The Press., 1896-07-16
Washington Letter.
Washington. July

WaSn1ngGOn, July I5, 1oSO.
 Our national politics have had some bad mix-ups in the past, but the present situation is few points ahead of them all. Present indications are that those who have been predicting general break ing down of old party lines this year will prove to be true prophets. It would seem that the Chicago convention by the adoption of platform advocating many of the principles of the populists, and nominating ex-Representative Bryan, of Nebraska, who has always in his state during his two terms in the house aff1li- ated with the populists, for president, had made it reasonably certain that the pOpulist and silver conventions to meet at St. Louis next week, would endorse his candidacy, but it is intimated by leading populists that such endorsement depends largely upon individual pledges yet to be made by MT. Bryan himself.
 Although Bryan's nomination was not expected by anybody probably not even by himself-until the day before it was made, it is generally admitted that with the exception of Senator Teller, who would have been certain to get the full populist vote and almost the entire silver vote, Bryan is about the strongest man the democrats could have put up, and the fact that he is tho youngest man ever nominated for the presidency will have tendency to arouse great enthusiasm in his behalf among the young men of his party. MT. Arthur Sewall, of Maine, the democratic nominee for vice-president, is well-known in Washington, but is com paratively unknown elsewhere, outside of New England. It is a matter of opinion whether he adds any strength to the tick ct. It is not probable that his party ex- pect to get any electoral votes from New England.
 One of the queer things is that the 1e- publioans and silver democrats profess 10 be equally we'll pleased with the platform and ticket of the Chicago convention. Republicans now confess that they were afraid the convention would nominate Teller, and express the greatest confi- dence in their ability to defeat Bryan and Sewall, even if the populist and silver conventions endorse them and the bOlting silver republicans support them. On the other hand, the silver democrats profess to be absolutely certain that if their tick ct is endorsed by the St. Louis conven- tions and supported by the silver republi- cans, they will win. Both sides say that all they want is a square fight between the gold and silver ticket. Whether they will get that depends largely upon the action of the St. Louis conventions.
 About the only people who do not profess to be satisfied with the situation are the Cleveland or gold democrats. They &C., knowledge that they are very much dis satisfied, but when it comes to telling what they intend doing they are mum. It is believed to be probable that the gold democrats will put up @ ticket of their own in any event, and certain that they will do so if the populist and silver con- ventions do not endorse Bryan and Sew all. Should these conventions endorse the Chicago ticket, it is thought to be most likely that the gold democrats will mostly support the republican ticket, as the surest way to defeat silver. If there are two silver tickets in the field they ar que that republican success would then be certain, and that they could safely run separate gold ticket solely for the pur- pose of keeping up their party organiza- tiOn in the eastern states.