Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1924-07-12
THE PASSING OF BRYAN"

The Democratic National Conven-
ton, after being in almost continuous
session for more than two weeks and
at times being in hopeless deadlock,
which was only broken by the retire
ment from the race of Hon. William
G. McAdoo of California and Governor
Alfred E. Smith of New York, on last
Wednesday named Hon. John W. Davis
of West Virginia for President and
Governor Charles w. Bryan of Nebras
ka for Vice-President. Senator Walsh
could have had second place without
the asking and he positively declined
to accept the nomination.
The nominee for President is a gen.
tleman of high character. He is a cor.
poration lawyer and for this reason
will be pleasing to the financial inter-
ests of eastern states and displeaslng
to the soeialistic elements, who follow
the organs and the La Follettes. Many
of the original delegates had left the
convention and it was openly asserted
that had the body held a day longer, 1t
would have found itself without
quorum. 1t was both hinted and charS.
ed that many delegates had left dunn
mics" in their places to cast their
votes.
Hon. William G. McAdOo took his
defeat to heart and was much disap-
pointed. The general opinion is thai
by the injection of the Ku Klux Klan
issue into the convention, all hope OF
Democratic success went glimmering.
That organization is openly opposed to
Catholics, Jews and Negroes, with its
bitterness against the Catholics first.
There is no doubt but what Governor
Smith Of New York would have won
the nomination "in a walk had not
the religious issue been used against
him. This has embittered his friends,
who are waiting for November to get
even"
Mr.. McAdoo did not favor Hon. John
W. Davis and Hon. William j. Bryan
was bitterly opposed to him, being
outspoken in his opposition to the dis
tinguished West Virginian. He was
forced to sit and see him outstrip all
other competitors and win the nomina
ton. This caused jubilation in the anti
Bryan camp and the editor of the Rich
mond, Va, Times-Dispatch could not
control his joy for few brief hours
over the outcome. He gave voice to his
emotions as follows:
William Jtl.ningy Bryan has lost
his grip on the Democratic party. Once
ak political czar, the Commoner has
descended to the level of simple work
er in the ranks. The 1924 convention
which blasted the cherished hopes of
more than one statesman, witnessed
the passing of Bryan as power in his
party.
1t is probable that Bryan went to
madison Square Garden firmly con-
WINGED that his spell over men of his
own political faith was not yet broken.
Given the psychological moment, and
he could still sway Il convention with
the magic of his words. He believed
perhaps. that moment had come when
he took the platform and pledged the
cause of William G. McAdoo. The in
"a, yn,, - W.
disillusioned him to great extent. He
did McAdOo no good The star of the
Californian was destined to wane |;
Bryan only revealed impotency in at
tempting to keep it at the high Level
of its brilliancy.
With his first choice definitely out Of
the race Bryan enlisted under the
standard of E. t Meredith. 1t is said
the Commoner made strong personal
anneals in behalf of the Iowan. They
fell on deaf ears. Meredith made q
brief squirt and then slowed down to
almost standstill in the face of a ris
ing tide Of sentiment for john "
Davis 1t will be remembered too tina,
Bryan was stOutlv opposed to the nOni
nation of the West Virginian; vet
once the convention was allowed to &C,
untrammeled there was an irresistible
sweep toward Davis Obviously, the
delegates refused 10 take the Common
err seriously.
William Jennings BRYAN has passed
as power in the Democratic rarty
Hereafter he viii be numbered amore
the more hnmhla of the party work
Cra
Evidently. he went home to res
easy only to find in the later edition
of his own newspaper the announce
ment that Charles w Bryan Of Nebras
ka, brother OF Hon. William Jenning
Bryan had been named on the same