The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-18
STAND BY SO, SAYS BRYAN.
JtMMANr LEADER GoT 4 LETTER
FROM HIM YESTERDAY.

The Attempt to Smother the Chicago Platform
Has stirred Up n Storm In Tammany 1T
.elf-DeleEates May obey Orders. but the
Notsr, ~wonr-Tronble All Over the State.
Lander John c. Sheehan Of Tammany Hall has
Instructed all Of the Tammsny leaders to see to
II that only such delegates are sent to the City
convention on Sept. 30 as will obey orders in
carving out the policy to evado all mention of
the Chicago national platform of 1896. Bernard
J, York. for the Mclaughlin organization in
proollyn, has issued similar orders, and the
s,me instructions have been given to the Demo-
cratic leaders in Queens and Richmond. All of
this was learned on indubitable authority yes
terday.
The orders Of Mr.. Sheehan and Mr.. York. 1t
WAS declared, are the direct result OF the action
OF the Democratic state Committee in ignoring
the Chicago platform Of 1896. The action of the
Democratic State Committee In thus refusing to
indorse a national Democratic platform is the
first case OF its kind in the history Of the Demo
cratic party in New York State.
The Democratic State leaders may be able to
control the members Of the State Committee,
but II was the uniform testimony yesterday OF
those fully acquainted with the situation In the
State that the 551. 500 Democratic voters who
stood by Bryan and the Chicago platform last
year will not DO 80 easily controlled.
As a matter of fact. q number OF
Democratic State Committeeman gave this
testimony. None of them wishes to have
his name printed. They said they had no dis
position to appear to ~criticise the policy die.
tated by Senator Murphy and ex-senator Hill,
but the Democratic State Committeeman who
gave this testimony said that they had not hesi-
,atn5 70 foil Nv Mummy nm hio Wait m Nayw
York that the Democratic voters in the country
districts are very much opposed to the policy Of
evasion and qualification.
This policy of hiding behind back DOORS"
said a Democratic State Committeeman at the
Hoffman House last night, =" win not and can
not win anything at the polls. Our principles
were laid down at Chicago. and our State Con-
yention at Buffalo last fall reafirmed our prin-
ciples. But now. for the FIRST time In the history
Of the party. the Democratic State Committee
attempts to muzzle the half million Democratic
voters in the State. It Is q eowardly policy. and
II can end only in disaster.
THE Democrats are not sneaks, and they do
nat wish to be put in the position Of sneaks.
They are not ASHAMED of their principles. but
are ready to accept the doctrines laid down for
them by the National Democratic Convention.
The policy which dictated the muzzling OF the
bCLiON ~ StobO 10 NV "ulth ~
tempts to put the Democratic voters in the State
on the defensive. There is trouble all over the
State concerning this policy, and 1 venture to
predict that the regular Democrats will remain
away from the polls on election day"
The Tammany leaders and the Democratic
leaders in Brooklyn. Queens, and Richmond are
very peculiar men for newspaper men to meet
nowadays. This was demonstrated yesterday,
when quite q number OF them were ask ed con
corning the instructions Of Mr.. Sheehan and
Mr.. York to send only sucn delegates Ia
the City Convention as would follow thu
policy to avoid all mention Of the
Chicago platform OF 1895. Every leader spoken
TO on the subject said that he did not care to say
sword. In the old days these Democratic lead.
es have been glad to speak out and to have
their views printed in the newspaper. They
have stood calamity by their guns and spoken
up manfully for Democratic principles. Now
they are absolutely frightened when requested
to say a few words for print.
II Is a matter of absolute fact that one Of the
most prominent Tammany Hall leaders re-
ceived yesterday o letter from William J. Bryan.
in which Mr.. Bryan begs all straightforward
Democrats TO stand by the principles laid dow
In the Chicago platform Of 1896. A Sun man
asked the Tammany Hall leader who received
this letter for q copy Of 1t, and the Tammany
Hall man turned red, white, and green when he
said:
mo, no. cannot let you see that letter. II
ia q private communication. You must moi
even print my name in this matter"
The information that the Tammany Hall
leader had received such O letter from Mr.
Bryan was given to THE SUS with the under
standing that II the Tammany Hall leader
would give the letter for print all well and
good; but otherwise his name was not to be
printed.
Not only do the well-known Tammany leaders
refuse to discuss the policy Of avoiding the Chi
cago platform laid down by the Democratic
leaders, but even the minor district leaders oil
Tammany Hall declined yesterday to speak con,
corning The matter. All have received instruc
tionS TO maintain absolute silence. There
were Q number Of these minor leaders. however
who spoke with the understanding that theiI
names must not be used. According to theil
testimony SIR. Sheehan and Mr.. York may b
able to send delegates to the City Convention
who will keep their mouths shut. but in tn,
words Of some of the best informed Tammany
men:
The people In Fourteenth street do not know
the trouble that 10 brewing for them. The Tam
many voters in all the districts are opposed tc
the policy of skulking. They are amazed at the
conduct Of the Fourteenth street people II
sending to the rear q Democratic national plat
form. The TammAny voters will not obeI
this policy. II they cannot vote for Z
Candidate for Mayor Of Greater New Yorl
who stands on the Chicago platform they viii
remain away from the polls on election day
Everything that I have told you has been re
peatedly told to our people in Fourteenth street
Mr.. Croker was not here for the national cam
paign last year. and I do not believe he under
Stands how fervently and enthusiastically W,
worked and voted for Bryan. This policy o
evasion is nothing mora than an attempt Il
smother a house ahre with q blanket. It viii
not Do successful In the end, even though tn
readers are powerful enough to compel the dele
gates OF the City Convention 10 keep quiet
POLICE EHHa MaHEx 1avE