The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-04-30
WILSON'S. DEBT TO SULLIVAN
How the Illinois Boss Helped to Nom
mate the President at Baltimore
A Senatorship Lost Because
of Bryan.

of Bryan.
1t was Roger G. Sullivan who, more
than any other of the party leaders
present, was responsible for the nom
nation of Woodrow Wilson at the Bal
timore convention IN 1912 But it was
not until President Wilson sent his
condolences to Chicago this week that
the president--through no fault of his
own-was ever able TO make public
acknowledgment of his personal sense
OF gratitude to the Illinois leader.
All those who follow politics will re-
call that Roger Sullivan led the Illinois
delegstion5S strong--in that conven-
ton; that the mutations of politics in
Illinois had resulted in the instruction
OF that delegation for Champ Clark,
and that the Illinois votes were cast
for Mr.. Clark through AZ ballots. II
was obvious that Clark, who had led
all candidates for the first 30 ballots,
could not win the nomination. Under
the two-thirds rule New York, Mime
sofa, New Jersey, North Carolina,
Pennsylvania, Georgia, Mississippi and
number of smaller states were hold
ing off; and deadlock had been es.
tablished from which Clark could de-
rive no benefit. The Bryan influence
generally in the convention was also
opposing his nomination.
Sullivan had seen Woodrow Wilson
for the first time at the jackson day
dinner in Washington, in January,
1912. He came away from that din
ner impressed by the New Jersey gov
ernor, and did not hesitate to say so to
his close personal friends. The most
powerful influence upon him, however,
was that of his son, Boetius, and his
wife, both of whom favored Mr.. Will
son. Finding his own Judgment in the
emergency directing him toward the
Wilson camp, swayed by intense hui
manistic influence which he never tried
to resist when they were reasonable
and right, Sullivan, on the 23d ballot.
cast the Illinois vote for Wilson. That
act was an overture to the supporters
of Harmon, Underwood. Marshall. |
Baldwin, Bryan, Foss and Kern, and it
was accepted on the 26th ballot, when
Wilson was finally nominated through
the influence of Sullivan, then In com
mand of the Wilson forces on the floor.
BY reason of this achievement and
by reason of the fact that Illinois went
for Wilson in 1912. Sullivan was lit
orally forced into the open in that
state as the Democratic nominee for
United States senator. II was as
. - h.
fed Endorsement and support of Pres
ident Wilson and his entire admins
tration. The law of politics loyalty !
and gratitude among politicians-of- /
fered no alternative. Sullivan was
duly nominated by the Democrats for
senator. But he received no public /
support from the president, and was
defeated at the election. Thereby hangs /
a long story
In 1896 Mr. Sullivan had been a
gold" Democrat-an apt illustration |
OF his devotion TO principles he believed 1
to be right. Nevertheless, he Loyalty /
supported William J. Bryan in the /
of 1900; was r0undly de- 1
nounced by Bryan in the convention of |
1904 as a train robber" because he |
had dominated the Illinois state con-
vention Of that year against the Bryan /
wing, and again supported Mr.. Bryan /
in zoos. Bryan never forgets in pol
itics-you are either for him or you /
are against him, aud. being of an in
tensely suspicious nature, il you are
ever against him, he is always against
YOU, politically.
One of the first acts Of President
Wilson was to appoint Bryan secre-
tary Of state. II has always pleased
BRYAN and his followers 20 believe that /
they nominated Wilson at Baltimore
They did-in a negative sense. in that /
BRYAN prevented the nomination OF
elsc-but it was Sullivan who
the votes to nominate VII /
son. else Bryan might have emerged as
the nominee. One practical fact, how
ever. confronted Mr.. Wilson, and that /
vas that Bryan, as the leader Of the /
arty over a period Of 10 years II W.
,,roken defeat. did have control Of such !
4 number Of Democratic members OF /
angress that the president had to |
ave his help at the outset u his ad- /
8inistration in order 60 get through /
he legislation be was pledged by his |
platform 10 enact.
The fact that sullivan was the party 1
cand date FOR senator in Illinois was
carly known 20 the president There I
WAS no lack of encouragement from 1
for that candidacy, and 4
finally. a. the state convention was 1
about g assemble 70 put the finishing /
ouch upon IL. with a reasonable assur- /
ance Of victory in November in the face /
of 4 divided and quarrelsome Republi- I
ran party, TIE president wrote = letter /
warmly indorsing the sullivan csndi- /
darv. Bryan learned Of a.. however 1
and according 10 information current 1
iu WashinEton ever since he delivered /
80 uisiuatun AZ the White House 70 4
8 81 effect that the letter must b. re- 4
lie1 20 BE- would resign The letter /
reas never made public, snd Sullivan /
3 cnt doun Ia defeat
Ihr defeated ILLINOIS, leader id not
complain. He always proorrdsd 81 TIE
{ hccry that q MA 10 did al kzss