The Washington herald., 1913-04-19
BRYAN and CLARK
BURY Ratchet

q showdown. Bryan said that he had
become prejudiced against Bell because
he had seen a letter in which Bell had
spoken favorably Of Judson Harmon, of
Ohio. for the Presidential nomination.
Having convinced Mr.. Bryan that he
was entitled to a clean bill Of health,
Bell preached the proposal of q recon-
Citation with Clark. He met with en-
couragement. and then proceeded to the
other end of Pennsylvania Avenue to
open negotiations with Clark. Things
did not move SO smoothly at the Cap
itoi. but Mr.. Bell was persistent. and
negotiations continued over Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday. and Thursday.
ending with the issuing of statements
by Mr.. Bennett for today's luncheon.
Those at Luncheon.
At the luncheon were Vice President
Marshall, Secretary of the Interior
Lane. Senator Kern Of Indiana, Senator
O'Gorman Of New York. Secretary to
the President Joseph P. Tumulty. Rep
resentative Charles R. Crisp, Assistant
Secretary Of State Osborne, Dudley Field
Malone, Third Assistant Secretary Of
State; Mr.. Bell, Thomas F. Logan, and
l.. X. James, of Alaska.
Mr.. Bryan was q little late in reaching
the luncheon, all the other guests hav-
ing assembled. He entered the room,
shaking hands with each until in the
natural order came to Mr.. Clark. He
extended his hand and the Speaker
grasped it with seeming cordiality. Then
the party sat down and broke bread.
Everybody, including Secretary Bryan
and the Speaker, had story on tap.
and the affair passed off without any
reference to the Baltimore convention or
past performances.
Bryans break with Clark. as is easily
recalled, came as the result Of the Com
moner's fight against the election Of
Alton B. Parker as temporary chairman
OF the Baltimore convention. Bryan
called on most Of the candidates to de-
clare whether or not they would sup
port him in the fight against Parker.
Woodrow Wilson promptly stepped up
to Bryan's side, while Clark sent a mid
dle-of-the-road reply. counseling Bryan
against disturbing the harmony pro-
gramme. Bryan later called upon the
candidates to support him in the stand
which he had taken against the NOM
ination Of any man who could not be
nominated without Murphy-controlled
votes Of New York State. When the
Clark forces threw their support to
Parker. and New York finally switched
to Clark. Bryan's opposition tc the
speaker became pTOnOunceu, ana ne sdlu
things on the floor Of the convention
that were interpreted by Clark's follow
ers as a personal attack.
Commenting on the getting together
of Speaker Clark and Secretary Bryan.
Vice President Marshall said:
cit is needless for me to say that
rejoice that two such great figures in
the Democratic party have found it
possible to forget their personal feelings
and whatever may have led up to them
and come together for the common good
of their party and for the great good
Of their country. 1t has been my aim
all through my life to stand for prin-
ciples.
81 have regretted this estrangement
between these two men, both Of whom
are my friends. To use the vernacular
of Indiana, when / was invited to this
luncheon, where I knew these two men
were to meet I was 'tickled to death
Their reconciliation will be Of great ad-
vantage to the Democratic party and
that means equally great good for the
country at large"