San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-07-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
BABC0CK TAKES NO INTEREST IN
THE POP CONVENTION.
Bryan Not Progressive Enough For Presi-
dent-0ld Man Reed Is Hot
For Mckinley.

From Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, July 20.-Chair-
man Babcock, Of the Republican
congressional campaign committee,
who has just returned from a con-
ference with Maj. Mckinley, and
Chairman Hanna, OF the national
committee, is again on duty at the
committee headquarters. He eX-
presses little interest in the Popu.
list convention to be held this
week at st. Louis. Like most Re.
publicans, he is of the opinion that
nothing the Populists can do will
prevent the election of Mckinley
and Hobart and q sound money
congress. 1t is generally believed
in Washington that the Populist's
convention will indorse Bryan, the
Populist candidate, and the Popu-
list platform adopted at Chicago,
and that the talk to the contrary
Is merely a bluff made for the pur-
pose OF making better deal.
Insignificant as was the part
played by Mr.. Bryan in the two
congresses in which he served, he
will find that il was sufficient to
stamp him as being untitled for
the presidency Of the United States.
Progressive Americans have, to
man, been in favor of the building
and maintenance of navy suffic.
iently strong to command the re-
spect of foreign nations, and the
events of the last few years have
fully justified the correctness and
patriotism of that position. There
nave been several times when the
strength of our navy has been a
factor-the principal factor many
believe-in preventing war. Mr..
Bryan proved his unprogressive.
ness when he was in the house,
when our navy was more than %
vessels weaker than it is today,
by opposing the strengthening OF
our navy, on the ground that it
was then strong enough. 1t is such
things as these, and not platitudi-
nous speeches delivered in sonor-
GUS tones and with dramatic ges-
lures, which demonstrate the cal.
ibre of q man. Mr.. Bryan could
not be selected president on his re.
cord, no matter what sort Of plat.
form he stood upon. He simply
isn't up to the presidential stand
ard.
The prominence that Senator
Quay, as a member Of the execu-
tive committee, is to take in the
management, of Mckinley and
Hobart's campaign Is very graft.
flying to the admirers of the brainy
senator from the keystone state /;
besides, it shows what excellent
Judgment Chairman Hanna has
used in selecting the men who
are to help him fight anarchy, dis
order, population and to elect a
100-cent dollar president.
According to news received by
prominent Republicans, Speaker
Reed is not only going to take an
active part in the national
campaign, but he is also going to
whoop things up for the state and
congressional elections in Maine,
which will occur in September, in
order to show the country the
falsity Of the claim put forward
by Mr.. Sewall, the Democratic
candidate for vice president, that
the silver sentiment is on the in
crease in Maine and In New Eng
land. He believes that the best
way to show this is to pile up an
enormous Republican majority in
September in his state, and he in
tends spending all his immenSe
power as a campaigner toward the
accomplishment of that end. 1t
would be we'll nigh impossible for
big Tom Reed to add to his popu-
larity among the Republicans OF
the national capital, but IL any
thing would do it, it would be
Just what he has started upon
and in other places where he is
not so we'll known, his action will
make him new and staunch
friends, because 1t will show what
all OF his personal friends, includ-
ing Governor Mckinley already
knew, that he is not soreheaded
because he didn't get the presi-
Dental nomination.
The actions Of man, and not
his professions, are what he should
be judged by. A striking illus
tration OF this is found in the case
of Senator Stewart, millionaire sil-
yer mine owner, free silver advo-
cate, and owner OF the "Silver