The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1896-11-07
WASHINGTON L
from our regular Correspondent
w ASrI.NGTDN. Der. so. 1896.

WASi1EAUlVN Elm. !
from our regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Ger. 80, 1896.
Senator Faulkner Chairman of the
Democratic Congressional Committee
Senator Butler, chairman of the Pop
ulist Committee. and Secretary Diffen-
derfer, of the National Committee Of
The Silver party, are unanimous IN
declaring that the reports received by
them make them certain that Bryan
will be elected. Still, now wilen.I it can
not be used to affect the result, your
correspondent does not hesitate to
acknowledge tllat he has doubts not
withstanding the confidence Of the
gentlemen who have managed Mr..
Bryan's campaign. Never since this
government was established was there
such a combination of wealth and in-
fuence on one side Of IL Presidential
fight as has been til rown against MIR.
Bryan and the free coinage Of silver
in the present campaign, and it is use
less for anybody to Try to deny that
this wealth and influence las been =
powerful factor-hew pow erful may
best be Judged when the votes Of
States known tn have been over
whelmingly for silver six months ago
are announced. Against this combi-
bination Mr.. Bryan has had to depend
very largely upon his own efforts,
owing to the split in the party having
crippled the democratic machine or
eanizatiOn in a number of states and
to the lack Of "A campaign fund Of even
respectable proportions. Well, Mr..
Bryan, although he has proved him
himself to be a magnificent campaign
er aud a greater man than even his
closest friends thought him to be, is
only one man ; hence my doubts.
The suppression Of Tom Watson's
lette: by chairman Butler, of the pop
nlist National Committee, because of
Objectionable statements therein, has
excited little interest among demo-
Gratis. who, us a rnle, think that Wat
son has done Bryan all the harm lie
could already and DO not rare a con-
tlnental either about him or his letter.
The feud between Watson and Butler
will probably lead to an interesting
rnmpus after election, when both will
express their opinions of each other.
Fitz Lee has lost none Of his old time
shrewdness. Befole coming home, in
accordance with President Cleveland's
desires, to help gold along he made u
few inquiries TO ascertain the situation
ID Virginia, and the result is the an
Donncement that Fitz will not come
until after the election, in order to
show that he is not dissatisfied with his
instructions Or position as Consul
General to Cuba, us has been reported.
Had there been any CHARGE to defeat
silver i'll Virginia, Fitz would doubt
less have been To take a hand in the
campaign, but he would not put him
sell up merely to get knocked down,
not even to please President Cleye-
land. Fitz expects to keep on living
IN Virginia aud at any rate he is too
shrewd TO do anything that would
make il impossible to get them.
1t looks like Attorney General
Harmon's construction of what con-
stitutes 'peInicious political activity"
was the result Of a few whacks upon
somebody's conscience. He saws that
officeholders may make speeches with
out laying themselves open to the
charge, but to accept any committee !
place or craftsmanship or to become a
candidate for anything makes one |
guilty. lnasmuch as almost the entire
Cabinet has been making political
speeches it would be difficult for Mr..
Harmon to convince anybody that he
was hot trying to make IN excuse tor |
his colleagues, both for their speaking {
for gold and for their dismissal Of |
s~uhordinates who were Oh the silver
side.
While many reports have been re-
ceived at the Headquarters of the Ma
tioDal Association of Democratic
Clubs. in answer To the circular letter
requesting the political utilization Of
each member of the club previous to
this campaign. the number of reports
has fallen far short Of what it should
have been. But this isn't altogether
chargeable to the clubs. The tquest
was made tc0 late in the campaign.
The reports which have been received
are very encouraging and they show a
large percentage OF men who were
previously republicans Oh the rolls of ,
the Bryan aud Silver clubs.
Before leaving Washlnton to take
the stump in Alabama against Bryan,
Secretary Herbert selected names for
the new bartleships and gun boats
authorized to be built BY the last Con-
gress. Alabama, Illinois, and Wis
ceDscin are to be the names of the
three battleships and Annapolis, Mar
ietta. Newport, Princeton, Vicksburg
and Wheeling of the six gnnboats.
The republicans ~hereabonts are dis
playing a state of nervous excitement
which is o in keeping with their