The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-07-28
BRYAN'S PLACE
In PARTY may
NOT BE FILLED
No Leader on Horizon No
to Garry His Ideals Into y
Campaign.

OdtIlpdlSlts
BY n. ID. Cochran
WASHINGTON, July 2s.--Natur.
ally there is some speculation on the
probable effect OF William J. Bryan's
death on the fortunes ofthe Demo.
cratic party, In which he undoubtedly
had a larger following than any
other individual. While he was de.
feated as It's presidential candidate
three times. his influence In party
councils and conventions continued
powerful.
II was Bryan's following that made
Woodrow Wilson the party nom
inee in 1912 and after failing 70 con.
troll the convention OF 1920. he was
still powerful enough In 1924 to dead.
lock the convention even though no
couldn't control Il.
Had his life been spared there Is
much reason 10 believe that he would
have appeared in the 1928 convention
with n cause and n following that
would have made him master OF tho
situation and dictator OF the nomin.
alton, for fundamental religion goes
deeper into tho hearts Of men than
economic issues like free silver I'm,
perialism and government ownership
OF railways.
Vetoes Colby
There Is little reason 20 doubt that
Bryan's crusade for fundamental
ism would have been carried into
politics. for political action by Con.
gress and by State Legislatures 49,
necessary TO make effective
cause he espoused,
Al Dayton during the Scopes trial
correspondent said 10 Bryan that
one OF the early counsel for tho do
Tense. cambridge Colby. hgd been
recently mentioned as possible
Democratic nominee for President IN
1923. Bryan thought moment, then
said, with emphasis;
Impossible, the nominee must
come from the South or West"
Probably fundamentalsm 10
strongest in the South, whore evan.
gelical Professionalism predominntos.
Largely in the Baptist and Method.
ist Churches there also, prohibition
and Ku.Kluxs Klanism are deepest
rooted. and the source OF their
strength Is much the same as that
Of fundamentallsm.
Eloquence Scored
Next In strength would probably
come the West and Middle West, al
though rural communities may DO
found IN every state in the Union
almost II not quite "a fundamen-
tialist as Rhea County. Tennessee.
organs eloquence In n religious
crusade would appeal 20 the very
depth OF human emotion. there was
the same enthusiasm for him among
Tennessee Republicans as among
Democrats and there was the possi-
bility that with a moral crusade on
instead OF an economic campaign
Bryan might have gone into the next
National Democratic Convention
with nation wide following that
would have enabled him to eonMoA
party action.
10 will be remembered that sevefN
days before the scopes trial began
Bryan spoke to the Progressive
Business Mems Club at Dayton. and
said that the cause would be carried
10 the United states Supreme Court,
and II II lost there Il would be
carried 20 the people. the final
source OF power in the Republic. Hc
added significantly. that the people
could change Congress. state Legis-
latures and courts, and could amend
constitutions.
That meant. OF course, that the
cause for which he pleaded would
be carried TO the people, and that
the people could act only politically.
Successor Not In Sight
There appears on the horizon now
nobody who can take Bryan's place
and carry the fight into the Demo-
cratic party. There Is nobody IN
sight influential enough 20 carry it
into Republican politics with any
prospect OF success.
There may be ambitious Demo-
cratic politicians who might attempt
TO carry Bryan's banner but there
Is none that would get credit for
sincerity such as Bryan was given.
None OF them stands out as
crusader OF the Evangelical type.
None has the standing with earnest
religionists that Bryan had. All Of
them would be suspected ~ trying
10 play politics with religion.
Unless some strong leader appears
who is now unknown. the Demo-
cratic party may escape the injec.
ton Of the religious issue into It's
councils. In that event there Is -
possibility OF an attempt 20 reNM
the Democratic spirit OF Jefferson
and get back 10 an attack on tho
growing strength OF over.sovern-
ment and a demand for less governs
ment and for more liberty.
Whether there Is enough Demo-
cratic spirit left I'm tho Democratic
party TO get away from a fight by
Smith and McAdoo and take a stand
for principle. II Is n problem yet 10
be solved, but without a great leader
like Bryan TO stir up their deepest
emotions there il little likelihood that
Democrats will let their politics boz
come reliFiously emotional.
Republicans will feel relieved at
the probability that they VIII not
have 10 meet tho fundamentalist
issue in 1928.
SQUAW'S CLAIM SECUTED