Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-08-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT:
WASHINGTON, AUG. 10Th, 1896.

If only one political party was start
ing into the Presidential campaign by
finding fault with the men who have
been selected to manage that party's
interest, it would be easy to agree IN
saying that the party thereby jeopar-
died its chance for success. But with
a more or less considerable number Of
men in each of the parties finding fault
with the party managers, as is now the
case, it is much more dlfficnlt to form
any idea Of what result, ifany, the fault
finding will have upon the election.
Senator Jones, Chairman Of the demo-
cratic National committee, Mr.. Mark
Hanna, Chairman of the Republican
Committee, and Senator Butler, Chair
man of the Populist Committee are each
under hot fire from members Of their
own party. Senator Jones is sharply
criticised for what has been done by MIR.
st. John, the Treasurer Of the Demo-
cratic Committee, at the elaborate and
expensive headquarters he has estab-
lished in New York, for the populist
interview which he has repudiated, and
for general dilatoriness in getting down
to work. Mr.. Hanna is found fault
with because Of his autocratic methods,
and Senator Butler because he has not
made his appearance at Populist Head
quarters in Washington since he was
made Chairman of the National Comit-
tee. From this it will be seen that so
far as fault finding is concerned it is
about stand off all around. So far as
smoothly working machinery is concern.
ed, the republicans, both in their Con-
gressional and National Committee, are
far in the lead. They daily send out
from Washington, ten times as many
documents as their opponents. How
ever, it has from the first been general.
ly understood that the silver or demo-
cratic campaign would not get under
way until Bryan made his speech Of &C.
ceptance. AS he will do that, at New
York city on Wednesday Of this week,
his party managers may now be expec.
ted to begin to hustle.
The gold democrats are not numer-
Gus in Washington, outside Of the hold
ers of prominent positions under the
administration, and whatever DISPOSE
ton thew might have felt to enthuse ov.
er the call for gold democratic con-
ventlon, to meet at indianapolis Sept.
2. was squelched by the appearance the
same day of an authorized interview
with Ex-Secretary Whitney, declaring
that Mckinley would carry New York
by 100000 majority. They know that
Mr.. Whitney never talks for publication
except for purpose, and that his pur-
pose in this cas- was to throw cold wa
on the idea Of putting up gold demo.
cratic ticket. by letting it be seen that
himself and other influential gold dem
ocrats intended to throw their influence
for Mckinley. 1t is generally believed
in Washington that gold ticket will
be nominated, but even the silver demo
Gratis, who want the ticket put up to
prevent gold democrats voting for Nc
Kinley. do not believe that it will re-
ceive support enough to make it fac
tor in the election, in even one state.
The politicians of all the parties, almost
without exception, believe that the sill
yer and gold line will be 80 tightly
drawn before election that everything
else will be forgotten, and that McKin.
ley will get practically all the gold votes
and Bryan all the silver votes.
Secretary Carlisle has gone to see