The Hartford republican., 1914-12-04
.BRYAN'S DRY PLANK
VEXES PARTY HEADS
Democrats in Congress Fear He
Is Parting Company
With Wilson.

Washington, November 29.-Dem-
ocratic leaders are fearful that Will
! liam J. Bryan has raised a political
issue that may bring him in sharp
antagonism with President Wilson
and the men who shape party policy
IN Congress. This issue is embodied
in Mr.. Bryan's recent statement that
the Democrats of the nation must
rally to the support of the move
ment having for its purpose the pro-
hibition of the liquor traffic"
Mr.. Bryan has likewise declared
that Democrats must adopt woman
suffrage as party tenet. The secre-
tary of state has made it plain that
prohibition and equal suffrage are
twin reforms, one dependent upon
the other, and that they must be ef-
fected by amendment to the federal
an finds himself at odds with Presi-
dent Wilson and the party leaders in
Congress.
In a speech delivered during the
1912 campaign Mr.. Wilson made it
plain that he regarded prohibition
as 4 question to be dealt with by
the states. A letter written by the
president and given out today shows
that the president adheres to an opin-
ion expressed some time ago that
equal suffrage is a reform to be
treated by the states.
Bryan Sharply Criticised.
At the last session of Congress
the Democratic leaders sidetracked
the two resolutions proposing amend
ments to the constitution looking to
equal suffrage and prohibition of
the liqour traffic Practically all the
party leaders. notably those from
the South, are of the opinion that
that these two question should not
be obtruded into the domain of fed
eral legislation. They insist that
they shall be considered and decided
by the states. The leaders in Con-
gress are entirely in harmony with
President Wilson on these subjects,
and there is sharp criticism of Sec
retary Bryan because Of the prom
inence that he gave suffrage and
prohibition as national issues" in
this months issue of the Commoner.
In a letter just written by Presi-
dent Wilson to Miss Mary M. Childs
of this city. commenting on the
made by Miss Childs. that
woman suffrage should come through
the states, Mr.. Wilson said:
II am deeply impressed with the
for woman suffrage. but
l have thought with you that it can
be best worked and most solidly |
and conclusively If developed from
state to state under the constitution.
as it now stands. rather than by |
sweeping changes in the fundamental
law of the nation. Such change |
l think, be running too fast
and too far ahead of the genral pub
lie sentiment of the country"
Democratic leaders hostile to Mr..
Bryan apear to be up stump as to
the reasons that impelled the sec
retary of state to indorse woman suf-
frage and prohibition at time when
they are trying to push them into
the background. They are of the
opinion that Mr.. Bryan's proclama-
tions on these subjects are bound to
embarrass both the administration
and the party representatives in Con-
gress. They insist that Mr.. Bryan
must have known that President Will
son regarded suffrage and prohibi-
ton as purely state questions, and
for this reason have gone out of
mis- way to give them prominence
at this time.
While Mr.. Bryan has generally
shown a disposition to subordinate
himself in this administration, he has
On two occasions at least taken a
course apparently at variance with
he wishes of the president. In the
recent campaign for the senatorship
in Illinois Mr.. Bryan fed an old
srudge by opposing the nomination
of Roger Sullivan. II is the under
that Mr.. Bryan invaded
Illinois without consulting his SUI
perior. After the primaries. Mr..
Sullivan having won, the admins
tration indorsed this old-time en-
emy of the peerless leader. Now Mr..
Bryan takes up suffrage and prohibi-
tion in a way to bring him into con-
-