that In
stead of a conference a rally be held as
a means OF celebrating the recent Demo-
cratic victory. II present plans are car
ried out this rally viii be attended By
approximately 1900 Democratic leaders
from the various States. A meeting will
be held on the morning Of January IL ar
which speeches Will be made, and the
night viii be set aside for a monster ban
quet at which 1000 covers are TO be
laid.
II is known that the Maryland poliltl-
clans, many OF whom are unfriendIy TO
Dir. Bryan. decided TO hold the rally"
merely 10 save their faces. Tliey did not
want the word TO get abroad that the
harmony conference" had ended in a
fiasco. owing TO the hostility OF Mr..
Bryan
According to statements made here last
night, the Bryan men are not entirely
content with the plans for the rally
They look upon the Baltimore affair with
suspicion, and will attend II fully pre-
pared for attacks on the peerless leader.
Conservative Democrats who have hope OF
party success fear that the proposed
gathering az Baltimore may be loaded
with dynamite. They admit possibility
OF the Baltimore rally winding UP with
fight that may result in Mr.. Bryan taking
20 the warpath. and thus menacing party
success in the campaign OF 1912.
No p bIicies 10 Be Outlined.
Representative Clark would not discuss
the Baltimore rally. except in the most
general way. He was asked IL IL was a
in the direction OF harmony.
I'VE have harmony I'm the House OF
Representatives" he replied This ques-
tion was then put 10 him: rs the rally
10 be held for the purpose OF bringing
the various state leaders together, with
a view Of putting the party an trim for
the next campaign"
The call for the rally speaks for
ITSELF" replied Mr.. Clark. TT is 10 be
a celebration OF our recent victory No
resolutions will be adopted nor policies
formulated. That is all | care 10 say
about IL"
As the prospective leader of his party
in the House. Mr.. Clark is doing every
thing possible to avert trouble for the
Democrats. HIS friends say that he has
taken this course OF his own initiative,
and that the counsel he offered at Balti-
more was in consonance with his purpose
10 do everything in his power TO tighten
tho party lines for future action. 1t was
stated further that Mr. Bryan did not
know that Mr.. Clark was 10 attend the
Baltimore meeting.
A good deal Of interest has been ex-
cited IN Washington IN the proposed Bal
timore rally. II Is expected that all ele-
ments Of the party will be represented
there.