The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-02-25
the impending presidential campaign
BRYAN ON THE WARPATH.

OSt, III d SiShSu uioPo'Nii "a " p
per, says:
William Jennings Bryan-the man
who made the nomination of Wood.
row Wilson at Baltimore-will in all
human probability oppose the re-nomi-
nation of President Wilson at the
Democratic National Convention next
June.
This is the fixed impression which
the former Secretary of State lett IN
my mind after two long talks with him
recently and some supplementary cor
respondence from Miami. Fla. He
asked particularly that until the Presi-
dent formally announced his candi..
dacy nothing be said of his views and
even then he did not want to be re-
stricted by any utterance or pro-
nouncement in advance of the con-
vention. He wanted to be left free to
do as he thought best-to express
himself at the moment he thought
most opportune.
The Presidents letter, however,
permitting the use of his name on the
Ohio primary ballot is just such an an
nouncement as Mr.. Bryan had in
mind. But Mr.. Bryan isn't taking the
primaries any more seriously this year
than he did at the Baltimore conven-
ton in 1912 He will make no fight
in the primaries of Nebraska, where
his own preference must be exercised
on the ballot He went instructed for
Clark in 1912 because the State Demo-
cracy so desired He will 90 instruct
ed no doubt for Wilson. because the
state so orders it. Mr.. Bryan isn't
worrying about primary instructions.
AS a matter of fact exactly what
William Jennings Bryan will do at St.
Louis, William Jennings Bryan today
predict
As things look he is ready to con-
cede the denomination of Mr.. Wilson,
but should there be a widespread re-
volt against the Wilson policies, some
thing not just now forseen of course
the opposition will absorb the peculiar
energies of the three times candidate
and later secretary of state.
"The fact that the nomination Of
President Wilson for second term
seems assured will not alter Mr..
Bryan's conviction on the matter of a
single term for Presidents. He is
welded to that principle. He holds
that it is vitality related to the public
welfare and has held that view for
twenty years-long before he ever
heard of Woodrow Wilson.
But if there is to be strong opposi-
ton to Mr.. Wilson. it will not be bas-
ed alone on so technical or so change
able thing as the hastily constructed
Baltimore platform has proven to be.
1t will come because of some inherent
dissatisfaction with the Wilson ad-
illustrations policies-on the theory
perhaps that they are not true to the
traditions of Democracy or the des-
tiny of the party. Preparedness, for
example, Mr.. Bryan regards as a
strictly Republican propaganda and
which Mr.. Bryan has accumulated
since his resignation that afford bet
ter basis for row with the Wilson
faction of Democracy than a doubt
fully phrased, much talked about but
little understood controversy about
the binding character of the one-term
plank in the Baltimore platform.
But since Bryan himself comedies
the denomination of Wilson, the ques-
ton has been raised in many quarters:
Will Bryan support the President if
1t can be set down as
positively as anything political ever
was set down that he will support the
President if the latter is once more
the nominee of the Democratic party
but the character and extent of the
support are things which compel one
to revert to the Parker campaign of
1904 as an index of what NAV happen
again. But Bryan wishes it to be un-
derstood that he will not make the
Democratic party the football of his
with the President. In
spite of all temptation. he will remain
A Democrat.
Il have not thought it WISE" Mr..
Bryan wrote me recently ito say
whether would support the Presi-
lent if nominated-hrst because un-
il the President announces his candi-
lacy no one has right to solicit sup
port for him and it has seemed imper-
inent to me to have the question ask
"a by some newspapers, as it has been,
or | have never done anything to !
Justify the suspicion that I would not
support the ticket. My support of
Parker at least ought to raise pre-
in favor of my regularity. |
rs | am asking nothing and desire
lothing except an opportunity to work |
or the reforms in which l am inter-
,sted | feel that | can take nv own
ime and in speaking on the subject be
Governed by my own judgment" But
Mr.. Bryan plans to support the |
President anyway why should he op.
'ose his denomination? That raises
new the whole question of Organism
n politics. His career has been and |
will be, he says, fight for what he
kinks is right regardless of whether
he things he advocates are popular or
lot.
| have never had an organization or |
corporation to help me in politics, ar
,ues Mr.. Bryan. II have simply ad-
'ocated principles and policies with
'ut waiting to see whether they were
popular"
Many times in the political life of
Mr.. Bryan he has resigned his opposi-
ion to candidates who subsequently
Won.
THE Lord does not require us to
win" he said recently. apropos of los
ng fights. HE simply requires us to
10 our duty"
And while it is perfectly clear in