Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-06-02
CONTROL IN
The HANDS
Of BRYAN
IN CONVENTION OUTLOOK
May Have Power to Dictate
Nomination
Baltimore Sum

81 am not candidate for president
Mr.. Bryan declared at the time the
democratic national committee met in
Washington last January In his ad-
dress to the Methodist Episcopal gen.
eraI conference in Minneapolis recent
~ Mr.. Bryan said he hoped no un-
friendly newspaper would accuse him
of being a candidate for bishop, and
added, referring to politics:
81 do not want you to think l am or
expect to be, a candidate. l expect to
spend my life in private, for l enjoy
the freedom of a private citizen"
Yet his opponents refuse to take him
at his word. When an attempt was
made to stampede the Iowa convention
for him, Mr. Bryan discouraged it..
There is no evidence that he approved
the attempt to commit the South Caro-
lima delegation to his candidacy. Pro-
badly these are but the outbreaks of
over-zealous friends.
Mr. Bryan has not permitted his
name to go on the ballot in the presi-
Dental preference primaries, though in
some states he would have polled a
large vote. In Nebraska, Clark was
Endorsed, evidently with the approval
of Bryan, and Bryan himself will
come to the convention nominally as
a Clark delegate. In Florida he work
ed for Woodrow Wilson. Governor
Wilson considerably refused to go in
to Governor Harmon's state, but Bry-
an took up the cudgel for him there,
convassed Ohio, and brought out a
large vote for Wilson.
Mr. Bryan has made his position
clear enough respecting the four chief
aspirants. He is against Harmon and
Underwood He is favorably disposed
toward Wilson and Clark. His own
statement of his attitude is that he
desires the nomination of a progress
sive," and regards both Wilson and
Clark as progressiyes; is opposed to d
reactionary," and he classes Harmon
and Underwood as reactionaries. That
is his classification, whether it be just
or not.
| In his refusal to throw his strength
to a single candidate, his CRITICS ris-
cover a shrewd political maneuver
Bryan playing one candidate against
another" Now that it appears nc
| one aspirant will come to Baltimore
with a majority they find a condition
that admirably suits the purposes of
| Bryan" and are more than half OF
the opinion that Bryan aided in bring
ing it about. The anti-Bryan view is
expressed by the Charlotte On. c. OBJ
server, anti-Bryan, which exclaims:
Colonel Bryans lightning rod Is
how up at the full height of that we'll
known citizens tiptoe and EXTENDED
arm. He stands as a veritable Ajax
Oileus tempting the bolt. He would
rear himself higher than New YORK
harbor's Goddess of liberty, up to
the very storm clouds, if he could.
Most people, including some of the
best friends of the candidates con-
cerned, believe that he means nothing
good for either Clark or Wilson: not
indeed, for anybody but himself"
But the democrats of the Observer
stripe are against Wilson and Clark,
as they are against Bryan. They fear,
If he cannot be the candidate, he will
attempt to nominate the nominee; and
this is probably nearer the truth. Mr..
Bryan's influence is undeniable. The
party's accredited leader in three
campaigns he cannot be denied the
right to have his say" concerning
platform and nominee. Not an avowed
candidate, not committed unreservedly
to any one aspirant, he will occupy
strong position in the Baltimore con-
vention. The two-thirds rule will pro-
oaoly prevent a nomination on the
hrst ballot Delegates not bound by
instructions will hold the balance of
power. If there is no nomination for
several ballots, radical changes NAV
be expected. But that does not mean
there will be stampede to Bryan.
Mr. Bryan's influence will count in
that critical period. 1t may be pow
erful enough to determine the result.
His friends believe he can be depend
ed upon to put aside selfish considera-
tons and exercise his power wisely
for the man who will best represent
democratic principles, and can com
mand the support Necessary for demo-
cratic victory.
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