The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-26

chairman. But they were entirely out
OF sympathy with Mr.. Bryan's dispo-
Sition unnecessarily to raise an issue
which might render apathetic, if it did
not that large conservative
element of the party which holds the
balance of power in New York and
other great Democratic states whose
electoral vote is necessary to bring vic
tory to the democracy.
If Speaker Clark is to be nominated,
as 1T now seems certain he will be. he
and his friends are anxious to present
a united front to the enemy.
The Clark leaders are now conf
dent that they will be able to do this
as the result of their c~onciliatory con-
duct in the convention. MI. Bryan
has said from the beginning of the
campaign for the Democratic nomi-
nation that Mr.. Clark's nomination
being assured that the platform to be
dopte by the party will be pleasing
to 'an progressiveS neither Mr.. Bryan
nor any h progressive would have
any proper reason to find fault with
the outcome of the convention if Mr..
Clark shall be nominated.
At the same time the conservative
element having received a small con-
cession in the selection of Judge
Parker for temporary chairman is
thoroughly well satisfied. Therefore
if there is any cause for complaint it
is limited to Mr.. Bryan's hurt feel
ms over his fa1lure TO dominate the
convention in its every act
A Tolerant Majority.
Now it was perfectly manifest that
the majority in this convention is pro-
gressive. But it was a tolerant ma
jority. Believing in the progressive
principles and determined that they
shall prevail, the ruling force in the
convention was not insistent that
those for whom the light of progress
~siveness shines less bright perhaps
should be cast out into utter
II was not a fanatical majority. Fa-
naticism makes no converts in this
enlightened day and the democracy
is bent upon conversion and victory.
If Mr.. Bryan had made it perfectly
clear to the convention that in no cir
cumstances would he be a candidate
for the nomination his position in oppo-
sition to the selection of Judge Parker
would have been stronger, but his
speech was regarded generally as an
in~sinuating plea for his own nominal
ton. The impression was made deeper
by the speeches of his former running
mate John ". Kern and others who
advocated his cause before the conve1-
ton. There was in Mr.. Bryan's address
a note of s~elfshness which raised the
suspicion of his complete sincerity.
This was fatal to whatever chance he
might have had of carrying the con-
vention with him.
Speaker Clark once again has proved
that he is the best harmonizer the
Democratic party has had among its
leaders in a decade. The sane and
reasonable stand of some of his sup
poruers in the convention made many
who were inclined to detraction of the
statesman turn enthusiastic
advocates. The speakers nomination
now seems inevitable. Wilson, the only
other progressive candidate, cast his
fortune with Bryan and Bryan lost.
Therefore the chance for Mr.. Wilson to
secure the nomination is gone. Pro-
gressiveness with Cancellation has tri-
unlphed over progressiveness with con-
tention which would not have been pro-
gr~essiveness at all. The plan of Mr..
would have brought the pro-
gressive cause another defeat. The
policy of Speaker C1ark's friends who,
without a word from him, took their
cue of the right course to pursue from
his d in ngres will insure a
progressive m So