The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-01-05
A PLOT THAT
FAILED TO WORK

Those astute gentlemen who
were proposing to forestall con-
gress and the people in fornulat-
ing democratic programs and poll
cies for the next two years by the
Baltimore conference which was
proposed in the interest of reaction
have been quickly shown where to
get off and the ambitious affairs
now becomes merely a Maryland
mass meeting to which democrats
in general are invited. If reac-
tionary course is to be mapped out
by the meeting, it will have no
sort of binding effect on the party
and will mean next to nothing.
The design of the affair when it
was projected was pretty obvious.
The men back of it were them
selves reactionaries and they had it
in mind to get together a body Of
so-Called conservatives III a great
conference where safety and san
ity' would be sounded as the key
notes of the democratic future.
Bryan and Organism were to be
sent to the boneyard. Recent VIC
tories were to be celebrated as a
triumph of conservatism over wild
west political rainbow chasing.
The policies of the party in con-
gress and in the presidential cam
paign two years hence were to be
outlined and presidential timber
was to be measured and perhaps
formally set up.
But the Maryland scheme has
met an early death. The demo
Gratis of the country refused to be-
come a party to it and men like
Mr.. BRYAN and Champ Clark eX-
posed its true character and pur-
pose so clearly that even some of
those who hailed it with JOY at the
beginning hedged later and finally
declined to endorse it. Those with
little brains and with some real
concern for the future of the demo-
cratic party quickly realize that it
would be the worst sort of bad pol
itics to discredit at least ninety-hve
per cent of the voters who aided in
the election of Dix, Harmon, Will
son, Plaisted, Foss and Baldwin,
For this indeed would have been
the effect of the plan which was in
contemplation. 1t was intended
that the proposed conference should
blanket Bryan and in effect repu-
diate his policies, but this could
not be done without affronting that
great body of democrats which has
been voting the democratic ticket
and supporting democratic policies
year in and year out. The MAORI
ties which democratic candidates
have secured i'll this year of grace
would have been absolutely i1npos-
sible if the Bryan democrats had
not been at the polls. The reac-
tionarics themselves would have
made but a pitifnl showing if the
progrcssives had initiated the eX-
ample of the former.
1t is two years yet till the demo-
cratic national convention, and
much may happen III two years.
But one thing we feel pretty GER
tain will not happen. The demo-
cratic party will not fall into
the hands of the reactionaries.
Their first plan looking to that
consummation has ANONYMOUSLY
failed and other plans which may
be looked for are reasonably sure
to meet like fate. There is little
evidence of reactionary spirit a
mong the rank and file of the par
ty. The progressive idea is abroad
and it will be seen as soon as the
Sixty congress comes to-
gether that conservatism will not
control its program nor seriously
hamper it's work. = Johnstown (Pa)
Democrat.