Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-01-11
The Party SclliSu

1T is undcniably true that the two tower
ing personalities in the Democratic party
Woodrow Wilson and William ]. Bryan
have split upon many OF the vital ISSUES now
before the country. The President appeals
for the ratification of his treaty OF peace
without amendment or reservation; Mr.
Bryan appeals for its ratification upon the
best compromise terms he can get. Mr.. Will
son proposes to turn the railroads Of the
nation back to their private owners and to
surrender their management to the men who
manned them before the war. Mr.. Bryan
demands government ownership Of the rail-
roads and leans heavily toward the national
ization Of other basic industries. Mr.. Wilson
is the leader OF the liberal forces OF the coun-
try upon the prohibition question; Mr.. Bryan
is rigid prohibitionist.
These are wide differences of view. Nor
did they develop all at once at the Jackson
Day dinner. They have existed in more or
less concrete form for some time. 1t is no
new thing TO find Mr. Bryan advocating gov
eminent ownership OF railroads Nearly
twenty years ago he came forward with that
proposal, and it was believed at the time
that 1t cost him the nomination for the
presidency in 1904. 1t is no new thing to
find Mr.. Bryan preaching absolute prohibi-
ton OF the liquor traffic. He has been on
the dry side of this issue for generation
NOR is 1t any new thing to find him willing
10 accept reservations to the peace treaty.
But the lines were tightly drawn at the
jackson Day banquet through the reading of
the communication from the President re-
fusing to yield upon the question Of treaty
reservations, to be followed within an hour
by firm demand from Mr.. Bryan that the
party yield, coupled with further declara-
tlon OF his doctrine for government owner
ship and for prohibition. Because of the
setting, because of the assemblage and be-
cause OIL the hgurative meeting of these two
strong men III the same arena, the differences
between them were accentuated and have
given many party followers IA season of pro-
found anxiety.
There is little likelihood OF this clash re-
suting in split in the ranks of the marty
at large. The Old organization is far too
firmly cementcd at this time to break easily.
The leadership may move in opposite direc-
lions for time, but the rank and file will
SIT steady. 1t will not participate in the
rocking OF the boat. The party is now on
trlal as 1t has seldom been. It has achieved
historic results during the past seven years
II mas Fought and won a great war 1t has
made possible vital domestic reforms
All this is to its credit, and yet it is under
daily assault. 1t is being dashed by opnos
ing politicians as il it had committed crime
IL Is Delng assaled il it had shown in
competency. 1t is being derided as il might
nave neen II the war had been lost; a mill
non lives lost in France and the American
navy sent to the bottom of the sea.
me party, as party, must withstand
thcse attacks. 1t must fight back It must
mopillZe itself for a counter-offensive, and II
VIII do all these things, however. much cor
tam OF its leaders disagree among themselves
as 10 the policies OF the future