Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-07-02
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MARYLAND and Virginia.
All Other States,
Member Of the Associated Press.
Bryan Is Heard From.

Shortly before the opening of the
Democratic convention w. j. Bryan,
speaking at Hornell, n. Y. on his way
to deliver lecture in the suburbs,
said that he was going to the conven-
ton. and although he had no idea of
getting another chance at the nomina.
ton he would be heard from there.
He has been heard from. and in posi-
tive terms. He has taken the field
against the nomination of John w.
Davis, on the score of the latter's un-
availability as a candidate as the at
torney for large financial interests.
Whether his declaration of war will
lead to the elimination of Mr. Davis.
his statement is of interest and inn
portance.
Mr.. Davis present employment
would be a fatal handicap to him in a
presidential race" says Bryan. He
would not carry a single state west of
Pennsylvania and, as no Democrat is
likely to carry any eastern state
against Coolidge, this would leave only
the south. which has not enough votes
to elect President
The admission, or assertion. that
mo Democrat is likely to carry any
eastern state against Coolidge is cal
Culated to send cold chills down the
back of the Democracy. This ia strange
talk from one of the great leaders of
the Democracy. Once upon time Mr..
Bryan went into the "enemy's coun-
try" and spoke at Madison Suare Gar
den the very place where the Demo-
cratic convention is now proceeding
in noisy and indeterminate course He
expected to carry conviction to the
east. He was vociferouSly received.
But, as he afterward sadly remarked,
the people went to hear him and to
cheer him, and then they voted gainst
him.
Perhaps it is a recollection Of that
experience that makes Mr.. Bryan now
say that mo Democrat is likely to
carry any eastern state against Cool
idge." He knows that the electoral
votes Of the south are not sufficient to
elect. He knows that only with a coali
ton of the west and the south, a per-
feet coalition, can the Democracy sue
coed in an election. He tried to make
that combination in 1896, and again in
1900 and once more in 1908. He failed
He was then a westerner. Now he is
a southerner, with the perhaps broad
ened view of one who has changed
residence
Mr.. Bryan's attack on Mr.. Davis
may not avail to turn from the West
Firginian the tide of votes necessary
to nominate. A conviction prevails that
the Democracy could not in its present
situation do better than to nominate
him. Aloof from the factional quarrels
OF the party, untouched by scandal in
any form. strong in his personal and
public record, gifted with high abili-
ties, he should today be viewed by his
party as the ideal man to lead it out
of the wilderness of irrelevancy and
bitterness that the New York conven-
ton has created. But here comes
Bryan with his veto. He has been
heard FROM He has raised his voice
loudly. Is he still a potent force with
a checkmating faction in the De-
mocracy to prevent this selection?
And, finally. is his assertion sound
that mo Democrat is likely to carry
any eastern state against Coolidge?
II he is right in that estimate of the
situation the nomination may not be
of any value after all