The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1911-08-03

We have, while deploring the u.s.
ual positions which he attempted to
maintain, been inclined to treat
them as merely casual exhibitions of
a disgruntled ex-leader, whose chag-
rim was increased by witnessing the
only partial triumph which the
party has attained since he first be-
came one of it's dominant forces
tO-wit, the capture Of a majority of
the House Of Representatives, which
was accomplished not only without
Bryan but in spite of Bryan.
But it is difficult to continue this
attitude of complacency toward the
gentleman from Nebraska as we wit
ness the various performances of po-
litical distemper, which he is now en-
acting upon the national boards.
AS Democrats, who at least have
the right to voice in the selection of a
nominee to lead the party in what is
the most promising battle it has en-
tered since the captaincy of the illus
trious Cleveland led it to it's only vic
tories since the Civil War, we must
dissent to the attempted dictum of a
man who has invariably led us to de-
feat; and must say to him and to
and next is to assert a mind of it's
own, mind made up of the COM
bined wisdom of it's associated intel
ligence and patriotism, to place at it's
front it's bravest and it's best-and
not to be dictated to, in it's assem-
bled convention, as on past occasions
by one whose only contribution to it's
cause has been a Voice and Vo-
cabulary.
Mr.. Bryan has made up his mind
that Governor JudsOn Harmon, of
Ohio, is not to be the nominee of
the party, because Mr.. Bryan doesn't
like Mr.. Harmon. He has not hest
tated to say that Mr.. Harmon is not
acceptable to him and therefore can
not be acceptable to the party. He
has printed in his paper list of those
whom he declares to be the eligibles
for the Democratic leadership, that
is to say the eligibles for Mr.. Bryan's
approval, in which few of the posi-
bles and a host of the impossibles are
named-and the name of Governor
Harmon does not appear in this list
which is equivalent to saying that the
Governor is not eligible according to
the Bryan standard. By his great
good grace, he does permit Woodrow
Wilson a "look-in'', but there's
nothing doing" for Harmon. We
thus see manifested this far in adj
vance of the convention the Bryan
disposition to dictate to the party
a disposition which has been more
than once tolerated by the Demo-
cracy, always to it's ruin and defeat.
1t was healthful and inspiring to
note just how much attention the
Democrats Of Ohio paid to Mr.. Bryan
and his "order'' for the exclusion OF
Harmon. The Democrats of Omaha,
in convention assembled, endorsed
Harmon for the Democratic nOmina-
ton. They not only treated the Bry-
an dictum with contempt, but they
passed a resolution condemning Mr..
Bryan himself for boiling The partly
in the State campaign Of last fall, and
this resolution was passed with only
three dissenting votes out of total
of 500.
This was a proper opening blast
of defiance to Organism in its latest
attempt to dictate to a great party
which is girding itself for a victory
next year under the most promising
auspices. The example OF the Demo-
Gratis of Omaha ought to be followed
by Democrats everywhere.
Mr. Harmon may not receive the
nomination for President. The con-