The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-04
GORDON ON THE GoLDITES.
DEMOCRATS OF THE SOUTH MUST
BE LOYAL.

GeOrgia's Distinguished Son on the
situatiOn-He Does Not Think the
Independent Democratic Ticket
Would Receive Much SHppOrt-He
Insists That He Is Going 90 Retire
From PoIitics-He May Make a Few
Bryan-sewam Speeches.
Baltimore, Md, Aug. S-Senator John
B. Gordon Of Georgia. whose name has
been mentioned for the vice presidency on
gold democratic ticket, says that he
would not accept a nomination for any
political position. While remaining a
sound money man, he will support ths
nominee Of the Chicago convention.
Senator Gordon is opposed to a second
ticket being placed in the field by the
democratic party. IN explaining his posi-
ton, he said:
THE political situation in Georgia, while
similar to that in other southern states.
is not thoroughly appreciated in the north.
The democracy Of Georgia is always
threatened with the accession to power
Of an undesirable element. This is made
up Of a radical agrarian element, holding
to very unusual views on financial and
other questions with the assistance of
the negro vote this element might OF
any time secure control of the state.
''To keep this element. most danger
Gus one, In the background. the democrats
find it necessary to stand together. There
are hosts of sound money democrats in
Georgia who before the Chicago conven-
tion talked as if they would not support
any silver nominee, but now most of
these. recognizing the alternative, are.
one by one, deciding to vote the ticket.
The republican rule, in my state, would
be a calamity, and the rule of the ele-
ment have mentioned would be as bad.
1 deem 1T my duty, under the circum-
stances, to vote for the nominees of my
party. l have been asked to take the
stump in Georgia for Bryan and Sewall,
and | may make few speeches In their
behalf"
why do you not consider a second
democratic ticket desirable?" was asked.
Because l do not think it could mus
ter material strength. In our section OF
the country there are few, very few, who,
l think, would support such a ticket.
There is little disaffectlon from the DEM
ocratic ranks, owing to the silver plat
form, this being largely due to the causes
which l have mentioned. Those who say
they will vote for Mckinley rather than
for Bryan would likely vote for McKin-
ley if a gold democrat were nominated,
as they would believe that Mckinley
would have the better chance Of cleo
ton
Senator Gordon added that after thir-
ty years of public life, he was growing
tired of IL. He said that he must in the
future give up more time to his own af-
fairs, which politics, In a measure, COM
PEELED him to neglect.
mo one" he continued has consulted
me about accepting this rumored nomi-
nation for the Vice Presidency. All 1
know about it is what have seen in the
newspapers. ! do not even know who
is at the head Of this gold democratic
movement, though l have seen the names
of Palmer of Illinois, and Villas Of Wis
consin, mentioned in connection with 1t.
shall l be a candidate for reelection
to the Senate, when my term expires?
No. L have already been approached by
a number of political friends in regard
to this, but l have already declined to
allow my name to be used. When / say
that 1 am going to get out of politics 1
mean what 1 say"
Regarding the pending financial issue,
Senator Gordon said that he favored the
gold standard, though, after ALL" he con-
tnued, "the free coinage Of silver may
not prove so disastrous as we gold bugs
now believe it will be. believe in having
these great questions settled once and
forever, just as the great slavery ques-
ton was, and we might as well get the
silver matter out of the way. If it be
tried and does not plunge the country
into a panic the gold standard men will
see that they were not altogether right
in their reasoning, and if 1t be tried and
proves a failure, the silver men will see
the error of their ways.
Il know Bryan intimately, and / con-
slider him a well balanced, honest, up
right man. In spite of his radical cur
rency views, I do not believe, if elected,
he would allow the ultra-silverites in his
party to control his actions. He is man
who would feel profoundly impressed by
the sense of his responsibility and he
would l think, be much more conserva-
ha k
Gen. Gordon expressed surprise at the
ACQUISITION to the ranks of Bryan's fol-
lowers since the Chicago convention
whethe they result from conversions to
the silver idea or not, and he said that
he believed that the boy orator Of the
Dta+ta' will he elected