The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-07

Even Altgeld has about come to the
conclusion that 1t is not safe to make
free silver at the ratio Of 16 to /, the
old plank of 1895. the paramount issue
In next years Democratic platform, or
to even give 1t prominence. He de-
clares that he doesn't believe in max
ing 1t any more prominent than any
other one issue. Notwithstanding Alt
geld's customarily unreasonable logic,
he gives a piece Of logical reasoning
for his opinion. when he declares: IT'S
all nonsense to suppose that conyen-
ton can. by resolution, make any one
thing the paramount issue every
where"
No doubt the lesson of 1895 taught
Aitgeld the practical truth there is in
this assertion. and he is frank enough
to admit 1t. for he illustrates his point
by saying: There are those to whom
IS to will be the paramount issue, but
that will not make 1t so with CONNER
cIal men. They naturally regard the
tariff and freedom from trust DONNA
lions as the most important issue"
Altgeld here looks at 1t sensibly, but
he viii md that a great many who are
welded to the 16 to theory will not
agree with him. The leader OF this
class is Mr.. Bryan. He has publicly
announced score Of times that the
silver plank must be paramount; that
1t is a necessity. 1t is a question
whether Altgeld and men who hold sim
liar views can maintain their point and
retain Bryans goodwill; or whether,
II they do retain his good will, the pro-
gramme OF nominating Bryan on any
other than free silver coinage at the
ratio of 1s to /, as a paramount issue,
would be advantageous to the candl-
date. Mr.. Bryan will have to be con-
suited upon this point. 1t goes without
saying that the two leaders, Mr.. Alt
geld and Mr.. Bryan, would have
lengthy conference before they could
reach an agreement.
Bryan people who may not regard
Altgeld's reasons for not having para
mount issue as logical, perhaps have
not noted all his reasons: For instance,
the Chicago man illustrates by reclting
that out "in the laborlng districts gov
eminent by injunction forces aside I'll
other issues. With other people other
matters are paramount, as, for exam
pie, Imperialism, the Anglo-AmeFican
alliance and so forth. 1 would not, in
any way, make the platform top-heavy
with l6 to l declaration" He doesn't
believe he would mention the ratio at
all. So far the logic is apparent and 1t
is all right, but perhaps he has left Just
family discernible loop hole, through
which some slender critic may crawl
when he fails to stop at the last quota
ton, but winds up with something that
may give Mr.. Bryan comfort in the way
of a suggestion that would convince
him and his radical followers
that IS to 1 is not buried beyond resur-
rection.
Altgeld, after declaring he would
not mention the ratio at all. leaves the
loop-hole referred to by adding: II
would simply put into the platform
declaration reafIlrmlng the monetary
policy heretofore advocated by the
Democratic party"
He does not say whether he means
the policy Of the Democratic parry
known as the new doctrine Of 1895, or
the sound money doctrine 1t advocated
previous to that year. Mr.. AltgeId may
have to draw a diagram, before Mr.
Bryan is satisfied.