Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-09
Speculation is Rife Over His Future
Political Plans.
4 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
The Maryland Platform May Suit
Democrats in 1900.
4 REVIEW OF CONDITIONS

The announcement on uncertain authority
to succeed himself in the Senate has re-
suited in great deal of speculation as
to what may be his political purposes
The idea that his friends contemplate the
possibility of bringing him forward as a
presidential candidate In 1900 is gaining
ground. The position w. ]. Bryan has oc-
cupled in the public mind since his de-
1eat Tor the presidency leaves little room
to doubt that he will be renom:nated I'M
less the free coinage of silver at sixteen
10 one loses its prominence as an issue
Inc name of Bryan and free silver are so
intimately associated that it does rot now
seem possible that they can be separated
from one another in politics. Bryan could
not be the candidate without free silver
oeihs the chief issue, and it now seems
almost Impossible to retain free silver as
the Issue without nominating Bryan.
Inc one little spark of hope of those dis
satlshed with the situation Is that possibly
lhose VINO oppose Bryan, though free sill
yer advocates in way might be induced
10 JOIN with those who are not pleased TO
nave silver so prominently the issue Some
OF these feel that if they can find man
or sufticient prominence who stood by the
democratic party during the last election.
supporting Bryan, the Chicago platform
ana all, they may induce anti-Bryan silver
men to join with them to make him a can
didate. Gorman's name is being discussed
In this connection.
The Money Question I'm 1900.
They calculate on silver men who do not
want Bryan nominated being willing to ac-
cept some such declaration on the money
question in 1900 as is this year contained
in the Maryland platform. Bryan could
not afford to run on that platform and its
adoption would mean his defeat for the
nomination. On the other hand German
would fit the platform exactly, and if it
were adopted and he We're nominated, the
general acceptance of the country would
be that it did not mean free silver in the
sense that it meant in the Chicago
platform, and that there would be no need
for the same alarm as to the result of the
election that was felt when Bryan was
running
1t is arg,.ed that outside of Maryland,
and even largely in that state, the nomi-
nation of German on the recent Mary
land platform would bring back into the
democratic party that element which de-
serted during the last election on account
of Organism, and yet at the same time it
would leave nothing for those silver men
who would not be entirely satisfied to do
but to stand by the regular ticket trust
ing to the Interpretation they would be
asked to put Ipon the platform.
A Review of Convention Possibilities.
The encouragement for such an idea is
found in the strength it might hope for
in all the eastern and several of the south
ern and middle states. Under the condi-
tions attending the primaries it will be
impossible for the gold democrats to get
control of the next democratic conven-
tion Having bolted the party and formed
permanent organization of their own,
they cannot vote at the democratic pri-
maries, and, consequently, cannot elect
delegates to the convention. The demo-
cratic convention must, therefore, be con-
structively silver convention by unani-
nous voice, the only open question be-
ing how its sentiments shall be expressed.
If concededly one form of expression
means the nomination of Bryan, while an
other form would mean his defeat, dele
gates, still being silver men, VINO are op-
posed to Bryan, may be counted on to
adopt that form which would open the way
for another candidate. This appears to be
the only opening for either those who are
opposed to Bryan or those whose chief OBJ
lection is to the form Of the declaration as
II money and, however slight may be Their
ground for hope of success, they will proo-
ably work along that line, using the name
of German, whom they say is now a good
ef Cugh silver man, having stood by the
Chicago platform and being ready to fight
for the fuitillment of the party pledges TO
silver.