The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1920-03-26
BRYAN DROPS
INTO WASHINGTON

INTO WASHINGTON
Next to Wilson, Bryan. With VIII
son out Of it, both as a candidate for
denomination himself, and also as re-
CARDS any effort to dictate the nomi-
nation-with Wilson out of it, Bryan
is without any doubt the most potent
single figure in either party With
Wilson not interfering, Bryan can
come nearer than any other one man
! to debating the nomination. Bryan
/ can dominate the next convention if
/ he wants to. He dominated the Bal
Itimore convention in 1912 and dictated
/ the nomination. f Wilson.
After something like four years Of
almost complete isolation from poll
| ties, at moment when Washington
seemed to have forgotten Bryan and
had ceased to think of him as poll
teal factor; when everybody was Cos
siping about whether Baruch could
nominate McAdoo, or Palmer could
nominate himself--at that moment
Bryan dropped into Washington and
tWenty-four Democratic Senators
came to dine with him, more than half
the Democratic membership. Il don't
know many political figures in the
United States who can get twenty
four senator's to dine with them off
hand) Bryan dominated the dinner;
he dominated the group of Senator's;
he assumed a position of avowed and
accepted leadership; he told the Sen
ators what to do about the treaty; and
then he went off to spend few weeks
at his winter home in Florida, thing
ing. What he was thinking about
was whether he should try to nomi-
nate himself next June, or try to nom
mate some one else.
Bryan is a personality. Bryan has
a following.
1t is all very we'll for McAdoo and
Palmer to talk and plan--or at least
for their friends to plan for them;
but Bryan has votes. Political wise
acres estimate that there have always
been about four million votes in the
United States that are for Bryan
whenever he wants them. Bryan has
three times received practically half
of all the votes in the United States.
Bryan has had determining hand in
naming greater number of presiden-
tial candidates than any other one man
in American history. On three occa-
sions he has named himself. In all,
he has determined the Democratic
nominee in five campaigns. He has
named the Democratic nominee in ev-
cry presidential contest since 1896, ex-
cept one. Alton B. Parker, who was
nominated in 1904, is the only Demo-
cratic candidate for the presidency in
twenty-five years who was not named
by MIR. Bryan. In 1896 Bryan named
himself, in 1900 he again named him.
self; 1904 was the year in. which Par
ker was nominated against Bryan's
will; in 1908 Bryan nominated him
self; in 1912 his dominant part in the
nomination of Woodrow Wilson was
so universally known and is so recent
that it is fresh in the public memory;
and President Wilson's denomination
in 1916 was of course a direct conse-
quence of that first nomination which
Bryan gave him.
If Bryan is the dominant figure in
the coming National Convention, |
do not believe that his personal in
clinations will lead him to favor any
of the men who are now frequently
discussed as Democratic possibilities.
1t is entirely on the cards that he
might nominate himself. The situa-
ton is clearer and easier for him to
name himself this year than it was to
name himself in 1896 or 1908, or Will
son in 1912. If he does not do that,
and if he feels sufficiently strong to
abide by his own personal feelings
and prejudiccs, my judgment is that
he win nominate some one Of his old
associates, some such man as cE-
Governor Folk Of Missouri. ! mention
! Governor Folk not necessarily as a
possibility, but more as illustrating
| the type Of man that Bryan is likely
to name. Whoever Bryan names must
have had g tested record that will o9-
.ucai to nm ON prohibition.--Marl.
/ Sullivan, in Golfers Weekly.