Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-06-15
To BREAK
down THE
UNIT rule
SAID TO Be BRYAN'S PLAN
Would Leave Way Open For
His Control

| AoAIlAIOlCs WI JullC 1f,-I1Ou. w "
liam Jennings Bryan, thrice Democrat.
&c candidate for president of the Unit
ed States, has not yet arrived in town
nor will he arrive until the Democrat
lie convention will be almost ready tu
set down to business on June %.
Report of Mr.. Bryan's plans are,
however, coming to town in advance
of Mr.. Bryan. Even if he were here Il
is doubtful if he would take into his
confidence the public, which is trying
to delve into his plans.
According to Democratic politicians
and observers who are on the scene
and who are closely watching develop
ments here and elsewhere in advance
Of the convention, Mr.. Bryan will come
20 town with big bag full of schemes
First, they declare, he will make a
desperate effort to repeal the unit rule
in force in several state delegations
Second, they say, he will attack the
two-thirds rule if he finds it stands in
his way.
Third, it is declared, he will con-
centrate his efforts to formulate the
Platform
1t is the general opinion of visiting
Democrats that Mr.. Bryan is veering
to Governor Wilson and that when the
psychological minute arrives he will be
found to be in the camp of the New
Jersey candidate, all the time hoping
and scheming that lightning will
strike him.
Unit Rule in Bryan's Way.
1t is declared that the unit rule is in
Mr.. Bryan's way because in several
state delegations, including that from
Ohio, are Mr.. Bryan's friends who are
tied up and who cannot follow him 1t
IS declared that Mr.. Bryan is anxious
TO abrogate this rule in order that, as
he expressed it in the national con-
vention in St. Louis in 1904. he NAV
free his supporters from .'the letters
of local BOSSES" Without his follow
ers whose hands are tied, MIR. Bryan
"eali7es that be cannot dominate the
convention, which is his real pur-
pose. He attacked the unit rule in
1904, and this was the only recent
convention in which he was not an ad-
vance candidate and the only conven-
ton in which he was not nominated.
Whether Mr.. Bryan will be or will not
be a candidate in the convention later
events will have to determine, though
he has said repeatedly that he will not
be candidate. With the unit rule out
of the way Mr.. Bryan would have a
formidable following.
Ohio as Fighting Ground.
Edward H. Moore, insurance COM
missioner of Ohio and who led the
forces of Governor Harmon in the re-
cent primary in that state, said at the
Hotel Emerson that the Wilson people
may attempt to fight the unit rule,
which was adopted by the Democratic
State Convention of Ohio. This fight.
if it does take place." said Mr. Moore,
will be made on the floor of the con-
vention. Harmon swept the state and
the convention decided to use the unit
rule, which compels the entire delega-
ton to vote for Harmon. There was
no legalized primary. Instead, the
Democratic State Central Committee
put into effect a general preferential
primary. but there was no district vot-
ling"
IF the national convention does de-
eide to abolish the unit rule in Ohio, y
Mr. Moore continued, cit will suit us
very well. 1t will set a precedent
which must be followed in the case of
other states. BY this Governor Harmon
will gain far more delegates than he
will lose.
Il also want to brand as false the
stories of the Wilson men that they
elected 10 of the 4S delegates. Cover
nor Harmon's delegates were all elect
ed but IA. OF this latter number,
are Wilson men, will vote any way
John R. Mclean directs them to, ani
the others are out and out for Bryan
"As far as the unit rule is concern
ed, this was carried by vote of the
convention of 597 to 1862. This was al
most 2 to L."
Mr.. Bryan is believed to be behind
the move to knock out the unit rule il
the Ohio delegation.
TwO-Thirds Rule.
If Mr.. Bryan should succeed in re
pealing the two-thirds rule, and it il
not believed that he will succeed, h
may still find that he lacks a two
thirds majority to nominate his favor
tie, or, if the psychological momen
arrives, to nominate himself.