Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-08
What About Mr.. Bryan2

Much interest attaches to the meeting
Of the Democratic National Committee
m Washington, this afternoon, and the
great banquets, two IN number, to be
rendered this evening by the committee
70 the Democratic hosts that will gather
for the occasion. The committee will
meet for the purpose of selecting the place
and time for the assembling OF the next
Democratic National Convention, which
xsthering, it is hoped by al good Demo-
Gratis and confidently expected by thou
sands. will name the next President OF the
United States.
And this is the crux Of aIl the interest,
pol;tjcsl and personal, that attaches to
khe meeting OF the Democratic National
Committee in Washington today Il Is
aIrnost conceded that Chicago will be
selected as the convention city, and that
the time will be the middle or latter part
of June, closely following the Republican
National Convention, which will be held
IN Chicago the week Of June s But the
gathering OF the committee, composed OF
a representative Democrat from each oi
the States Of the Union, together with
nartv leaders and interested politicians
from all sections Of the country, and the
public utterances 10 he made at the DIM
oers in the evening, will be regarded with
The most intense interest For in this inter
uingling of the party's prominent repre-
,entatives, and the comment that as
mreily will be lndulged IN, there may DC
much to indicate the trend Of sentiment N
respect Of the york 70 be done by the
national convention, especially as 70 the
candidates for President and NIce-Presi-
dent TO be nominated by that body.
Further interest attaches to the prob
ability that some aSprants TO the nomina-
ton for President may attend the gather
inc, and the certainty that the active
managers OF the blooms Of others will be
On hand. ready 70 take advantage OF
every opportunity 70 advance the inter
ests Of their favorites. Also, to the TACT
that MIR. William J. Bryan will DC present
at the committee meeting and at the
banouets, and that be will deliver at
least one set speech, and IN all probability
do a lot Of talking while IN conference with
personal friends and active leaders Of the
party.
And this incites interest IN the pertinent
question VIII MIR. Bryan endeavor 20
secure once more, for the fourth time, the
nomination by the Democratic party TO
tne Office OF President OF the United
States?
Mr.. Bryan occupies the most unique
position IN the political history o1 the
country OF any OF those who find consplcu-
GUS place on its pages. He was nominated
for President by the Democratic National !
Convention at Chicago, IN 1896, when
only 50 years of age, without having /
previously been considered, even remotely, !
Ii that connection. The silver question |
was paramount at that time, and MIR.
Bryan, who had reputation for thrilling I
oratory, espoused the cause OF the free I
and unlimited coinage OF silver at the /
ratio Of I6 TO l, and by an irnpassioned !
burst Of oratory made himself the idol Of /
the convention. He was Immediately /
proposed for the nomination, and IL the .
course OF a few ballots completely bowlcd .
over the older and more prominent con- /
testants, including even Bland OF Mis- I
souri, Silver Dick" Bland most (
redoubtable advocate OF free silver coinage /
IN the country The Bryan tide was lr-
resstibie.
MIR. Bryan was beaten at the election /
the Democratic party was divided by q /
decisive bolt Of the Sound Money Demo I
crats-but that campaign made hin the /
acknowledged leader Of the Democratic /
party lie was renomlnated almost by .
exclamation 81 Kansas City il 1900, but .
again was defeated more heavily than al
first Ia 1904 he remained quIescent. al I
though tAl1., IS no doubt he could have /
had the noluina ton had hc desired it,
In 1905, however, tic again forged 10 the .
front, and - strong Was his leadership /
that all efforts u prevent his nomination /
~ the Denver convention Ut that wear |
caused but Z ripple of opposition And /
for the third time he was defeated at the
November election, more heavily than at /
bis Second running
Notwithstanding these repeated defeats.
Mr Bryan retained party leadership to q /
considerable extent. At the Baltimore
convention. IN 1912, he was conspicuous AZ
3 factor although not as q candidate. ano
did much To make the nomination oi
Wilson possible, even afterk hamp Clar
bad secured d majority vote and seemed |
surely headed for the requisite two-thIrds
decision IL was appointed Secretary d |
State IL President Wilson's cabinet but
made an official record that largely I'M