Evening star., 1896-07-27
MAINE DEMOCRATS
They Are Now in an Unprecedented Dilemma
Over Their State Ticket.
Gold Candidates Nominated and the
Vice President on q Silver
Platform.

Some Of the democratic leaders are very
greatly concerned over the situation in
Maine. It embarrasses both Mr.. Sewau and
the party. The state Is to vote in Septem-
Der, and yet at this late day the local
democracy has not yet adjusted itself to
the Chicago platform. The Maine demo-
Gratis are not for silver, but for gold. They
had SO declared and made nominations be-
fore the Chicago convention met. Now,
with Mr.. Sewall on the national democratic
ticket. they are asked to rescind that action
and take other action. But how can they
do 1t? How can they sing silver's song in
a gold land? Their candidate for governor
withdraws. and all is confusion.
Effect Of a Big Republican Victory.
Suppose their local campaign is a failure
suppose they find 1t impossible to execute
the necessary right-ahout-face. Suppose
the republicans. profiting by their disorde.
roii up an enormous majority. These are
not violent suppositions. Where will such a
result leave Mr.. Sewall? Will not those
VINO protested originally against his nomi-
natlon renew their criticism? And will not
the dlscontent spread into the debatable
States and AFFECT the campaign there?
sewall Not Likely to he Removed.
The talk of removing Mr.. Sewall from tho
ticket is not heard in representative dano.
cratlc silver circles. He would probably
not be permitted to retire even of his own
accord. A sort of marriage ceremony has
oeen performed. whereby the democracy has
taken Mr. Sewall for better or for worse
10 undertake for any reason now TO mn him
away would violate the sacred canon ot
good politics. o-- VI
Won't Go to Watson,
gu. II oiVorce We're possible. whom would
the democracy take in his place? NOT M
watson No populist in the south ia moro
uf popular In democratic circles than Mr.
watson. No man has arraigned the democ-
racy In severer terms. He gave as his
reason for leaving the party that 1t was
IL competent and corrupt, and to make him.
sen altogether acceptable to the populists
becaHe a mixture of farmer and populist
eoltor. He has continued in this new field
10 denounce his old associates of the demo
cratic neld. and SO. today, is the target of
all the south. Mr.. Watson might please the
populists Of the west. but democrats no.
where.
An Unprecedented Dilemma,
Altogether, the democratic dilemma is un-
precedented. Mr.. Bryan is hailed in popu-
list localities as being more populist than
democrat. Me,l like Senators PETER and
Allen and Jerry Simpson, high priests of
popuiism, anoint him with their approval,
and Mr.. Watson Is willing to stand on q
national ticket with him. This is very dis
quieting In certain democratic circles. But
rothing can be dore about 1t, for the rea-
son that in other democratic circles populist
approval Is openly and eagerly solicited.
Chairman Jones Of the national committee
has presided over negotiations for the pur-
pose OF bringing the populists into camp.
What May Happen.
Awkward as his present position at home
is. Mr.. Sewall. 1t is thought. may, before the
end Is reached. appear as the most distinc-
tive democratic feature of the whole outfit
Nobody halls him az a populist. On the
contrary. his straight democracy is GER
titled to by the vigor Of populist assaults on
him.