BRYAN NAMES MURPHREE FOR THE PRESIDENCY


this high compliment. I am a dry, progressive Democrat and
believe that the Democratic party is the hope of the common
people. These qualities first of all Colonel Bryan doubtless
wishes to see in the next standard-bearer of the party."
 About a month later, after an extended trip over the coun-
try, Mr. Bryan.wrote to the editor of the Tallahassee Dispatch,
stating clearly his reasons for advocating Dr. Murphree as a
fit man for the presidency as follows:
 "On my return from a- month's absence, I find your paper
of January twenty-fifth containing the very kind editorial
You have sized up the situation. I find the same opposition in
Florida that I found in Nebraska, but the masses in Florida
are just as loyal as the masses in Nebraska to the high ideals
of the Democratic party.
 "As for Dr. Murphree; no one questions his qualifications.
His chances are a great deal better than mine were six months
before the Chicago convention of 1896, and they are better
than President Wilson's were two years before the convention
of 1912. President Wilson went from the governorship of
New Jersey to the White House. Dr. Murphree could have
been governor if he had been willing to run. A dry Democrat
will be nominated-what dry Democrat has a better chance
than Dr. Murphree? A progressive Democrat will be nomi-
nated-what progressive Democrat has a better chance? Dr.
Murphree declares that the Democratic party is the only hope
of the common people; he is right-who is better fitted to lead
such a party? He did not solicit the announcement I made,
and is not a candidate for the place, but who would refuse the
nomination if tendered him?
 "The opponents of Mr. Murphree want Senator Under-
wood, but Senator Underwood is not among the available.
He represented the wets in the Senate for many years; he
fought prohibition in his state, fought ratification. He also
fought woman suffrage. He is not a southern candidate; he
is a New York candidate living in the south, and out of har-
mony with the south. I venture to predict that Dr. Murphree
will receive more votes than Senator Underwood from dele-
gates outside his own state. In the chaotic situation that con-