Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1913-04-25
BRYAN and Clark.

The SO called reconciliation of
Bryan and Clark was more one sided
than is implied by the term used.
Ever since the Baltimore convention
Bryan had been kindly disposed to-
ward Clark and eager for resump-
tion Of the old pleasant relations
1t was Clark who had been baGly hurt
in the Donny-brook proceedings at
Baltimore. He credited Bryan with
sole responsibility for the grievous
bump administered to his Uranium
Clark felt he had been badly treaJed
by friend to whom he had render
ed loyal service for nearly score OF
years. Holding Bryan solely respon-
sible for his defeat in the ,conven-
tion and firmly believing Bryan's
opposition TO have been wholly un-
warranted by political or other con-
siderations. Clark frankly nursed a
grudge against Bryan. The enmity
thus rendered was both personal and
political. With both men occupying
Important positions in the affairs of
the new administration, continuance
of the unpleasantness was a constant
threat against democratic harmony.
1t is safe to assume the reconcilia-
tion was brought about through the
efforts Of mutual frienns who were
devoted to party interest. Upon re-
newed and formal assurance that
Bryan has always considered Clark a
good, clean, prog ressive democrat, and
that his opposition at Baltimore was
not intended to reflect upon the poll
tical or personal integrity of the
speaker. Clark has decided to forgive
the injury that still rankles and COOP
crate cordially with Bryan hereafter
for the harmonious advancement of
party interests. Clark does not prom
ise to forget, and none of his friends
expect he will. Bryan is glad to
accept what is offered, partly in the
interests of the administration and
partly perhaps because he may have
felt many twinges Of conscience over
what the grinding logic of politics
compelled him to do to Clark during
the critical period at Baltimore.
Whether this preference was then
intention to go as far as the nomina-
tion OF Clark is another question. At
the outset the conservatives had hop
es of deadlock and compromise
that would give them a candidate
more acceptable than Clark or Will
hn Dol
tion opened, however, after the re-
publican split at Chicago and the
promise of new progressive party,
political logic required that a really
progressive democrat be named with
out fail. The choice lay between
Clark, Wilson and Bryan, or dark
horse to be proposed by Bryan. The
conservatives were determined that
it should not be Bryan or Bryan
dark horse. Between Clark and Will
son they were inclined to prefer
Clark as the least aggressive progress
sive. They had given Clark support in
the state campaigning, andhis friends
in return had refused to line up solid
ly behind Bryan in his effort to organ
lie the convention.
| When Bryan blocked the apparent
ly tmpeading nomination of Clark,
Bryan was playing the game Of poll
tics. 1t did not appear then, and 1t
does not appear now, that Bryan was
trying to promote the nomination Of
Wilson. On the contrary, there is rea-
lson to believe Bryan cherished live
ly hope that out of continuance OF
the deadlock there might possibly
come a nomination to himself, OF
more probably that his friend Kern
d might be selected as compromise.
Whatever may have been in Bryan's
mind, it is idle to deny that his stra-
Itegy worked out to the interest Of the