The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-29
THE PLOT TO OVERTHROW DE
NIOCEACY.

II is well known that Col. Bryan had
declared his determination to bolt the
Democratic nomination In 1896 If the
marty should fail to put itself upon
free silver platform. Now comes the
Interesting statement that number OF
Southern Democrats, more prominent In
the party councils at that time than Col
onel Bryan. had resolved to pursue
similar course.
Frank G. Carpenter, the noted news
paper correspondent, recently interviewed
Ex-senator Fred T. Dubois, Of Idaho
Mr.. Dubois, it should be remembered
was one II the silver Republicans, who
headed by Senator Teller. left the ST.
Louis convention which nominated Nc
/ Kinley. lie was asked TO relate the story
OF that movement. His reply as re-
ported for the Washington Star follows
1.-THE bolt Of the silver Republicans
from the party had its origin several
| years before that convention. We we're
all delegates TO the presidential conVeh-
ton at Minneapolis, and we there dc
tated to a certain extent the hna"cial
planks OF the platform. The platform
was a combination OF bimetailism ana
/ protection and was satisfactory TO US.
4 We soon found. however. that the Re
| publican party was not standing upon us
platform. and we then decided that UNI
less we could have what We wanted for
silver we would not vote for the Dingiev
bill This was along about 1893. We stuck
[ together and defeated the Dingley Dill
I This excited the whole country and showed
I that the silver men were determined TO
/ have say in financial legislation.
/ "It was at about this time that we be-
gan to have regular conferences together
I as TO what we should do" continued Sen
/ ator Dubois 1.-THE bimetalliss Of both
parties held regular meetings in my com
mittee-room at the Senate, and we dis
! cussed and laid out our Dlan of action.
/ You see. many Of the silver Democrats
thought their party would vote for the
gold STANDARD. We finally decided that
/ The bimetallists OF both parties would
/ break away from their respective perties
/ and form a new party, ia case neither Of
/ the parties adopted a bimetallic plank
B in its platform. This was our position
D when we left the st. Louis convention.
/ We had the same idea when we went 10
/ Chicago There we had a silver head
/ quarters. and II was our idea that we
! would combine there with the silver men
: OF the Democratic party and perhaps have
/ a convention of our own and nominate
/ Teller as President Associated with us
I'm this plan were Senator Jones OF Ar
kansas. Blackburn, Of Kentucky, and
John Mclean. Of Ohio.
1--WE were all for Teller, and were watt
I ing for the proper time to stampede the
I convention 90 him, when Bryan made his
/ speech and carried everything by storm.
. We saw then that it would De better TO
e0 for Bryan. The platform which was
adopted suited us very well. and we sup
/ ported Bryan. This was not our plan.
however. for We expected TO nominate
. Teller"
Suppose Teller had been nominated.
Senator what would have been the re-
/ eult2"
Gle would have been elected. ! think. "
said Senator Dubois
This is no new revelation. The move
ment was freely talked about IN Chicago
4 during the convention Of 1896 The rep
ressntatye Of The Times heard the sub
i iect discussed. ana we have more than
once referred TO it in these columns. The
statement of Mr.. Dubois simply confirms
what The Times has said. il was be-
heved by the free silver people that the
Gold Democrats would bolt the conven-
ton. and had they done SO before Bryan
made h.s famous speech, the convention
would undoubtedly have nominated Teller
But while The Times has more than
once told the story, it Is more to the point
TO have IL told by a prominent politician
who was party 10 the movement, and
Senator Jones, by his silence, gives tacit
assent TO all that Mr. Dubois has said.
Yet. Senator Jones is at the head Of the
/ Democratic organization to-day. Is it
strange that the party should have been
I wrecked under his leadership? In point
/ of fact the plot which Mr.. Dubois re-
I veas was carried out. with the deviation
that a Populist was nominated instead Of
/ Republican A new party was organized
/ at Chicago. II was composed OF all sorts
+ Of free silver advocates and it was called
/ the New Democracy" 1t was, indeed,
/ new party. as truly 50 and as essentially
! changed as though the Dubois-Jones-Tel-
Ter plot had been carried out to the let
ter