Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-04-22
Inside Of the Bryan-CIark
kissing Up Scene.
How Theodore A. Bell Of Cali
fornIa Figured, and Why.
Office Plums Ripsnlng Slowly for
Waiting and Hungry Democrats.

Washington, d. c., April Il (SpeciaD
There is much Democratic dancing
around, all because of a handshake.
One might infer there had been Won
derful doings, all because the lHonora-
bic Champ Clark, Speaker of the
House, and the Honorable William
Jennings Bryan, Secretary of State.
met at a luncheon, said few cordial
words to one another and issued state
ments that they We're friends again. 1t
was all very nicely staged (of Friday
afternoon in Washington and likewise
nicely advertised. No pains We're spar
ed to let the country knew that Bryan
had renewed his confidence in Clark
and that Clark had forgiven Bryan for
putting a burr under the saddle of the
trick mule that Clark was trying to
ride ut Baltimore.
But Democrats are very glad. They
are having high old times these days
any how-going ahead so fast and SO
pieasantly that they are thinking
about four glorious years without.
troubles. Of course few months will
dispel all those illusions. Splendid
organization 1T Washington and splen-
did team work between the President
and Congress and between the two
branches of Congress, are all very fine.
They count for progress and for the
admiration of the country. but do not
..iean that the country will ultimately
approve of Democratic policies. How
ever, the Bryan-Clark episode is part
of the really excellent work Democrats
are doing in getting together and stay
ing together.
Some things are back of this recon-
Citation. 1t was the work of ex-Rep-
resentative Theodore A. Bell of Cali
fornia. Bell is an attorney for Alas
Kan interests. He is also trying To get
back into political power in California.
He came here, in some measure. for
that purpose. but has also been much |
while here with his wealth client l.. L. !
James. of Alaska. who formerly lived
at Napa, Calf, which Is Bells home
town. Bell WIS temporary chairman
of the Denver. national convention of
1908 that nominated Bryan for presi |
dent and, as chairman, he led the Cali
fornia delegates To the Baltimore con
venticn for Speaker Clark. At that
convention Bell broke, with Bryan
and Bryan broke" With Bell and there
had been strained relations between
them ever since. Bell made the best
of Wilson'S nomination and supported
him cordially during the campaign but
other Democrats tried to sieze the or
ganization in California and it looked
as though Bell would speedily find
himself out in the political cold.
A Northern California friend. Ed
Leake, editor of the Woodland Demo-
crat, came to Washington ON a mis-
e.t<< mi svxrr 10 hn
Navy Yard Leake saw Bryan and
pleaded for him to make up with Bell
Bryan suggested that Bell come around
to. the State Department, which Bell
did. There were explanations and dis
chalmers by Bell, including disclaimers
that he was tied up with big and obi
Gus corporations in California. The up
shot was thht Bell and Bryan made
up and it looks as though everything
was lovely between the two But Bell,
as the friend of Speaker Clark, got
busy Immediately on reconciliation
between Clark and Bryan For some
days he labored TO bring. 1t about The
result would gladden. Democrats gem
orally and also would rebound TO the
political advantage, at least. of Bell
The matter proceeded merrlly fnroH
few days and Bell persuaded Bryan8tp
come to the luncheon and he also pelsr
suaded Clark to come to the luncheon.
He also brought in Secretary of the In
terror Franklin *. Lane, who is a
Californian. Bell wants to be on friend
~ terms with Lane, the while he re-
gains political fame in his home state.
Il But this reconciliation, which had 50
much California politics, and possibly
ALASKAN politics. in the background
has certainly set Washington tongues
to wagging. Every Democrat, big and
little, As running around with comment
about the big quarrel between Clark
and Bryan being at an end. And every
little Democratic wrangle is in dan
ger Of being smoothed out because
Clark and Bryan, you know, have
made up. 1t is funny, indeed, to see
how much is heing made of the matter
Presidents and Speakers have been
CONTINUED on Page Five.)