Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-18
Senator Jones Outlines the Plans of
His Party.
BRYAN WILL Be The CANDIDATE
The Part Expansion viii Play in
the Election.
TARIFF AND THE TRUSTS

Written for The Evening Star.
Copyrighted, 1899, by Frank G. Carpenter.
| Next to William ]. Bryan, the leading
| character in the democratic party of today,
| is Senator ]. X. Jones of Arkansas, 1t was
| he who managed the Bryan campaign Of
| 1896 and it is he who will probably en-
| gineer the same party in 1850. Senator
| Jones is by no means a new hand at polit
ical management. His life has been spent
! in politics. He was attending college at the
| time the broke out, and, according to
| his congressional autobiography, then left
| school to become private soldier during
| the late unpleasantness on the losing side
After the war was over he began to prac-
uce law in Arkansas. The state was then
| overrun by the carpet-baS government, and
| he became a democratic candidate for the
| state senate. His district was strongly re-
! publican, but he was elected. This was in
! 1878, and Senator Jones has been in politics
| ever since. He soon became president of
| the senate, later on was elected to Con-
| gress, and in 1885 took his seat in the United
States Senate. His work at Washington
| has been more that of business man than
| an orator He has been one of the men
who have played their parts behind the
scenes His fingers have been on the wires
| which move the political speakers, and,
| though not most prominently before the
country, he has been most influential in ac-
comprising results for his party.
| had long interview with Senator Jones
recently, during which / asked him what
| was the condition Of the democratic party
| today, and whether he really thought ii
| had a fighting chance for success in 1902
lie replied: Il certainly do. There are
more democrats now than ever, and we
| shall have a large accession from the re
| publicans who are down on imperialism
and trusts"
"Wilt the Philippines be one of the is
sues of the campaign?' l asked.
VIII BE an Issue.
! yes, the policy adopted by the admins
tration is entirely contrary to the princ-
pies of democracy. 1t is contrary to the
! Constitution and spirit Of our government,
| and l do not believe it will be approved by
the people. The democratic party is OPP
| posed to imperialism. We believe that with
us the right Of government must always
| depend on the consent Of the governed. and
we are opposed to any measure to force
| other people to submit to our authority.
I'VE are opposed to any conquestS of for
! cign countries and islands to that purpose.
! The Philippines contain eleven million poo
| pie don't believe majority of the Amer
| lean voters can be persuaded 10 vote for
How about Hawaii and Porto Rico?" I
asked.
There is more excuse for Hawaii and
! PorfO Rico than for the Philippines" said
| Senator Jones They are differently sit
| uated and their constitution is such that
! they may form a part of our republic. The
| Hawaiian Islands are not far from us.
| They already have a large number of
| Americans among their inhabitants, and
| l believe they can be Ancricanizcd. Porto
| Rico IS comparatively small, and the peO-
| pie may be handled in such way as not
| to interfere with our constitutional prOvis-
| ions and so that in time they may be good
| American citizens. We have special in
| tercst in these countries through their
| proximity to US and their situation in re-
! Td to the defense OF our country. Inc
! Philippines are another matter entirely.
! Aside from constitutional reasons they
should not belong to the United States. The
| holding them will involve an enormous eX-
| penditure Of money, the maintenance Of
! large standing army, and viii involve US in
foreign complications of many sorts"
Affairs I'm Cuba.
How about Cuba?"
| LAS to Cuba 1 believe the democratic
party will contend that the Cubans have
| a right to govern themselves We should
! withdraw our troops and carry out the
| plan which we promised to carry out when
| we undertook the war That war was be
| gun by the people of the United States
! without regard To party, as a war of hu-
| mainly. / do not believe that the people
| will approve of any policy except that
! which was originally proposed in regard to
! IT. If after we have Withdrawn our forces
| and given the Cubans perfect freedom they
| should then ask to be admitted or annexed
| L.
| Every one would approve of such policy"
| How about candidates, Senator Jones?'
| Il believe that William ]. Bryan will be
| the democratic candidate, and [ see no rea-
son TO think that Mckinley will not en-
deavOr to Succeed himself"
! But, senator, do you not think that
! Bryan is losing strength in the minds Of
| the people,?
| Il think not. l believe that he is stronger
| with the people than he was in 1876. One
thing that initiated against him then was
| his youth, his ineXnericnce and the fear
| that he might be Tightly. This Impression
has passed away. He has spoken every
where and so far has made no mistakes.
! The people have come to believe In him.
| But, senator, the present situation in
| this country is big with possibilities Do
! you think Bryan is broad enough and great
enough, to be President Of the United
| States?"
Brave and Honest.
Yes" replied the democratic chairman.
| HE IS a brave man, an honest man and a
| conservative man. He has been charged
with self-seeking in his political career Ii
| has been said that the desire for money
! making was the only reason for his con-
I nee ton with politics. This is not true
! William J. Bryan's actions are founded
| upon his devotion TO the principles which he
! believes to be right. He is making his fight
| for the success of these principles because
ne believes that such success, will be for
! the good of our country and the people. /
| know him well, and | know that If he be-
| lieVe1 there was another man who could
| fill his place better he would not only with
draw at once, but would do all in his pow
| er to help the other man into that place"
! "Then You think there IS doubt of
| Bryans nomination." said l.
| 1T seems so to me" replied Senator
| Jones 1T is some months before the ma
| ttonal convention, but there is no one in
| view at the present time who could pos
| sibly contest the place with him.
| How about Dewey"
| Il don't know anything about Admiral
| Dewey. l don't even know what his pol
itics are, whether he is a republican
or democrat. 1 don't suppose he will be a
| candidate for the nomination of either
! party"
When Bryan Was Nominated.
| "How about Bryan's last nomination? /
| mean in 1896. Was it a put-up job?''
mo, it was not" replied Senator Jones.
| II think 1 know considerable about the last