Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-01-11
DEMOCRAT LEADERS FEAR Al.
sENcE WILL AFFECT HARM.
oNY MEETING.
STILL A POWER
IN CAMPAIGN OF 1871
His Supporters Declare hs Will Be
Able 60 Influence Platform Dsciara.
tions Of National convention-Lead-
ers Bothered As to commoner's At
titude and Best Manner Of PIaeatins.

Washington, Jan. 11.-Lead1ng demo-
Gratis in congress are anxious over the
attitude assumed by W. ]. Bryan with
reference to the democratic harmony
meeting scheduled for Jan. 49, It had
been the plan Of the thermometers to
haze all factions Of the party repre-
sented by the faction leaders. and OF
course Mr.. Bryan was TO be one OF the
chief attra ctions. His refusal to at
T. nd. or even to send a letter to be
read a, the banquet. is taken as addi-
tional evidence Of his distrust OF the
outcome of the affair. and his belief
that the harmony movement has been
put under way by the old Cleveland
wing OF the party. which is now hoping
to come into undisputed control.
If he were to attend the harmony
meeting Bryan might figure that he
would in some sense be bound by tts
conclusions; or that he might be called
on to say some things that would not
he appropriated at such gathering.
The fact that ne says he can not even
write a letter to be read. for fear 1t
might not jibe with the words OF the
other speakers. is significant. II Is
CLAIMED. OF his purpose not to submit
tamely 70 the rule Of the Cleveland
faction.
With Bryan assuming an "otfsh"
attitude, It is freely predicted that the
meeting will not bear important fruit.
There will. Of course, be a big gather
ing OF the faithful. and there will be
plenty Of speeches. and much shouting:
but the absence Of Bryan. and his re-
to, ~, Inc
will cast something Of a damper over
the event. and make 1t quite barren OF
practical results.
A Conservative Victory.
Bryan is quite right in viewing
with ala nm" a harmony meeting. ar
ranged for by the democrats OF the
east. The east is still "the enemy's
country for him. and probably al
ways will be- The democratic party
made its most startling and emphatic
gains last year in Ohio. New Jersey.
New York. Maine. Connecticut. and
Massachusetts. In none Of these states
was NJ Bryan's voice heard. His
presence was TO: even requested, and
had he volunteered his services. the
chances are they might have been
quietly declined. Not only this. but no
democratic orator in the states named
made an appea! 10 the voters in Bry-
ans name, nor featured any OF the
Bryan political doctrines. Plaisted.
Wilson. Dix. Foss and Baldwin won
without his support, and Harmon prac-
.ically against his opposition. The
democratic victory. as whole. was not
a Bryan victory but victory Of the
conservative democracy. which has
always been opposed 10 him. and 1t
was perhaps natural that. when this re-
tuvenated wing Of the party got up a
ratification meeting. and invited him
20 attend, he should decline.
AS an indication that the breach be-
tween the two factions has not been
closed. 1t Is recalled that In Indiana,
where Bryan did much speaking during
the campaign. the party leaders have
MED him any credit for what hap
pened The legislature. they say. would
have been democratic without Bryan's
aid; in fact. the charge Is that the
legislative majority would have been
greater than /: Is but for Bryan's work
in the state.
The friends Of Mr. Bryan make a
general reply to all this. They do not
deny Of course. that his speaking itin-
erary in the last campaign was limited.
and that much was achieved without
his aid. But at the same time. they
maintain that his hold on the people
Is unbroken in many states. and that
in 1912, when the party gets ready to