The San Francisco call., 1896-10-28
Letters From the People.
McKINLEY OR BRYAN.

The Contrast BettUeen the RiUGt CGn0t-
dates for The Presidency.
To the Editor Of the San Francisco Cdll-DEAR
SIR: Itseems to non-newspaper man, Whlcn
the writer is, that since the Bryanite organs
have wholly abandoned legitimate argument
and now confine themselves almost exclusively
TO vilifcation of Mr. Hanna and abuse OF
Major Mckinley as "Hannas Man Mckinley,
1t may not be improper nor Improbable TO
compare the nominations of the two candi-
dates and thus ascertain which would be the
more likely to be influenced in case OF an
election.
1t is well known to all intelligent voters that
during the past four years no name has been
more prominent than that of Major Mckinley
as the probable candidate of the Republican
National Convention OF 1896. His Intimate
connection with the Mckinley tariff law, the
successful operation of that law, the emphatic
repudiation OF the repeal of that law in the
elections of two years ago, and the triumphant I
election of Mr.. Mckinley as Governor OF his
own State by an overwhelming majority, All
combined to designate him as the logical
leader of the Republican party in the present
contest for the Presidency. He was not and is
not the choice of any one man or OF any cllque.
but the chosen candidate OF the great body OF
the Republican party through their repre-
sentatives. Even the leading Bryan organ OF
this City predicted his nomination long before
the Assem- bling of the st. Louis convention,
and previous to the men ton oil Mr.. Hanna's
name in connection with the nomination or
subsequent campaign.
The truth is Mr.. Mckinley is no mans man,
and the Bryan organs are we'll cognjzant OF
this fact. He has ever been independent IN
his views and fearless in their advocacy IL
elected, it will be by the votes OF lnIeiilgent
and patriotic citizens and to them only VIII
he be aecounta Bile, and by their best interests
only Will he be Influenced.
But how different is the case OF Mr.. Bryan
Prior 10 the Chicago convention no mention
name as coming before any political con-
yention for Presidential honors. And no one,
in the vii idest iii ghts OF fancy, co Id have
imagined him as the nominee of the Demo-
cratic National Convention. But when the
Chicago convention assembled and the willy
Aitgeld of anarchistic notoriety ob;alned coa-
troll of that convention a nd formulated its rev.
olutionsry platform, thus causing all true con-
servative Democrats to withdraw, then ME-
Bryan became not only the probable but the
logical candidate OF such a convention TO STAND
OIL such a platform.
The motley assembly of delegates, represent
ing every shade OF political crankism, unused
to the ocution of the schools and the high
sounding phrases OF sophomore rot, listened
to the boy orator and were captured.
They became hysterical, and IN ut OF hys-
terics declared that the youthful Mr.. Bryan
should be their leader in the Presiden tlal
fight And 50 he is, the hysteric product OF
sophomore rot 1t must be remembered, now
ever, that the nomination OF the boy orator
only became possible through the prior ma
nipulations OF the crafty Altgeld. Whatever
Mr. Bryan now is as a Presidential candidate,
and whatever his chances may be- he is wholly
indebted therefor 10 Altgeld, the anarchist
pardoner and friend OF anarchy. And in the
hands OF this crafty schemer the susceptible
and visionary young orator can be but as
dough in the hands of the baker. He is Alt
geld's man or tool. so 10 speak, and Altgeld is
not the man to take his hands OF any tool so
long as he can WELD it for the accom- plish-
ment of his own selfish purposes.
Such, briefly stated, ar the facts bearing
upon the nomination of each of the leading
candidates for he Presidency, and, in view of
these facts, who can have any doubt as to
which OF the candidates would be the more
sus ceptible to individual influence III case of
election. There can be but one answer. Mr..
Bryan, thou art the man.
CHARLES t. BOONE