Evening star., 1920-02-01
BY N. O. MESSENGER.


How to prevent William Jennings
Bryan from running away with the
democratic party, lock. stock and
bar'l, is the problem which at this
time IS engaging the serious atten-.
ton of democratic, leaders far and
wide. That such is the intention OF
the Great Commoner," the Peerless
Leader" as his idulaters awesome-
ly call him, is declared to be unmis-
taxable
And the trouble is. they realize.
Mr.. Bryan has a pretty good running
start in the undertaking. One would
have to be blind to the facts to deny
that Mr.. Bryan has a great personal
following in the country at large.
His differs from a strict party lead
ership. President Wilson is the
party leader. Mr.. Bryan's is a sup Z
port more akin to that which Theo-
dore Roosevelt commanded. His fol-
lowing is Of the temper and caliber
which impels men to leave old party
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father against son and to adapt the
metaphor to woman suffragist terms
sister against brother.
The Organization" Of the demo-
cratic party is, at present, solidly
with President Wilson. That fact
was demonstrated at the Jackson day
dinner, when instantly, without hesi-
tation. the democrats prominent in
the machine rallied to the President
and picked up the gauntlet which
Mr.. Bryan then threw down; the
gage of battle.
Appeal to Rank and File.
This did not disconcert Mr.. Bryan,
who Immediately set out to under
mine the organization. He sounded
an appeal to the rank and file as
against the organization. They could
take their machine; he would seek
the assistance Of the fnen who make
up the great body Of the party. He
would be "a borer from within"
The organization has fair warn
ing that Mr.. Bryan proposes to
meet them at ArmaEeddon, being
in this instance the democratic
national convention. He will be a
delegate in person or by proxy.
Undoubtedly as he looks over the
upturned faces Of the delegates he
will recognize many a man who
has followed him at one time or
another in his several spectacular
campaigns. They will be there,
because his friends In the states
will have seen to 1t to send men
to the sconvehtion who are IN gym
pathy with him.
He. will see his ancient enemy.
Tammany. intrenched against him
and will care not q fig for the
same, knowing full well that at
heart Tammany is against Presi-
dent Wilson also and intent as
ever upon playing for it's own
hand. He will see the party lead
ers from all sections-Roger Sui
livan, from Illinois: Tom Taggart,
from Indiana; Homer Cummings,
from Connecticut the Bourbons,
from the south; Gavin McNab, from
California, and all the rest, stol-
idly in their seats with lowering
brow and hostile glare, and he will
look over their heads for encour-
aging smiles from the delegate
body.
Bryan Platforn Radical.
The organization realizes that
Mr.. Bryan proposes a platform
more radical than the presently
constructed machine Of the demo-
cratic party is willing to indorse.
The organization fears the insi-
dious appeal Of the radical doc
trine and fears more the magnetic
power Of William J. Bryan over
his audience. The general belfef
is that Mr.. Bryan hopes to, be the
nominee, himself, naturally to be
expected. Failing that, he is
thought to be confident that he
cax-dictate the platform. Either
Contingency is abhorrent to the