Evening star., 1916-02-16

servation and years of experience with
party nominations leads him to beileve
that Hughes will be chosen by the re-
publicans. Should the republicans fail
to play their strongest card and rely
on some of the mediocre candidates
now being doomed, Mr.. Bryan may feel
body else besides Wilson lead democ-
racy in the fall campaign. He has
definitely eliminated himself. but he
thinks there are plenty of good men
from whom to choose.
Much also depends on what strength
the anti-Wilson element may have
mustered by the time the convention
is called to order. AS a matter of fact
gress right now, consisting chiefly OF
anti-preparedness congressman, and
they are casting about for leader
They have by no means selected Bryan
but it would not be surprising If this
coterie in some way formed nucleus
eventually for the Bryan opposition
forces.
Fight on the Platform.
"While the single term plank in the
Baltimore platform might easily be the
casus belli between Wilson and Bryan, it
is more likely that the former Secretary
Of State will make his fight on the prin-
ciples to be embodied in the platform.
His indictment may. therefore. include
the Wilson foreign policy should entan-
clements threatening war come to pass
and also the question Of national pre-
paredness.
Preparedness. Bryan argued in my
second interview with him. is really a re-
publican issue. 1t proceeds from the
interests Democracy must stand unit
ed against it and not try to curry favor
with those elements who favor it. 1t is
part of the republican scheme to re-
turn to the protective tariff. Can demo-
Gratis who fought for a generation for
tariff barons by the scare manufactured
by those who profit by preparedness.
I'm the congressional elections a year
ago the country declared against pre-
cans made it an issue. The country is
not now convinced that we want big
ornaments. There has been no mandate
from the people on it. unless it was a
negative one a year ago.
There are other things which have
not sat well with Mr.. Bryan since he
left the cabinet. He believes the Pres
ident needlessly alienated the German
Americans. when the percentage of
such unpatriotic citizens was negligi-
bly, small. Mr.. Bryan, in other words,
thinks the President has saddled de-
mocracy with some burdens it ought
not to bear; but that is not saying
that he will consider it discreet OF
make an issue on that point.
Workings Of Bryan's Mind.
ut all shows, however, the workings
of Bryan's mind just four months be-
fore the national convention. There's
many a slip likely 'twixt now and then,
but the impressive fact today is that
Mr.. Bryan says:
"I will fight, as always. for princi-
Piles, not personalities. Time will vim
dicate me-and I can afford to wait
And Mr.. Bryan has not changed
his mind on the one-term plank or his
notion of what the fundamental is
sues of democracy are. This much can
be said with certainty: If the cenven
tion were held tomorrow Woodrow
Wilson would find that the man who
helped to give him his nomination at
Baltimore was ready to help take it
away. But many things can happen
in four months nowadays. and con-
siderations of party solidarity in the
face of united republicanism could
make great deal of difference with
persons of such partisan prediction
as the three-times leader of the demo-
cratic party"