Evening star., 1898-08-27
BRYAN AGAIN THE CHOICE
Former Governor Stone of Missouri Says he
Will Run for President.
The Nisxourian il the silver Candi-
dates Closest Friend and Political
Adviser for 1000.

souri, and now the closest friend and politi-
cal adviser of William j. Bryan, came TO
this city on business last night. He is at
the Fifth Avenue Hotel.
Former Governor Stone, who is the choice
of many western and southern democrats
for chairman of the democratic national
committee for the campaign of 1900 gave
me highly significant interview on the ma
tionaI situation in the course of which ne
expressed the positive opinion that Mr-
Bryan again would be the choic, of his
party for President two years hence.
This expression from Missouris former
governor will be read by eastern democrats
with the greatest interest because it is
known to the party leaders here that MI
Bryan now relies implicitly upon Mr.. Stone
In matters of policy, and that the former
governor will manage Mr.. Bryan's canvass
and his campaign in the event OF success
in the national convention
Additional interest attaches 20 the views
of former Governor Stone at this time be-
cause he enjoys the confidence and respect
of eastern democrats to a greater aegree
than does any other national leader promf-
nently allied with Mr.. Bryan and the rae
ton that controlled the Chicago convention
of 1885.
Warning to New York Democrats.
1 asked the former governor whether
western democrats were much interested
in the action to be taken by New York
democrats at their state convention In Syra-
cuse next month. Mr.. Stone replied, with
much emphasis. that IL the Syracuse con-
vention should ignore the last national
platform of the party, or If it should re-
pudiate that platform or nominate for gov
ernor any man who only supported the
gold standard in 1895. the democracy of
New York would thereby place Itself ir
opposition to the party in every other state
of the Union, and practically would be with
ton.
Read between the lines, former Governor
Stones utterance on this point means that
If the regular organization attempts to
Si1etrack the principles of the Chicago
convention a rival organization will be
built up In this state to wrest control from
the present leaders.
II do not believe" said the former gov
erner. that the democrats of Missouri
have undergone any change of sentiment
on the money question, and l believe the
same may be said of all the western states
If any one believes that western democrats
are less interested in free silver coinage
now than in 1896 it would be well to get
rid of that impression at once. If possi-
BILE they are more determined than ever
TO force that issue until their demands are
complied with by some satisfactory meas
ure of binetallic coinage. With us bimetal-
lism is not fad. as some hereabouts would
make believe. On the contrary, with US ii
is a deep conviction that it is necessary to
the Industrial we'll being of the country
Money the Leading Issue.
I'VE will fight for what We believe to be
right. If the republican party adheres 10
the single gold standard policy the money
issue will be the leading issue in 1900, as
it was in 1896, and if We are beaten then
we will try it again.
DO you think l asked Mr.. Stone. that
Mr.. Bryan will be renominated in 1902
Il think he will be. He certainly will be
unless there is q very decided change In
party conditions and party sentiment from
that now prevailing
Discussing the democratic situation in
New York state, particularly with reference
TO the silver issue Mr.. Stone said:
Il hear some talk to the effect that the
New York democracy may turn tail on
this question by ignoring it in the platform
and by placing pronounced gold standard
man al the head of the ticket. In my opin-
ion that would be a grave mistake. About
the only national effect such a course would
have would be to array the New York
democracy against the democracy in nearly
all the other states and practically elimi-
nate the former as a factor in national pol
itics-"
When 1 asked Mr. Stone If he thought
Mr.. Bryan would try to influence the plat
form declarations of the New York conyen-
tion he said: Il do not believe Mr.. Bryan
fere with any state convention"
War Issues Not Important.
As to territorial expansion and other is
sues growing out of the war with Spain
the former governor said:
Il do not think there will be any issues
growing out of the war. The war is
ended, and all that remains to be done re-
lates to the terms Of settlement, most of
which have already been agreed upon in
the protocol. Porto Rico will be ceded to
the United States; an independent govern
ment Will be organized in Cuba under an
American protectorate; certain cessions
ample for our commercial needs will be
made to US in the Ladrone and Philippine
Islands and perhaps elsewhere The unset
tied things are largely matters of detail
and do not apprehend that what has been
agreed upon or may be agreed upon will
cause any serious division of opinion among
the people of any party
Upon these questions the recent demo-
crauc and republican conventions of Mis-
sCurl put substantially The same resolutions
IN their platforms; and that will h. the rule
IN practically all of the states There will
De no issue worthy the name or the cues
uof OF acquiring territory or commercial
privileges by treaty. 1 have no idea that
any party issue will grow ont OF the sat
tlement OF these matters, but after all the
details are disposed of there will be other
questions arising, more or less connected
with tne war, and thsse may give rise TO
party issues.
What shall our future policy be with
reference to Cuba, after we have help.d
the Cubans to put up a government of
their own under our protection? Shall we
eEdeavor by all honorable means to ac-
quire the island and incorporate it into our
system of states, or shall our policy be in
opposition to annexation? 1 am for annexa-
ton. think the policy Of our government
should be directed to that end. Believing
that annexation woad be of the greatest
advantage to this country and Cuba, we
should use every honorable means to bring
1t about. / believe that will be the position
and the policy of the democratic parry
UNLESS the republicans change front
which they can always do with easy IA
cility, and come over to our side, an issus
may grow up out of this # lest.un sec 10
other prospect of issue on territorial
expansion.
But there is another question which 1
think the democracy SHOULD force to the
front. We should fight for the rshabliita-
ton and reconstruction of our merchant
marine. To make the American mere rant
navy the greatest on .he seas should De our
aim, and we should force that issue To the
front Incidentally and part OF this
policy We should advocate the immedlats
construction of the Nicaragua canal and
the enlargement of our war navy.
We should outline and ,triva N h.