Evening star., 1896-09-11
A ST TR0NG HAN D
Chairman Jones to Make His Author
ity Felt Hereafter.
TROUBLE WITH STATE COMMITTEES
The Machinery Of the Democratic
Organization Out of Order.
VIGOROUS STEPS NECESSARY

1t is intimated that Chairman Jones is
going to make use Of his stronger hand
hereafter. SO as to make the authority Of
the democratic national committee felt by
some Of the local committees. 1t has be-
come evident that the situation is such
that II Mr.. Jones committee does not as
sert authority the Bryan forces will re-
main In disorganized condition through
cut the campaign. A campaign to be run
oy three distinct national committees, all
win equal authority, is bad enough; but
nen added to this Is the circumstance
that state committees are insu5ordinate
ana scme OF them under suspicion Of be-
ing secretly organized in antagonism to
the national ticket. a situation is present.
ed which might puzzle a more experienced
man than MIR. Jones. The spokesnen for
the various branches Of the Bryan organi-
zation profess to have reports from differ
ent sections indicating that the people are
wild for silver. AT the same time they
know that the machinery of their organiza-
tion Is out of order and creaky in many
riaces. The policy Of persuasion has been
ioil6 wed until all its powers have been ex-
nauSted. Still there remain points where
the friction cannot be overcome, and the
serious feature of it is that these are vital
points.
Vigorous Steps Necessary.
1t is understood that Row the example
Set by Gov. Matthews this week in fore
ing the chairman Of the Indiana demo-
cratic state committee is to be followed
elsewhere II the chairmen do not cease
their defiance Of the national committee
botn the populist and the republican al
lies in the combination are growing ex-
tremeiy inpatient of the treatment they
are receiving in certain localities, and the
point has about been reached where Mr.
Jones conmit ttee must take vigorous steps
TO prevent the combination from practi-
cally going 20 pieces in some states
Ihe three national committees have got to-
gether and are beautifully harmon:zed hut
IT IS different proposition to harmonize
the several state Organiza tions 1t appaars
that there are local leaders on both sides
y no are determined not to harmonize and
there Is very decided suspicion that in
scme quarters the local organizations are
controlled by men whose purpose is to do
the ticket as much harm as possible
In some cases it is the populist local man.
ayers who put impossible conditions in
the way of an agreement in other cases
1t Is the democratic leaders who throw OBJ
stecles in the way, and in some cases both
the populists and democrats, with SEEM
ing WillfunesS, make themselves offensive
to the silver republicans. In some in
sta1 ces there is SO much method about
the display Of stubbornness as to preclude
the idea that there is any real desire to
adjust differences. In some of these cases
radical steps have got to be taken. and
there is liable to be lively time along the
line before they are through with it, The
chairmen of the national committees have
got to get together and put their respective
feet down. Mr.. sit is said, has got
to discipline the recalcitrant democrats;
tfr. Butler has to do the same for the re-
calcitrant populsts. Jointly they have got
to make war on those who have shown
themselves to be active for nothing else
than to make trouble.
They are going to beat the bushes and
shell the woods with the hope of driving
cut their enemies who are under cover
This Is apt to take up much Of their time
that might be occupied in fighting the Nc
Knley forces.
The Anxiety About New York.
The presence Of Jones In New York, his
telegraphing Faulkner to meet him there,
the declination of Hill to serve as a dele
structions to indorse Bryan and the Chi
cago platform. and few other circuIn-
stances all indicate trouble, and that con-
siderable anxiety is felt lest the plan to
have the Chicago candidate and plat
Chairman Jones has had a theory that the
national committee Should not interfere
with the management of affairs in the
states by the regular state committees
1t is said that he has had 1t abundantly
demonstrated that this theory will not
work under the peculiar circumstances
surrounding this campaign. Where the
authorized state managers are opposed to
Bryan the theory has received a shock.
and when it Is SO difficult for Mr. Jones
TO tell his friends from his enemies repuda-
ton OF the plans and defiance of the wishes
of the national committee it is discovered
must be accepted as evidence of hostility
to the Bryan ticket.