New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-03
THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE.

THE DEMOCRATIC NOWALH.
Governor Wilson's nomination 1T Bal
timore yesterday was, on the surface at
least, a decisive victory for the radical
element in the Democratic party. 1t was
even greater triumph for Mr.. Bryan
than it was for Mr.. Wilson. The latters
selection as the Presidential candidate
of the Democratic party was due more
to the formers personal activities than
TO any other single influence. But for
what Mr.. Bryan did In the convention
it is extremely doubtful If Mr. Wilson
would ever have obtained a two-thirds
majority.
The Democratic bosses had creased
the WAYS at Baltimore for Speaker
Clark. He suited them, but they did not
have the foresight to keep their prefer
ence under cover Mr.. Bryan was the
only delegate with acumen enough 10
seize upon the nomination of ex-Judge
Parker for temporary chairman as an
evidence Of the designs of the reaction
airy managers and to tear the mask from
their programme. Governor wilson was
disposed 10 consent to Mr.. ParkerS Sc
lection, and was forced into opposition
only by Mr.. Bryan's Importantly. From
that point on he profited at every step
by the Nebraskans efforts to revenge
himself on those who had set him aside
for Judge Parker's benefit. When the
Clark managers accepted Murphy's aid
on the tenth ballot it was Bryan who
came TO the front and delivered the fin
ishing blow at Clarks candidacy, max
ing Wilson thenceforward the logical
candidate in a convention naturally rad
ical and sure to nominate radical III
the delegates could once shake OFF the
control of the BOSSES Mr.. Bryan even
successfully dictated the conditions I'M
der which Mr.. Wilson ~hould be chosen,
compelling the convention to give him
enough votes to enable him TO dispense
entirely with assistance from Hearst
and Murphy.
Wilson is the Presidential nominee.
but BRYAN is installed more firmly than
ever as the power behind the throne in
the Democratic party. II IS strange
example Of the miX.ups of politics that
a candidate owing practically everything
To the Peerless Leader Of 1896, 1900 and
1908 should have the enthusiastic sup
port of Eastern Democratic newspapers
like "The New York Times" "Tbe Even
ing Post and THE New York World.
which have never before been able TO
reconcile themselves at any point 10 Mr..
Bryan's political leadership.
In making his campaign as an apostle
of Rryanism Governor Wilson will he
handicapped not little by the sudden
ness with which he saw what he now
regards as the light after long service In
the cause of what he now regards as re-
action The elapsed time between his
expression of qualification that Bryan
had been knocked into n cooked hat
and his discovery that the Nebraskan
was "the one fixed point" In the Democ-
racy was suspiCiously brief. His con-
version to radicalism was synchronous
with the awakening OF the great ambl-
ton that was famed into flame by the
persistent attentions Of Colonel George
Harvey, and the public has been not
little disposed to think that the same
cold calculation underlay his change of
political faith that underlay his subse-
duent abrupt termination Of Colonel
Harvey's friendly services. Many people
cannot get it OUT of their heads that
Governor Wilson is more self-seeking
than ne is sincere and lack OF complete
faith in his radicalism may help to make
him acceptable to Eastern supporters
who trust that he will never blow very
hot again so long as he remains safely
on this side Of the Alleghanies.
As a scholar and man Of intellectual
cultivation Mr.. Wilson measures well up
To the personal standards set for Ameri-
can Presidents. But his long detach-
ment from actual politics may prove en-
barrassing to him as a candidate. AS an
historian It may not have seriously dam
aged him to advocate the free introduc-
ton of Chinese cheap labor and to exalt
the Chinaman above the immigrant from
Poland, Hungary or Italy. But rs can
didatc for office his historical indlscre-
tons will leave many stings.
The victory Of the radical element Mt
Baltimore will be killing frost to the
hopes Of the projectors Of new third
party. There is not room enough for
two radical candidates in the field.
There will be no detection of Bryan
Democrats from Wilson, and as the cam
didate Of a third party Colonel RoOse'
welt would be limited to the role Of a
mere faction leader trying TO break down
the Republican organization In some
states, while hoping to seize and use it In
others That would be too unlmportant
a part for a statesman with Colonel
Roosevelt's record Of achievement. The
nomination Of Governor Wilson points,
therefore, 10 Il resumption of normal
party activities and to contest all
along the line between Mr.. Taft as a
Progressive Republican and Governor
Wilson as more or less radical Demo-
crat
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