Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-06-24

Gu So enpnallcally with MT. bryan III
this opening note of division.
Will Not Evade Bryan Issue.
There is not the slightest disposition
or intention now to withdraw Judge
Parker or to avoid the issue of the die
tation of Mr.. Bryan.
AS a matter Of fact, 1t is stated here
that Mr.. Bryan himself has been urged
by Chairman Mack two months to al
low the use OF his name for temporary
chairman of the convention. This Mr..
Bryan is said to have declined and to
have requested Chairman Mack to hold
the matter over for Mr.. Bryan's later
consideration. If this be true, it will at
least prove that the selection of Judge
Parker, which is credited TO Chairman
Mack, was not made by one antago-
nistic, but friendly to Mr.. Bryan.
1t is also the sentiment and express
sion of the pre- convention people that
the circumstances of Judge Parker's
selection do not in any degree justify
the violence of Mr. Bryans protest or of
the spirit Of defiance and discord which
he has projected upon the Democratic
counsels.
Judge Parker's Status.
Judge Parker is NOT the most vio-
lent of reactionaries," and is not now
classed as an ultra conservative among
Democrats. He is generally regarded
as a Democrat of the old school of
Cleveland and Tilden and Hill The
New York American, which l am sure
mr. Dar1nprof IN, Ie will fol IN
consider progressive, has, as I remem-
Der, differed very frankly and very rad
ically from Judge Parker on many
questions. But it is widely commented
on here that The New York American,
in the general interests of Democratic
harmony and success, has not found it
necessary to protest against Judge
Parker's selection.
There is no more progressive Demo-
crat than Speaker Clark whose candi-
dacy has been pitched, frankly and def
initely, upon progressive lines. and If
Champ Clark and his friends have not
seen fit to make factional objection to
Judge Parker it is wondered here that
Mr.. Bryan, who has had for so long a
time the faithful support Of Champ
Clark and is not more progressive than
Champ Clark, should be willing to di-
vide the party over the temporary
craftsmanship of the national conven-
ton
No Keynote of Reaction.
If Judge Parker is confirmed as the
temporary chairman of the convention
his opening speech will sound no key
note of reaction or of ultra conserva-
tism This progressive Democratic con-
vention will find it little different from
a speech which might be made to the
convention by Champ Clark or bv
Woodrow Wilson
1t is the general belief here that there
will be permanent chairman selected
from progressive Democrats
1t Is the belief that the progressive
Democrats represent five seventies of
this convention, and five sevenths of
the Democrats of the entire country,
but it is realized that in order to win
in November the Democracy will not
only need the five seventies of progress
sive Democrats, but also the two-sev-
enths of conservative Democrats who
are submitting their fortunes to the
conventions verdict and expect to abide
by it and to vote for the conventions
nominee in November
Surely this is an object which should
appeal to all Democrats throughout the
country.
If the party can be united and the
public sentiment of the country salts
fled as to the integrity and loyalty of
its nominee and to the progressive
principles Of real Democracy. the re-
suit is sure.
Call It Only a Mistake.
I will not be ungenerous enough to
indorse the view expressed by some
here who are friendly and by some un
friendly to Mr.. Bryan and to Governor
Wilson, that this union OF their forces
for a fierce fractional fight over such an
unimportant thing as the temporary
chairman is designed to make a diver
sion for the political fortunes of either
Wilson or Bryan. Let us say that Bry-
an and Wilson have simply made a
mistake in the beginning.
1t only remains to see whether the
unfortunate spirit in which Mr. Bryan
has entered into the matter will be able
to disrupt and to divide the party at the
moment of its highest promise of har-
mony and success.
The best sentiment of the Democrats
is that it must not and will not do so
The progressive Democracy wants to
win in November