The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-08
Both Bryan and La Fol
lette Say 1t Was
Accidental.
THIRD PARTY TALK
QUICKLY STARTED
Politicians Wonder if Something
Was Pulled OFF" When Pro-
grcssivc Republican Leader
and Many-Time Presidential
Candidate Confer-Con-
mittee Meets To-Day.

Washington. January Col Will
liam Jennings Bryan, of Nebraska. and
Senator Robert NJ. La Toilette, of Wis
! consn. mad conference at the Union
station tonight upon their juint ar
rival here, the former from the South
and the latter from the West. The
meeting between the three-time presi-
Dental candidate OF the Democratic
party and the progressive Republican.
who is seeking to wrest the Republic
can nomination from President Taft,
Has said to be accidental.
No sooner was 1t known that the
progressive leaders OF the two parties
had come together than tongues be-
gan to wag, and third party talk flew
thick and fast about the hotel corri-
doris. 1t wac not wholly. confined to
members OF the Democratic National
Committee, who were gathering for
the meeting tomorrow. Republicans,
too, showed a lively interest.
All Depends on Bryan.
All day the Democratic committee
men had been seeking methods of deal
| ing with the several perplcSing ques-
tons scheduled to come UP at to-mor-
rows meeting. but nearly every possible
/ solution advanced seemed to depend
upon the probable attitude of the Ne
cause of the general desire to consult
Mr.. Bryan, and his arrival, scheduled
| for p NJ, was awaited with great i'm
patience. Finally II was learned that
his train had bacn blockaded by q
wreck and was two hours late.
Shortly before o'clock the Nebras-
kan's train arrived. Many prominent
Democratic leaders were at the station
| After handshakinEs. Mr. Bryan sighted
Senator La Toilette. or to be exact
| they seemed to sight each other abou,
the same tame. They rushed toward
each other and shook hands, and then
sa, down on a bench and converscd
with evident carncEtness for several
| minutes
What's being pulled OFF," was the
question the waiting Democrats seem
ed to be asking each other as they
watched the two men. This interroga-
ton. in the vernacular OF the street
was actually propounded. but tina,
there was some CONSERVATION in the
party was apparent.
Show of Good Feeling.
When MI. Bryan and the Senator
parted there was another show of
good feeling. Mr.. Bryan then ex-
planned tersely that Senator La Fol-
lette and ne had talked about tho
resolution pending in Congress pro-
ridtng for the election OF Senator'S
by popular vote. Senator La Toilette
tonight gave the same explanation
by telephone, hut in the minds of some
there remained a little six. pticism
IT was reported that Senator La Fol-
!ette had gone 10 the station to meet
Mr.. Bryan. Senator La Toilette later
said that the meeting was purely ac-
ctdentsl, resulting from the fact that
their trains happened TO get in at
the same hour
I'VE only talked about the direct
elections resolution" said the Senator.
We are both deeply Interested in the
! subject, and Colonel Bryan agrees with
me that the resolution should be
passed"
Colonel Bryan drove from the station
to the home OF Cotter T. Bride, his
closest friend in Washington. He de-
clined to talk about any OF the prob
lens the national committee Gill have
to solve. 1t was evident that he want
ed to get his bearings before plunging
into what promises TO be a stirring
gathering.
Colonel Bryan drove TO the hotel
apartment OF Norman z. Mack, chair
man Of the national committee Pie
colonel dined with Chairman Mack
Sebrnskan RetIcent.
At the hotel Mr.. Bryan was met by
large number of newspaper men. He
would not discuss candidates, contests,
| presidential primaries or any of the
| {Continpad op SacnpD r1o~n