The Detroit times., 1912-09-13
BRYAN GAVE FATAL BLOW
TO RYARs POLITICAL
MACHINE IN VIRGINIA
After 15 Years "Antis" See Be-
ginning of End of Wall-st.
74 a Mans Dominance
TRICK IN CONVENTION

y
16 years, was defeated for renomtna-
tlon-eby A. J. Montague. former gov
ernor OF Virginia A defeat in any OF
his previous campaigns would have
occasioned surprise; his defeat this
time did not occasion any surprise,
but Il did give glee 10 one faction or
Democrats in Virginia and consterna'
ton to another. Ii marks The begin
ming of the end OF machine politics
IN Virginia II marks, according to
some Of the heading cltizens OF the
state. the beginning OF the breaking
up of the notorious Martin
Swanson-Flood political machine.
For Is years the Thomas +. Ryan
coterie has controlled the politics,
locally and national, in that state, al
though from, the beginning there was
strong opposition 20 II within the
party. But numerically this opposi-
ton has been less than $4,000 votes
as strong as the machine.
Thomas r. Ryan, the tobacco mil
lf6nhire. and Rep. Hal Flood OF the
tenth district. comprise, In the order
named the money and brains OF the
organisation. Ryan furnishes the
money and Flood disburses and sees
tkat the machine gets the results.
Senht0fs Martin and Swanson are
u9uSlly. the monthpieces OF the Or
Eanization.
TO Woodrow Wilson and William j.
Bryan belong the credit Tor putting
the first crack in the machine. II was
Bryan's resolution calling for the e1-
pulsion OF Ryan from the Baltimore
convention that caused the break.
The struggle between the forces OF
Gov. Wilson and those dominated by
the Ryan clan In the convention
brought about Mr.. Bryan's resolution.
SOne OF the delegates TO the Demo
Cratic state conyention at Norfolk
wag Clementfne Ryan. the son Oh
Thomas r, Ryan. He had been living
at his fathers big plantation. Oak
Ridge. in Nelson county. majority
of the delegates to the convention
were machine men, When the roil
was called none OF the anti-maehlne
men appears to have suspected that
Delegate Ryan was the son OF Thom-
a. +. Ryan. The majority, the Flood
men. wanted TO name an uninstructea
delegation the minority wanted TO
name delegation instructed for VII
IN The majority stood pat after
Maring from Thomas F. Ryan. The
Xbrd was sent around that Mr., Ryan
Ia not want any of Gov. Wilson. But
tlis was all unknown TO the "antis
WThe fight resulted in compromise,
tHe 6nachine men naming l4h dele
KteE who were TO go TO Baltimore
Nhinstructed. and 9h were instructed
a. Wilson. The leader of the Wilson
forces was Richard Byrd, speaker OF
fhe house of delegates, and brother
in-law or Flood.
Flood proposed the name OF Ryan,
INIT did not mention which Ryan he
meant. The "antis' assumed that ii
was Delegate Ryan. II was only day
or so before the national convention
met that some OF the Wilson delegates
Earned that 1t was Thomas F. Ryan.
Then they set up a howl, but 1t was
not heard far. The first action was
taken few hours before Mr.. Bryan
introduced his famous resolution. The
Wilson leaders. In Virginia had gone
10 Mr.. Bryan and told him OF the
trick.
The trick, the anti-machine men as
sert, was perpetrated by Hal" Flood
at the behest OF Thomas r. Ryan. A
short time before the Norfolk con-
vention, took the platform and de-
hbnnced Mr.. Bryan for his attack on
RYAN. Some OF Mr.. Bryans follow.
ers insvirginia urged him to reply 10
Mood. but he only smiled.
la few days before the Baltimore
tonveption the tenth Virginia district
kave Flood a certificate OF nomina-
tion. About three weeks ago Mr.
Hood. then in Washington. received
4 tip that trouble was brewing in his
district; that some of the leaders of
the Progressiyes were talking about
bow he helped Ryan AT the national
Convention Flood rushed to Lex
fiigton and Staunton. the two largest
Cities In the district, and tried to "fix"
matters He remained away a few
days and when he returned he said
be had fixed" things Blu soon a
movement was started to recall
him. a petition was started 10 have
the district committee meet and con.
slider asking him 20 give mp the nomi.
nation 1t had given him. Some Of the
leaders of this movement were former
supporters of Flood Seme-ef them
threatened to bolt and put another
candidate In the field.
This was the status few days ago.
Il was asserted by some OF the lead
ers OF the opposition that some action
world be taken to publicly inform
Flood that his defense Of Ryan and
his connections politically with him
were obnoxious TO the people Of the
district These same leaders assert
that unless Flood renunces his al
legiance 10 Ryan there will be po.
Btlcal storm in the district which has
rot been equalled since the days OF
Senator Malone.
Y The resentment against the ma.
chine Is not only in the Richmond and
Tenth districts, but throughout the
ftate. Reps. Jones and Glass say the
Feeling Is so strong that the anti.ma.
fhine people will nominate and elect
The next governor They assert. too.
that within five years tho machine
rrf11 ha doad