The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-16
BRYAN on THE ELECTIONS
They Do Not Mean Any Weaken
ing Of the Silver Forces.
THE WAR WAS A FACTOR
The Plee for IN Indorssmsnt OF the Ad-
ministrstion Forced Economic ouss-
lions Into the Background-Chi-
cago Platform In 1900.

Lincoln Neb.. Nov. ls.-Col. W. ].
Bryan tonight gave to the associated
press the following interview relative to
the late election:
while I do not understand that
service in the volunteer army prevents
a soldier from expressing opinions upon
political questions. I declined to take
part in the late campaign lest I should
be accused by partisan opponents Of
attempting to embarrass the admins
tration. Now that the election is over.
! shall exercise a citizens privilege of
discussing the returns.
Compared with the election Of 1896,
the republicans have gained in some
places and lost In others. 1t was not a
sweeping republican victory. On the
whole, the result In not surprising. when
II is remembered that the administra-
tion is just concluding q successful
war.
while a majority Of the soldiers are
probably anti-republican. the manage
ment of the war has been entirely in
republican hands. and the strongest ar
gument used during the campaign was
that a republican defeat would dis
credit the president in the eyes of the
foreign nations while his commissioners
were engaged in making treaty.
1T was not trial upon the issues
before the people. but a successful plea
for the continuance Of the case. The
people have not accepted the gold
standard; they have not fallen in love
with the plan to give the banks a
monopoly of the issue of paper money:
they have not decided to retire the
greenbacks: they have not surrendered
to the trusts.
These questions were forced into
the background by the declaration of
war. but they must be faced again as
soon as peace is restored. The Chicago
platform presents for public consider
alton certain vital, economic questions.
That platform has not been abandoned
by those who indorsed 1t in 1896. 1t
will be reafiirmed in 1900 because 1t
gives expression to the hopes and as
pirations of a large majority OF the
party.
when the democrats. populists and
silver-republicans favored Cuban in
dependence. they understood INIT war
would give a temporary advantage to
the party in power. but they were will
ling to risk defeat in order to aid the
people fighting to be free.
Neither can the election be regarded
as an Endorsement Of any definite pol
icy. Until a treaty OF peace has been
entered into. and the terms made
known. the people cannot pass judg-
ment upon it, Whether the war will
raise any question of sufficient i'm
portance to turn public attention away
from domestic problems remains to be
seem
In regard to the Nebraska election.
Mr.. Bryan said: "A light vote was
cast in Nebraska. but the fusionists
have elected the entire state ticket and
carried the same congressional districts
that they carried in 1896. II Senator
Allen is defeated for reelection. 1t will
be because senators are elected by leg
islators instead Of by the people. II
republican senator is chosen by the
next legislature he will go to Washing
ton to represent a minority Of the peo-
pie of the state and to thwart the will
of the majority"