The Washington times., 1912-07-01
NOT A ONE-MAN FIGHT.

The changing attitude OF the Bosses at Baltlmors
shows the temper Of the country The Bosses at
Chicago witnessed the same exhibition Of popular
disapproval Of their actions, but they ignored it.
They imagined it was a wave Of hysteria that would
soon pass They thought the magnificent discipline
Of the party would triumph finally. They had not
the least idea that Roosevelt would really break with
the party, in the first place; and If he did, they
thought it would be the bolt of a single man, which
would be attributed to personal pque, to curbed
ambitions.
The events which have multiplied and grown in
significance every day since the Chicago convention
have finally impressed even the Bosses, who do
everything by rule and adhere to the old system.
They are beginning to realize it is no longer ques-
ton Of their being able to control parties and name
candidates; it is a question with them now OF being
able to save themselves from political annihation
Bryan has been able to accomplish apparently
the impossible at Baltimore, but it has not been be-
cause Bryan, sngle-handed, is mere Of a power
than the combined forces against him; it has not
been because he has monopoly on the cunning, or
because he is the only tactician at Baltimore nor
vet because of the spell Of his oratory. No man
can keep a convention hynotized for week under
the conditions that have prevailed at Baltimore.
Bryan has been resourceful, he has sprung sur.
prises, he has won by turning the enemy's hanks
and also by direct frontal attacks. But the winning
factor has been the fact that back of Bryan have
stood the people. This is what has made him
victorious
1t was not Roosevelts personality that inspired
e-thrd of the Chicago convention to take no par
in the nominations and Immediately thereafter t
start party. 1t Is not Bryans personality tina
is winning the fight at Baltimore.
The personality the fighting qualities of these
two men, have much to do with the success of th'
movements they are leading; they were tremendou
assets The equation of leadership always is i'm
portant But Roosevelt and Bryan have been leader
only because they represented the people, rahe
than they represented the people because they led
Back of them is principle, to which the masse
are welded.
Were not this true Roosevelts action at Chicago
Bryan's fight at Baltimore, would be only addition
to a long series of sensational incidents that hav
marked the two conventions. But their actions hav
not been incidental They have been epochal The
have overshadowed the conventions themselve:
What Roosevelt did was Of far greater importanc
than what the Republican convention did. Whe
Bryan is doing is Of far greater importance tina
n n what all others are doing at Baltimore.
1t is so because they have acted as the spoke:
men Of the people, They are representing move
: .ment that the people have inspired, have brougf
, to a focus, and are dominating. The transcendar
! !, thing is the people-not Roosevelt or Bryan. tn
people called the movement into existence; the
breathed into it the breath of life; they called fc
leaders, and men responded. If these leaders shou
= prove recreant to their trust, or if they should
= called away from the scene of action the peop
:. would raise up from among their kind new leader
:; :. They are not to be denied. No one man create
:. this movement, no man can destroy it or dissolve
" No party can divide honors with it.
y, ~ This is what has frightened the Bosses-evt
~ the Bosses 1t is not a revolt. 1t is a revoluto
~ peaceful, but an institution-changing revoluto
- Its success depends upon men, not man.
e. IARn WORKER