The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-21
DON'TKNOW WHATTOSAY
DEMOCRATS HAVING A HEAP OF
TROUBLE WITH A PLATFORM.
Want to Oppose Everything but
Afraid to Say Much-Last Nights
Rows i'm the Wards.

AS the day for the Democratic conven-
ton draws near the leaders of the party
are more and more perplexed as to what it
shall say in its platform. This was one of
the topics that the candidates who arrived
yesterday were discussing among them
selves and making suggestions to the boss
es, who simply looked wise, but who did
not get much consolation out of the sugges-
tons that were made. The stalwart silver
men looked upon the arrival of Senator
Turpie with joy, as they flattered them
selves he would insist on having something
to say in the formation of the platform
would, in fact, insist on debating the policy
that is TO be pursued. The stalwarts were
declaring last night that there would be a
reaffirmation of the Chicago platform, all
though they expressed some disappointment
when the word went out that Bryan was
not to be Endorsed for presidential cam
didate in 1900 The stalwarts. however. have
not forgotten the boast Sterling r. Holt
made in 1896. after the memorable conven-
ton in which w. d. Bynum, Thomas Tag
CART and others who had been gold bugs,
up to that moment were unseated and COM
PEELED to leave the convention hail. Holt
boasted, 1--WE got the candidates, if those
form" The stalwarts who arrived yester-
day declared that they would not be con-
tent with>a platform simply, but that they
wanted men nominated whose position is
consistent with the platform They look to
Senator Turpie to aid them in securing
this end. The monetary question disposed
Of other subjects that are bothering the
leaders are the war-revenue bill and Ha-
waiian annexation. They dare not oppose
the war, but they will go as far as they
can in criticising the war-revenue BILL
against which the Democrats in Congress
were arrayed but which they could not de-
feat because they could not muster their
forces Some of the best-informed of the
leaders are opposed to saying anything
whatever on the annexation question, as
they think it premature and unpolitic to
take any stand on that subject as it effects
Hawaii, inasmuch as while they might OPP
pose that now, in the future they might
favor the annexation Of Cuba, Porto Rico
or the Philippines, and they say it will not
do to take step that would be inconsistent
with an annexation policy in regard to
other territory
The impression last night of men in a po-
sition to know was that the platform would
deal purely with national issues and that
no effort would be made to create local or
state issues other than to attack Governor
Mount for some of the army commissions
he has issued. What they hope to gain by
that is not clear, as Governor Mount has
appointed but two colonels, and one of them
was a silver Democrat. Another effort to
create capital will be an attack on the adj
nlinistration for what are termed ''heredi-
tary" appointments to the army and al
legged partisanism along that line. The lead
ers are somewhat chagrined at the fact
economical administration of state affairs
the last two years, and not one point of at
tack can be found.
The leaders would be altogether content
to hold the convention without adopting
platform if that were possible way out of
the difficulty.