New-York tribune., 1919-08-11
They Argue That His Posi-
tiOn OH Prohibition and
His so Cent Dollar Idea
Make Him ''White Hope
Trend Is Against Wilson
Chairman Cummings Back
From West With Bad
News for Administration

New York admirers of William j.
Bryan are firm in the conviction that
he will be the Democratic candidate for
President in 1920.
Accustomed to seeing him defeated
they do not expect to sec him win.
But they hope he may.
The Bryan men base their convic-
tion that Bryan will be the standard
bearer ON three points, which they re-
gard as facts, and as furnishing solid
ground for the building of an impress
sive supcrstructurc. namely:
|. The Democratic party is politically
bankrupt, with lcsscning prospect
that either President Wilson or his
son-inaw. cX-Secretary McAdoo, will
be available in 1920
=. Prohibition may become the deter
mining factor as an issue in the cam
palgn, and no one so legitimately typi-
mes the prohibition issue as Eryan.
3. Bryan pollcd nearly one-half the
popular vote in 1896 on the cheapcr
dollar issue. His admirers assert that
his advocacy Of q tity-c cent dollar at
that time was prophetic, and that we
nave that very thing now. They say
Bryan can convince the electorate that
all that is needed now is Federal re-
straint of the trusts and profiteers and
Federal control of the railways, fol-
lowed by an era of protit-sharing in
industry to bring the American people
nearer the millennium than any people
on earth
Bad News for Wilson
Homer S. Cummings, chairman Of
the Democratic National Committee,
returned few days ago from tour
OF the West, where he sounded both
Democrats and Republicans on the
trend of sentiment. He has reported
to President Wilson through Secre-
tary Tumulty. All reports coming
from inside sources indicate that the
Wilson administration has been
shocked by the information turned in
by Mr.. Cummings. Mr.. CUMMINGS
went to the Pacific Coast and back,
with the clearly y defined purpose of
mobillzing sentiment for the Wilson
ADMINISTRATION and policies All he
iald before the President and his Cab
met and aides on his return added
to the gloom of the administration
leaders. forcing the conviction that the
drl1t or sentiment is away from Will
son.
This is what the Bryan men ex-
pected, since they had the informa-
ton from their own and Republican
sources that such was the case.
'he last item indicating that tt<
administration is not able to hold it's
own against its opponents is furnished
by the returns from the 8th Kentucky
congress District, where veteran
Democratic leader, Circuit Judge
Charles A. Hardin, was defeated by
more than l,6O0 votes in sure"
Democratic district by Captain King
swope,, Republican. The issue vas s
plain, Judge Hardin making the VIII
son policies his platform and Captain
Swope standing for straight Republic
anlsm. Ordinarily the district is 1000
Democratic. and to the Democrats have
elected their candidates since 1896
without interruption.
They See Tide, Running
The friends of Mr.. Bryan cite this
as proof that the tide is running
against President Wilson. making
third term for him impossible.
Bryan" said one of his advocates
yesterday us the only Democrat who
can frame a new issue with any hone
Of success in 1920. His resignation
ron Jhe Cabinet in 1915 showed that
he did his own thinking that he stands
On his own feet; that he has a politl-
cal conscience that he will not stultifv
He might be charged with telling Won
bernstorff that Wilson didn't mean it
whcn ne tailed war against Germany
Perhaps Bryan, in his own defence,
could prove that Wilson did not mean
it. His retirement from the Cabinet
indicates that he had very positive
views as to what the President told
HIM. He treated President Wilson very
haA .lsomely, and the Wilson men owe
him a great deal for not making
trouble in the political household after
he lett the council table.
The South is strong for prohibition
| he Eighteenth Amendment is fact
President hostile to the spirit of
that amendment could almost nullify it
by indirect weakening of enforcement
Of the dry laws. Bryan is a prohibit
zionist. He would make a clean job of
the enforcement. His candidacy would
insure the solid South to the Demo
Gratis. The Republicans stand to break
the solid South next year with Wilson
running
Bryan advocated the 5o-cent dollar
IN order to relieve the man in debt.
His reasoning may have been falla-
clous, but to-day we have the 5O-cent
dollar. Bryan is the white hope Of
Democracy in 1920"