The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1919-12-28
Nebraska Man Is Looked to
by Senators to Direct Party
Policies - The President
Is No Longer in
Command.
by BAsCoM y. TIMMoNs

WASHINGTON Dec 27.---Gt was
merry Christmas for our old friend
W. j. h II wasn't 80 merry for a
lot of young men who would Ike
to have the democratic presidential
nomination. W. j. B is down 10
3 running weight, '0r maybe. he ~ Will
! ing to run at catch weights but al
any rate col. William Jennings Bry-
an OF Lincoln, Ncb.. and somewhere
IN Florida. and P!alnview. Texas is
the big figure In the democratic
party today,
Bryan has told his friends face
tiously that he thinks democratic
chances are 50 poor for 1920 that
they may nominate me" Bryan Is
said to have made the remark In
the form Of IA Jest. II may be "A cruel
Jest 10 the balance OF the party as,
pirants for leadership.
Al any rate the talk among dem
loCratic senators and representatives
remaining In Washington -oNer
Christmas has been OF Mr.. Bryan.
Ever since Mr. Bryan was the guest
OF honor at the harmony banquet at
the Shoreham last week he has
loomed big In tho public eve. our
own Robert l.. Owen. who has "a
lightning rod up. was one OF the
senators at that banquet
Thousands Of party men who
have been under the Wilson banner
are now looking upon MT Bryan
as the real leader. Bryan Is now at
Ashcvillc, y. c. He will he back in
our midst during the meeting OF the
democratic national committee 9
days hence. On January s, Mr..
..IN a..
day dinner OF the party, and viii
make known his views on presidcn-
tial candidates His address viii he
the principal one on that occasion.
It is the belief generally among
Mr. Bryans closes friends that In
his forthcoming speech. which Will
sound "A very vigorous keynote rs 10
policies and principles, he Will
either definitely put himself in the
running or as definitely eliminate
himself
The dinner Will mark the opening
OF the democratic campaign and the
addresses win be delivered by ma
tional leaders nearly all OF whom
will be openly or passlvely candi-
dates for the nomination. Mr.. Bryan
will pass Judgment on them.
Mn IryUn's wholly unexpected
partiCi ipation In the treaty fight In
the senate has been interpreted by
democratic politicians In Washing
ton MS meaning, In effect. that the
Nehraskan has rca$rhcd Que and
taken over the leadership OF the
party. and that from now on In the
field OF practical politics the party
will look 20 him for counsel and
guidance rather than to the white
house
Bitter Fight for Leadership.
1t was inevitable that Mr Bryan's
unlocked for action at the capitol
should have been considered with
the serious illness OF President VIII
son In mind The presidents phys
ical condition for the past few
months not only has prevented him
from attending personally to the
important affairs of the govern
ment, the management Of which has
passed very largely into the hands
OF suhordinates. in and out OF the
cabinet, but II has left the demo-
cratic party virtually without lead
ership on the eve OF "A national cam
paiEn.
Under Woodrow Wilson no new
leaders inothe party OF commanding
stature have been developed
To an extent not until now repeat
ed since Andrew Jackson's day, the
president has been the democratic
party His serious Illness at such a
time necessarily has had an eXtraor-
binary effect.
Moreover there have been signs
OF incipient disintcgration. The CON
trovcrsy over the adoption OF the
treaty has finally led to n bitter
fight for democratic leadership in
tho senate, and the party, all OF
whose thinking has been done for II