The Washington times., 1912-05-12
.BRYAN'S FR|ENDS1s
. NOT ENCOURAGEDBy
STAMPEDE PLAN
Hardly Expected Nebras-
kan Could Win Nomi-
nation.

Friends of william Jennings bryan
who have been casting over the situa.
tion which they will find at Baltimore in
June II they undertake to stampede the
democratic convention to the Nebras-
kan are mott encouraged.
On the contrary, they find that some-
now or other large numbers of delegates
10 the Baltimore convention have been
selected apparently with careful refer
ence to the fact that they are rot
likely to engage in any Bryan stam-
pede, no matter what happens
For many years, In view of the grow
Ing complications in the Democratic
situation, there has been much said to
the effect that in the last analysis the
Democratic national convention, finding
itself unable to throw two-thirds vote
TO Wilson or Clark or Underwood or
Harmon, would turn to Bryan and set,
tie on him once more to lead the fight
Tor the party. 1t has been we'll known
that some of Mr.. Bryan's close friends
have been maneuvering to this end.
But the more the disciples Of Mr..
Bryan have looked into the situation
the more they have perceived the diff
culties of effecting the nomination of
their favorite leader. The reason is
have been quietly stacked against
Bryan, and that 1t will be extremely
difficult, II not impossible, to round up
two-thirds of the Baltimore delegates
and stampede them to Bryan ticket.
Firm Against Bryan.
The exact extent to which this has
been done is difficult to say. 1t is as
serted here, however. by men high up
| in Democratic councils that II has been
done. In the strenuous fights for dele
gates for Wilson. Clark, Harmon, and
Underwood, comparatively little atten-
ton has been given to the question of
the second choice of the men chosen.
| The result Is that ii has not been diff
| cult to work in a lot of men as dele
gates who are anti Bryan, not ostenta-
tiously so, of course, but sufficiently
firm in their position SO that it is not
| going TO be an easy matter to turn the
tide in Mr. Bryan's favor.
1t is known that some Of the close
friends OF Mr.. Bryan In Congress,
have becn casting over the situation as
nominate him, after the convention has
met and fought AMI wrangled and been
| unable to nominate in series of nal
lots one of the more prominent can
| 'lidates. And they are not AT all en-
CoLrdgcd.
1t could hardly be expected that the
men WHO are making he fght T foT
Il. would pick delegates who would be-
| come part ana parcel of Bryan
movement: Or that the Harmon lieuten-
| ants would name as delegates men who
woulh te likely to be swept off their
| feet in a Bryan stampede: or that
/ those conservative Democrats who are
quietly pushing the Clark movement
| because they do not deem Mr.. clark
vigorously progressive are going to se-
lcct any more Bryan delegates than
| lhcV are compelled to do to keep peace
in the family.
Powerful Opposition.
Even when it comes to the Woodrow
Wilson folks. it is we'll known that a
lot Of them are. under the surface.
bitterly against Bryan. One of the
reasons why Mr.. Bryan has not thrown
himself completely and without reserve
into the struggle for Wilson is that he
has been advised come of the men
close to Wilson are hostile toward him
and habiuaally sneer at his views o!
things.
In this situation, the talk of a Bryan
| stampede has to be taken with a Sood
many reservations. 1t is already plain
that II the time comes at Baltimore
gning to run up against powerful op-
position. 1t looks now as if this OPP
po sition would be Of stone-wall char
actrr and as If it would BE- found *
'TTs The situation. i in other words. is tha,
if one IF the four leading candidates
cannot me nominated at baltimore, the
not 10 Bryan, but to dark horse like
Kern. of Indiana: Foss, of Massachu
sets, or some 0f the othei' strong he'
ures now more or less in the back