The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-12
WHAT DID M'xIssON PRoMIsEs
He Says He Did Not Tell Democrats He
Would Stand on Bryan's Platform.

He Says He Did Not Tell Democrats ne
Would stand on Bryan's Platform.
COLUMBUS, o., Jan. 11.-Robert e. Nc
Kisson, mayor of Cleveland. for whom the
combine" voted for senator to-day, was
harshly criticised by Republicans this morn
ing. "rraitor!" ''renegade!" and 'Judas!
were some of the epithets applied to him.
According to some Of the current rumors,
he boldly declared himself to be 'Repub-
lican" of the Bryan stripe in order to secure
the support of the combine. The Democrat
ic caucus last night was stormy and long
drawn out. 1t was found absolutely impos-
sible to agree or either Governor Bushnell
or Charles l.. Kurtz. Both names were con-
sidered and both were given up as imprac-
ticabe candidates. The name Of Mayor Nc
Kisson was suggested. The Democrats de-
manded to know whether McKisson was
free-silver man. Not content with the as
surance of Allen 0. Myers and other leaders
of the combine" they sent for Mckisson
When that gentleman appeared he made a
speech to the caucus, in which ne was re-
ported to have SAID, in substance: Gentle
men, publicly and before the people, am
and must be a Republican. But | assure
you and pledge you that If elected TO the
United States Senate by this fusion VIII
stand on the Chicago PLATFORM.
This alleged pledge was said to have been
satisfactory and the caucus declared 1or
Mckisson for both the long and snort terms;
him how he could pretend to be RepuD-
lican and stand on the Bryan-Altgeld Popo-
cratic platform. Ihey pointed tore OUT baen Una,
accused of straddling great questions, no
one ever had the temerity to attempt 70
straddle platforms so far apart as the chi
cago and St Louis platforms. In reply, Mr.:
McKisson denied that he pledged hlmSelt
last night to free silver or TO stand on the
Chicago platform when called into the DEM
ocratic caucus. This afternoon the demo-
Gratis and others present confirm THIS state
ment, and asserted that mayor MchlssoiI I
had said he was a bimetall1st ana opposed
to the policy of Secretary Gage, but e
would not stand for the free and unlimited
coinage Of silver.
The following statement was issued from
the Hanna headquarters at the Neil House
tonight.
.sMavor McKisson's zeal in espousing the
principles of the Bryan Democratic party is
apparently carrying him even to the extent
of assuring his Democratic allies that he
has been secretly one of them during the
time in which he was posing as a Repub-
lican seeking office at the hands OF the He-
publican party and making speeches IN sup
port OF Republican principles. The state
ment was made in numerous quarters yes
his loyalty to the silver cause and to Demo-
cratic caucus in accepting the senatorial
pledged himself distinctly and definitely TO
support the free-silver doctrines or that
party if elected 1t now appears that in ms
excessive desire to convince his hearers OF
his loyalty to the silver cause and TO Demo
cratic principles generally ne Salu IN his
speech that he was a Bryan man at heart
in 1896 and that he voted for Mr.. Bryan In
the presidential campaign. This statement
was made by Mr.. Grant Halliday, of Elyria,
a well-known Democrat who was member
of the Democratic state committee in 1896
and whose reputation for accuracy is un-
questioned.
1'This statement from Mr.. McKisson
places him in a curious attitude with refer
ence to party fealty. He gave every evi-
dence during the campaign of 1896 OF loyalty
to the Republican party and activity IN It's
campaign; was the nominee OF the
Republican party for mayor in the
spring following the campaign OF 1896 and
accepted the nomination and election from
that party without a hint that he was not
in accord with it's principles, and last fall
during the state campaign made speeches
in which he reiterated his loyalty to the
principles of the Republican party. Now it
appears that he. by way Of self-commenda-
tion to the Democratic caucus, informed its
Bryan man in 1896 and voted for him for
President.
''In confirmation Of the report that Nc
Kisson had made this assertion to the Dem
ocrats in their caucus last night, Hon. H.
r. Leach of Litchfield, o., this evening
furnished to the public the following state
ment: Mr. Grant Halliday, of Elyria, a
former member of the Democratic state
committee said to me to-day in the presence
of Mr. Charles Ensign, of Elyria, that Mr.
McKisson said in the Democratic caucus
last night that he was free-silver man
and would support the free-silver constitu-
tion of the Democratic party and that he
was a Bryan man in 1896 and voted for