Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-12-13
CHAPTER XIV
Continued
Eryan'S MaueuVer

(Continue0
Bryan's Maneuver
1t was clear that Mr.. Bryan,
| whose influence in the councils 0
| the Democratic party at that time
was very great, was seeking by this
| method to ascertain from leading
presidential candidates like Will
son, Underwood, Clark and Har-
mon just how they felt about
| the efforts of the New York dele
cation, led by the Tammany boss,
| Charlie Murphy, and the conserva-
tive and standpat appearance by
controlling the preliminary organi-
cation and nominating Alton b.
Parker as temporary chairman. For
many weeks previous to the con-
vention it had been rumored that
| the real purpose which lay behind
| it was to unhorse Bryan and to
| end for all time his control and
| that of the radicals, of the west
! over the affairs of the Democratic
party. It was a recrudescence OF
| the old fight of 1896 between the
conservative east and the radical
| west-Bryan assuming, of course,
| the leadership of the radicals Of
| the west and Charlie Murphy and
| his group acting as the spokesman
Of the conservative east.
It was clear to me that Bryan
anticipated just what replies I'm
derwood, Clark and Harmon would
make to his inquiry. Whether he
was certain of what the New Jer-
sey governor would say in answer
to his telegram I never could as
| certain. Indeed, many OF the New
Jersey governors supporters were
ungenerous enough to say that be-
hind the inquiry lay selfish pur-
pose; that Mr.. Bryan took this
method to re-establish his leader
ship and to place himself at the
forefront of the liberal, progressive
| forces of the convention.
| It is clear, as one looks back
upon this incident, that a misstep
in the handling of this inquiry
from Mr.. Bryan might have been
fatal to the New Jerseyman's can.
didacy. III
When I arrived at Sea Girt to
discuss the matter with Governor
Wilson, I was surprised to find
| that he had not even read the
| telegram, although copy of 1t lay
upon his desk, and when he did
read it and we were discussing it,
he did not share my view OF Its
great Importance. In attempting to
emphasize it's importance I expe-
rienced one of the most difficult
| jobs I ever had in the eleven years
| I was associated with Woodrow
| Wilson. In vain I tried to impress
upon him what 1 believed to be the
purpose which lay behind the whole
business; that his reply would de
termine the question as to wheth
err he was going to line up with
the progressive element, which was
strong in the west, or whether he
would take sides with the conserva
tive east, many of whom were bit
terly opposed to him. He finally
informed me that he was in touch
with Mr.. McCombs, his campaign
manager at Baltimore, and that he
would not reply to Mr.. Bryan's
telegram until he received some
word from him as to what his opin
ion was in regard to handling this
difficult matter. I left him, after
impressing upon him the necessity
of early action, lest our progress
sive friends both at Baltimore and
throughout the country who were
awaiting word from us should be
disappointed by his APPARENT unwil
lingneSS to take his position with
the progressives.
Answering Bryan
The newspaper correspondents a
Sea Grit, realizing the Importance
of the candidates decision, indus
triously kept upon our trail to fine
,, out what reply would be made tt
Mr.. Bryan. The direct wire be
tween Baltimore and Sea Girt wa:
kept busy with inquiries from oul
friends as to what attitude we wer'
taking in the matter. While my
relations at the time were of thu
friendliest sort with Mr.. McCombs
feared that the eastern environ
ment in which he lived, and his at
, tempt to bring Tammany into CAM
for the New Jersey governor, would
necessarily play a large part in in
: fluencing his judgment, and I wa
apprehensive lest Governor Wilson
should be too much inclined tt
accept Mr.. McCombs's final judg
ment in the matter.
On June 81, 1912, the following
telegram came from Mr.. McComb!
| as Ine DiSiS VI d pEOpOSeu reply u
Mr.. Bryan by the New Jersey
governor:
Baltimore, June 81, 1912.
Hon. William ]. Bryan, Lin
coin. Neb.
quite agree with you that
the temporary chairman Of the
convention should voice the
sentiments Of the democracy Of
the nation, which I am con-
, WINGED is distinctly progressive.
However, before receiving your
telegram I had given the fol-
/ lowing statement for publica-
ton in The Baltimore Evening
Sun: My friends in Baltimore