The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1899-02-10
WROUGHT UP BY BRYAN.
New York Politicians Discuss His Letter
to Willis j. Abbot.

New York Politicians Discuss His Letter
to Willis j. Abbot.
The letter of William Jennings
Bryan to Willis j. Abbot, published
in the Tribune yesterday, was eager
ly discussed by the Democrats of
this city. 1t was looked upon as a
challenge by the free-silver men to
Richard Croker and followers-a
challenge which may have interes-
ting consequences in the next ma
tional Democratic convention.
In substance the letter showed that
Mr.. Bryan had been asked to make
a speech here, but that Mr.. Corker
had required that tue apostle of free
silver refrain from referring to the
money question. Mr.. Bryan tart
ly said that he did not care to be a
guest where a hearing was to be
denied to the Chicago platform and
free silver. Recently Mr.. Crok er
has given out interviews in which he
declared silver to be a dead issue
and favoring expansion, and placing e
himself on the ground directly op-
posed to Mr.. Bryan.
1t was learned yesterday that Mr..
Bryan intends, through his friends
here, to war on Mr.. Croker and his
organization and do what he can for
the silver cause in the East. Poll
tlcians said that he realizes that it
is a war of determination now, and
that Croker will give no quarter for
the eX-candidate if he can dominate
the national convention. The
friends ofMr. Bryan say they expect
him, therefore, to adopt the same
tactics. Mr.. Bryan and his follow
ers profess an eagerness to battle
with Croker and the men who repu-
diate the Chicago platform and
Bryan, and boldly announce that
they will perfect an organization,
and there ask for admission upon
the ground of regularity.
In case things work out this way,
| those who watch the trend of affairs
say, the final fight for supremacy
within party lines will come in the
national convention, before the
Committee on Contested seats.
The free silver men, it is argued
will oppose the seating Of the Tam
manyites, on the ground of ir-
regularity. In the meantime, the
battle must be begun in this State
and it was said yesterday that
Willis J. Abbot will undertake the
organization of the free silver forces
and John Briaben Walker will help
to finance the undertaking.
Politicians generally were saying
yesterday that only one interpreta
tiOn could be placed upon Mr.. Bry.
ans letter. They beIive thati if &
free silver delegation can be secured
in this State for 1900 it will have the
support in the national convention
of Bryan and his Apostles, rather
than the regular delegation, upor
the ground that the latter by its fail
ure to affirm the Chicago platform
confessed its party apostacy. Man!
politicians think that the nationa
convention will not hesitate in th'
circumstance to turn down the regu
lars, as they will realize the impOssi
bility of carrying the State, and they
may not hesitate to wreak vengeance
upon their party enemies. New
York to them is still the "enemy'
country and to bring about tn
humiliation of the regulars her,
would be grateful to many of them
Richard Croker who was in Wash
ington attending the Gridiron Dime
got back late last night. He was tiret
and dismissed Mr.. Bryau's lette
and all the gossip it occasioned brief
ly. He said he might reply to
in time, but just at present he ha
nothing to say, further than that h
stood upon what he had already sale
J New York Tribune.