Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-12

ating the party are going to put forward
as the anti-Bryan candidate. Former Sem
ator Arthur P. German is puzzling his own
friends who know that he does not think
he could be either nominated or elected.
They know that German does not permit
himself to be criticised and ito suffer abuse
unless he has an object in view, but they
can't see the object now. One explanation
which have heard is that Mr.. German is
engaged in a number of important enter
prises, and that it pleases his associates in
those enterprises to have him stand out as
the man who is willing to sacrifice himself
in order to save the democratic party from
perpetual alteration of the free silver idol.
But those who know Mr.. German best do
not conceive of him taking part in poll
tics without q political purpose. Perhaps
a few months will clear up the mystery.
1t is evident that German is the brains of
the present movement against Bryan, and
that some of the eminent New Workers who
think they are directing it are really only
his puppets.
One suggestion which i heard at the
Hoffman House last night was that John
R. Mclean was really persuaded into be-
neving that he is a Moses, not exactly in
the bulrushes, but with the democratic
party already on the point of getting out
OF the wilderness. Now, it happens that
while Mr.. Mclean may be associated with
Mr. German in a business way, and while
their personal friendship is close, there are
limits to which political partnership
could go. Mr.. Mclean publishes a very
successful and widely circulated news
paper.
If that newspaper should show lukewarm-
ness in supporting Bryan and free silver it
would be less successful and less widely
circulated That is a business proposition
which anybody who travels among the
democrats of the west and south quickly
perceives. Mr.. McLeans newspaper meets
every suggestion that he is in an anti
Bryan combination with renewed evidences
of friendship for Bryan and free silver. In
these circumstances, it does not seem clear
how either Mr.. German or Tammany or
eminent New York democrats are going to
be able to utilize Mr.. Mclean as a foil for
Bryan.
Republicans Are Fretted.
While the New York democrats have their
trouble over national issues, the republic,
cans are fretted over local and state affairs,
1t is getting to be one of the humorous in
cidents which recurs regularly to have a
conference between Gov Roosevelt and
senator Platt advertised. Platt got ahead
OF the governor In coming out for McKin-
ley for second term. The Plat following
say that the governor was really lukeWarm
until he made his western trip Then he
saw many evidences of his own popularity
put not as presidential candidate in 1890
so ne came out strongly for Mckinley.
patted the administration on the back. and
made 1t appear that the President was ali
rlsht, now that Roosevelt told the country
to stand by him. This talk of PIatt,s
trends may be a little jaundiced but they
take undoubted satisfaction in the senator's
open declaration for Mckinley in advance
OF Roosevelt. Some of them think they
note growing tendency on the part Of
une governor to patronize the senator ar
these conferences, in which the good of the
party is settled. That is possible, for Gov
roosevelt Is getting a stronger hold on the
party. Inc corporations have discovered
that the franchise tax bill, over which thew
set up such roar, is not such a bad thing
and the public is giving the governor full
credit Tor his courage In enforcing that
legislation ON halting legislature
Inc republicans are talking about tho
union of all the oppositions to Tammanv
IN the local election this fall. Several good
county offices are involved in the deal. and
Judges are also to be elected. A number of
AMBITIOUS lawyers are hoping that Tam
many's judicial partisanship will be rebuk-
ed, and that they will be nominated on a
Union ticket. The republican machine
shows some receptiveness to the plan,
cut 1t cannot be said that its feasibility
has yet become apparent. One reason is
that many of the local republican poll
uclans have not succeeded in convincing
one another that they are sincere in want
ing to unite against Tammany Naturally
Wniie this feeling continues the public lacks
faith.