The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-12
BUSINESS MEN AND PARTY.

Less than forty-eight hours ago w. ].
Bryan of Nebraska was nominated for the
Presidency by the Democratic party, and
already leading business men and news
papers of the political faith of that
party are leaving it in droves, we
might say. And why are they
repudiating the platform and candi-
dates of their own party? There must be
something that is exerting a mighty influ-
ence when men who have all their lives
been enthusiastic partisans make haste to
renounce party allegiance. There is no
mystery, however. in their abrupt and
determined Remuneration of party, for the
Chicago convention forced the issue. 1t
demanded that the business interests of
the country make a radical departure from
true and tried commercial usages and
adopt business methods that are known
to be wrong in principle, and which
would be hurtful in practice. The conven-
tion drove the business interests to choose
between sound business ethics and the va
carries of experimentalists, and they were
prompt to choose.
But this countrywide withdrawal of
Democrats from their party has been fore
Swallowed in The CALLS interviews with
many of the leading business men of Cal
ifornia during the last fortnight. Without
a single exception these interviews have
shown that the industries and the COM
merce of the country would consider a
declaration of policy for the conduct of
the Government such as was finally
adopted by the Chicago convention a
threat against the well-being of trade,
traffic and manufacture, and that it would
be the duty of every one interested in
widening and deepening the foundation of
the Nations material growth to set the
seal of condemnation upon any such de-
parture from sound business principles.
Business enterprises are not asking how
1t happened that the Chicago convention
adopted platform that is hostile to them,
nor do they ask why the purpose of the
convention was to further emphasize it's
war upon the stronghold of the farmer,
the mechanic, the merchant and the
manufacturer. 1t is enough for them to
know that there is danger ahead and that
the wise course for them to pursue is to
array themselves on the side of those who
are fighting against the proposed ruinous
innovations. The machinery of the Demo-
cratic party has been captured by foes to
its time honored principles, and turned
to destroy the commercial agencies which
have made the wealth of the Nation ex-
coed that of every other country. Is il
strange, therefore, that the solid business
element of the Democratic party should be
pronounced in their condemnation of this
unblushing betrayal of their party? Is it
strange that they are Fastening to the
SIDE of Mckinley to help the Republican
party save the commerce, the agriculture
and the industries of the country from the
iron hand of these revolutionists?
With business men it is not now ques-
ton of party politics. but question of
preventing a commercial and industrial
chaos. and the belief that it is the duty of
business men of all parties TO come to the
rescue is becoming widespread. Mr..
Bryan is the representative of the COM
mercial experimentalists of the country,
and he is under willing promise to over
throw and oyerturn all existing business
agencies and appliances and introduce in
their stead principles of commercial inter-
course between ourselves and between us
and other peoples that are based upon
dangerous experiment. There is not
line of business il all this broad land that
would not be crippled by the application
of the theories of the Chicago platform in
the conduct of the affairs of the Nation,
and as this is known to be true by those of
all parties who are in active business life
the widespread desertIon of the party
which Altgeld now rules does not come as
a surprise. Business sense is quick to de-
tect threatening political policy.