The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-02

great reputation In congress for his IA
miliarity with foreign affairs and served
successfully as a member and chairman
of the Rouse foreign affairs committee.
lie is the son OF the famous democrat,
August Belmont. for many years chair
man Of the democratic national commit
tee. His brother. Oliver II. Belmont, is
the husband of Mrs. W. II. Vanderbilt and
step-father OF the Duchess Of Marlbor-
ough. He has never taken an active part
I'm politics but he furnishes material this
year for an important campaign issue.
At the opening of the war he offered to
build and equip a torpedo cruiser. the
only condition being that he be permit
ted to command II. This was by no means
IN absurd suggestion In view Of the fact
that he was educated at Annapolis and
graduated at the head Of his class. The
refusal becomes significant when It is
pointed out by Mr.. Belmont that the gov
m has accepted similar tenders n
granted similar concessions TO wealthy ex-
naval academy graduates who happened
20 be republicans.
The fact has become painfully appar-
ent hat the administration has small use
for tn. gold democrats and the manner in
which they have been ignored i'm the COM
m~issioning of officers for the Spanish war
has led many of them into open revolt.
A very few of them have secured commits
sions for their sons in the long lists of
''papa's boys that are now displaying
their pride of ancestry and ignorance OF
all things military in sundry staff posi-
lions. But the gold democrats have been
totally ignored in the big line appoint
ments.
1t is no secret tina the democratic
campaign managers base their hopes of
success in the coming congressional cleo
lions largely on the return to the party
of many of the one million democrats who
abandoned their party two years ago.
They regard this as a perfectly natural
course for these democrats after their
temporary exodus from the fold. As there
will be no alteration of the position OF the
democratic party in support Of the Chica-
go platform. it is not believed that there
viii be any corresponding reflections
among the silver republicans or populists
who allied themselves Will the democrat
&c party because Of that platform. 1t is
admitted that there viii be some loss of
middle-of-the-road populists. but It is be-
lieved this will be far smaller than the
leaders of that more noisy than numerous
element is fond of asserting.
The republican plan of campaign bears
some resemblance to that OF the demo-
Gratis. They expect TO sustain some losses
in the heavy republican states. but figure
on reaping i'm some OF the Western Middle
states that went for Bryan in 1896. wy
oming is one state they have particularly
i'm mind and there viii be a desperate ef-
fort to reverse that states verdict of two
years ago. Washington. South Dakota and
Nebraska are also picked out by the re-
publicans as Offering opportunities for
gains. With the exception Of Wyoming 1t
is admitted by the republicans that the
Rocky mountain states are ~improEnablc.
although the Wolcott-C arter-Shoup syn
dictate has tried to keep up republican
courage by telling wonderful ghost stories
of what they are going to do with the aid
Of the silver republicans.
HOSFORD.