The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-11-15

y s
time? Among the very first, perhaps the
first among southern men, whose public
uateranees suggested the abandonment Of
the Chicago platform and of Mr.. Bryan
was the Hon. Jesse F. Stallings, representa-
tive of the Second Alabama district in con-
gress. Over mis- own name, with his official
capacity stated, he published in the New
York Journal letter, in which he en-
deayored ito feel the pulse of his people on
the question by a suggestion that Mr.. Rich
ardson of Tennessee be nominated on the
expressed ground that differing democrats
will find him point at which to CONVERGE
I use his own words, and ne advised that
the next national democratic convention
should frame a platform true to demo-
cratic principles, and upon which all de-
cent men may stand
THE only logical deduction from these
remarks is that Mr.. Stallings did not deem
the Chicago platform one upon which de-
cent men could stand, or MIR. Bryan man
whom decent men could support But it
has been said that Mr.. Stallings has ex
planned away this letter l have no doubt
that he has tried to do so. He is said to
be an expert at political exegesis, but when
the voter reflects, and considers the time
when this letter was published, he must
see that Mr. Stallings meant then ncthing
else than a wish willingness to discard
the Chicago platform and Mr.. Bryan, and,
of a necessary consequence, the cause of
free coinage. Just so soon as MIR. Stallings
left the atmosphere at Washington, where
misled politicians had conceived doubts of
Mr.. Bryan's strength or hopes of his weak
ness with the people, and had again got in
touch with his people, he dropped his effort
and he now processes to speak as of yore-
the earnest advocate of the Chicago plat
form, Mr.. Bryan and free silver.
Would Again Fall Away
His conduct at a critical juncture. how
ever, shows that If an apparent or plausi-
BILE opportunity were again given him, he
would again fall away. Is this the kind of
man who should be supported by sincere BIZ
metallists and lovers of the Chicago plat
FORM and followers of Mr.. Bryan? No!
Compare Mr.. Tomlinson's attitude on
these questions. His bitterest opponents
cannot truthfully say that he has ever
wavered in his active loyalty to the cause
of bimetallsm At the time when Mn. STALL
ings had so publicly announced his willing
ness to drop Mr.. Bryan and the Chicago
platform, and his action had apparently
been timed to lead movement to influence
the national democratic committee, which
met in Chicago last July, what dod MIR.
Tomlinson do? 1 speak whereof / know.
When the letter l have mentioned became
public the Bmetalic club of Montgomery
county became convinced that our cause
demanded that we should be represented
at Chicago, and let the national committee
ellis of the democracy know that Mr.. Stall
ings did not correctly represent the senti-
ments of the democrats and bimetallists of
the Second district of Ala bama in the views
expressed by him in the Richardson letter.
LAS one of the delegation representing
the Democratic Bi-Metallic club of Mont
gomery county 1 went to Chicago, and par
ticipated in the great meetings of bi-metal-
lists assembled there. We found John w.
Tomlinson there. We found him active,
energetic, high in the councils of bi-metal-
lists of the United States, and protesting,
as we protested, that the democracy of
Alabama was true to the Chicago platform
and to Mr. Bryan and that Mr.. Stallings
new views, as expressed in his letter to the
New York journal, did not correctly repre-
sent the sentiment of his district or of his
state. The success achieved by the BIZ
metallists of this country at that time to
prevent the side-tracking of the Chicago
platform and it's declaration for free COIN
are are known to all men. We returned to
Alabama cheered and heartened in the
cause. Bryan and free silver became logi-
cally inevitable, and Mr.. Stallings began to
explain. AS I said in an interview publish
ed shortly after my return from Chicago:
Our danger is more from doubling friends
than daring enemies
should be No Hesitation
John w. Tomlnson has never doubted
or distrusted. Jesse F. Stallings has ex-
pressed such distrust. l will say, as l said
before. 1 cannot see how the voting BIZ
metallist can hesitate between these two
men, Surely a standard-bearer is wanted
who is an earnest and answering believer
in our principles, not one who has sug-
gested hauling down the standard, the
abandonment of the Chicago PLATFORM and
the ignoring of its peerless eXponent-Wil-