Graham guardian., 1898-12-16
The Battle Begun,
Copyrighted by the Mcclure News Bureau.

Chicago, December IL, 1851
opening a correspondence with tn
GUARDIAN it will be well to sa,
that for the next two years this city
will be the political storm center
and headquarters for active worl
| by both parties
| There was q time when New
York City occupied this position
especially in the democratic party
TiIden in '76, Hancock in 80, and
Cleveland in 'S4, '88, and '92, marks
a period of sixteen years when the
democracy of the State of New
York dictated the policy of the
party-and the city of that name
was our news center.
But a change came in 1896, when
the South and West asserted their
Importance and selfrespect, nomin-
ated Bryan of the plains of Ne
braska, and divorced the party
from the money bags and trusts of
the East. In the meantime this
city aud the West has grown in
Importance. And thus it is that
today we find the great State of
Illinois with its more than three
mrlIien population, the pivotal state
of the Union and Chicago the polit-
ical news center of the Nation.
New York is no longer state to
be reckoned with. In the election
of 1900 it will probably be conced-
ed to the gold-trust aristocracy
combination, now in possession Of
the republican party.
1t was from this city, Chicago,
that Mark Hanna and Senator Jones
directed the two lines of battle in
1896. And so it will be again, in
1900, the headquarters of the two
chiefs to be elected by the Nation
al Committees of that year. The
Ways and Means Committee OF the
Democratic National Committee
has opened Offices now in the Uni
ty Building in this city and work
for 1909 has already begun.
The story is now going the
that the republicans are
sure to hold he Senate till 1906.
The truth is that in 1900 the legisla-
lures will be elected that in turn
elect in 1901, thirty senators--l7
republicans, IL democ rats, l popu-
list and l silver republican.
the gold republicans who
90 out will be Wolcott of Colorado,
Baker of Kansas, Carter Of Mon
Lana, Elkins of West Virginia, Nc
Bride Of Oregon, Thurston of Ne
braska and Cullom Of Illinois. IfI
The democrats carry the necessary
number ofstates to elect a presidnet
n 1900, they will have a decided
majority in the United States
Senate. 1t should be remembered
that among the recent gains made
by the republicans, gold republi.
can senators were substituted for
gold democratic senators; and IN
his there was no loss.
had talk this week with Mr..
Harvey, Of the Ways and Means
Committee, about Crockers visit to
jhicago, and be tells me that there
S no bond of sympathy between
Jrocker and Ex-Gov. Stone, of Mis-,
Iouri, or in fact any ofthe members
If the Ways and Means commit
.ee, Mr.. Harvey says that the
published reports about Croker
md Store Gmanate from republi
AN sources and are intended to
,reate suspicious and distrust on
he part Of the rank and file of the
democrats toward such leaders as
5tpne. "Stone," Mr.. Harvey says.
is not after the presidency or
)ther Office and cannot be taken
up on to high noun tain by gold
democrats, shown kingdom and
made to sell his soul.'
The Ways and Means commit.
Tee is meeting with decided sue
cess. From letters | have been
shown at the committee rooms it
looks as if the people welcomed
this opportunity to make them
selves self-rs,p ing in politics.
Heretofore til. ycople have waited
'or some one 10 fnancler their pol.
tics for them, and they have found
hat tho few men who put up the
money, as a rule, did so with a
'iew to controlling party platforms
md special Legislation in congress,
md that such class interests got
what they wanted by thus having
placed politicians and congressman
tnder fuanclal obligation to them.
The people seem to be grasping
his question as they reflect on the
1Ian of the democratic Ways and
Means committee. Among the
hiDga that they have observed in
he past, and now know how to
,ccyunt for, is that it made no diff
erance which psrty's candidate
vas elected to the presidency, the
,ich grew richer and the poor
grew poorer. The key note has
low been struck that accounts for
t. If any one had any doubts as
10 the success of the democi attic