Evening star., 1920-01-09
See Two MasterfuI Men in
Struggle to Dominate in
Coming Campaign.
SPLIT AS TO PACT HELD
MORE IMMINENT PERIL
All Convinced That Nebraskan Is
Determined to Dictate Poll
cies of Party.
ny n. O. MESSENGER.


howdy do"
This far-famed and justly celebrated
quotation from a popular opera might
aptly describe the feelings of the dem
ocratic statesmen politicians today as
they run their fingers through their
crumpled hair and with puckered
brow scan the political SITUATION
within their party preclpltated py the
utteranceS of President wilson anu
William J. Bryan.
Looming large upon the horizon OF
the future they see outlined there the
figures of two masterfui men Strus
Cling for the domination of the pol
icies of the democratic party IN the
coming campaign. Reallzlng as 90
these po4iticians in Congress and
others in the national management or
the party that success at the polls IN
November, 1920, upon which so many
thousand personal political fortunes
are staked. is involved. they VlsuailZe
a titanic struggle at the national con-
yention June % next, at San Francis
20 over the framing of the platform
and the writing of principles upon
which the party will appeal to the
voters in November.
See Peril in Pact Division.
In the foreground they perceive a
more imminent situation, Importing
party unity by the inevitable dlV1-
sion, apprehended to occur among
Senate democrats over the suggested
"interpretative' reservations to the
league of nations. one iaction VI
democrats are expected to resist, for
a time at least, the idea that the
treaty. must be submitted by refer
endum to the voters and endeavor to
frame reservations which will be
agreeable to two-thirds of the Senate
and promise ratification. Another
faction sincerely agrees with the
president that the subject may well
he relegated to the campaign and the
treaty wait.
Still another group will acquiesce
in the Presidents position because ne
takes it. and in a spirit OF 1ataiism
and q mood of ofsdisoouragement follow
the tituIar leadership OF President
wilson to the end for the sake of
party regularity. Gloom hangs heav-
lily over their heads this day.
All democrats are convinced that
William J. Bryan has set out to en-
deayor to dictate the policies OF the
democratic party. the question or can
didate being for the present in abey-
ance Likewise are they agreed In
the opinion that President Wilson
has fixed another course Tor MS party.
whether he is to be the helmsman or
not.
FOresee Definite Clash.
Politicians at the Capitol foresee.
therefore, "a clash from now on. COM
ing to definite issue and determina-
the delegates will make the platform.
The dramatic spectacle of MIR. Bryan,
who made Mr.. Wilson's nomination
fact. arrayed in violent disagreement
with him henceforth was commented
upon freely today.
That there is unlikely to be COM
position of the views of the two rival
leaders over interpretative reserva-
tions is accepted as fact. Mr.. Bryan
and Mr.. Wilson have both stated posi-
lively diverging positions as to ar
ticle X of the covenant OF the league
of nations in language regarded as
impossible of reconciliation. Neither
man is expected to reverse his opinion
and the opinions are dlametrlcaliy
opposite.
Discuss Candidate Question.
An interesting side line of discussion
among democrats today dealt with
the question of candidates. Bearing
in mind that Mr.. Wilson ignored
reference to third term and that
Mr.. Bryan, while saying he is not
prospective candidate, did not thrust
the crown from him in last analysis
of his remarks. the general trend of
opinion was that each may well be
considered potential possibility.
The prediction was made today that
there will be growing disposition
among many democrats to take the
ground that as President Wilson has
set the pace for the regular" party,
race. 1t is his ball, let him try to
make the run for goal with it, is their
argument.
Another prediction was that hence
forth there will be diminution of ardor
and abatement of ambition among
some men who have been freely men
toned as possible aspirants for the
democratic nomination. The prospect
of a divided democratic vote is ap-
palling to them, it is said, overshad-
owing the appeal of the nomination.
Prospective discouragement of as
pirants was further found in the sug-
gestion that even If Mr.. Wilson should
run himself, he would be the central
figure of the campaign. 1t would be
Wilson's policies and Wilson through
out and everywhere. The candidate
would be figurehead, they said.
Moreover, it is known to be fact
that many prominent democrats, even
before last nights tremendously inn
portant developments. viewed the
democratic outlook as highly discour-
aging. 1t was said today that 1t
| would be an optimist. indeed, who
would hold that democratic cndnces
| have improved overnight. taking into
! consideration what happened.
Differ With President.
| Democrats said today it was evil
| dent from the Presidents own words
! that he is still under the spell of the
| reception accorded him on his TRIP
| through the west, and believes that
| the acclaim given him then was the
voice of a majority of all the people
Democrats in Congress, who have been
! in closer touch with their constitu-
! ents since then, could tell him thai
! there has been a reaction in opinion
/ that the months OF palnstak1ne
! speeches by analysts of the treaty.
real campaign of education-show
/ their effect upon public opinion.
! ON the surface, for the moment ant
the Immediate future, it is expected
| there will be general chorus o
! ..Stand by the President" from demo
Gratis by and large. That is as i
should be, democratic leaders say
With Bryan trying to drive wedg'
| into the party, it is logical that tn
regular organization must have raj
living point. and that point of neces
| sity must be where the tftular leader
and the head of the administrator
| stands.
The democratic national committed
set forward the banner of the part,
Yesterday in it's hearty indorsemen
of the President and support of ''in
terpretative" reservations. So demo
Gratis said today that for the presen