The record-union., 1899-06-13

party always has opposed trusts, and
possibly, In view of recent events, in
its platform of 1900 public attention
may be more forcibly called to this
question, but in no such sense as To
supplant the financial issue. The form
er is, in fact embraced in the latter
is only the natural outgrowth Of the
present financial policy of the Gov
ernment. If YOU wish to destroy an
evil you must strike at Its source
HeEce, to crush the trusts. restore BIZ
metallism. The paramount issue in
the campaign of 1900 will oe the same
as 1t was in 1896.
Alexander Troup (Connecticut)-Per-
sonally I am in favor of the Chicago
platform of 1896 as the paramount is
sue in the campaign of 1900. The vote
for Bryan in Connecticut and New
England, in my opinion, will be large
ly increased in 1900, and the issue, in
stead of being between international
bimetallism and independent bimetall-
ism, will be between the single gold
standard, as advocated by the Repub-
Leans, and the Chicago platform. 1t
will be a fight to the finish.
Clark Howell, Jr. (Georgia)-Until
new platform is made, We should
stand by the old platform, except. OF
course, in such questions as might
arise out Of conditions which are new
and which were not under considera :
tion at the time of the meeting of the
last national convention. And even on
such questions doubt the propriety OF
the national committee taking a de-
claratory position in advance of the
meeting of the party conventions in the
several States. The two questions
which are now uppermost are imperial
ism and the concentration of capital in
to trusts and combines. AS to the lat
ter question, the general attitude of the
party is already we'll defined in the
national platform, and there is little
doubt that it will follow the position al
ready taken in its, last national declara-
ton by more pointed and more en-
phatic utterance on the subject In the
next national convention. To my mind,
this is simply a collateral issue to the
well-known demand of the party for
currency reform, and we should con-
tinue to be as active in this line in the
future as we have been in the past. AS
to the question of imperialism, expan-
sion, or by whatever other name it may
be called, 1 am inclined to think. it
would be very unwise for the party to
commit itself now to any declaration
proclaiming the changing conditions.
which as adjustment proceeds, will
give the people of the whole country
better data from which to reach salts
factory conclusions as to the national
duty. We are committed to the policy
of establishing a free government in
Cuba This we should make our honest
effort to do. With respect to Porto
Rico, see no reason why it should not
be annexed as part of the United
States and governed for the present as
a Territory. with a view of establishing
ultimate Statehood With reference to
the Philippines, l should say, as a gen.
eral proposition, that it is our duty to
ourselves, to the world and to civiliZa-
ton to first establish a sound and
stable government there before We con-
slider the question of retreating and
leaving the people and the property of
these islands to the barbarous mercy
of the Philippine insurgents. We should
give the Filipinos independence in due
course Oh tlIne, DuI II WOuIO De DOlll
inhuman and brutal on the part Of our
Government to pull peremptorily out as
things now stand, and such course
would subject our country to the con-
tempt of it's own people and the ridicule
Of the world. 1t seems to me that the
course of the party is clear as regards
the selection of it's Presidential candi-
date for next year, and that the rank
and file of the party have already des-
ignated for denomination the brilliant
leader of 1896 = w. ]. Bryan. If We
make no mistakes now and hold our
selves in a position where we can take
prompt advantage of the many errors
of the party now in power I see no
reason why a brilliant campaign next
year should not be followed by Demo-
cratic victory in 1900.
c. A. Walsh Qowa)-In the campaign
of 1900, as in the campaigns of 1892
and 1896. the issues of free silver and
Down with the trusts should go
hand in hand. The Chicago platform
of 1896 should be reaffirmed in all parts
in 1900. Its announcements against
trusts should be made strong and ex-
plicit and a, remedy for their prevention
offered.
Judge Johnson (Kansas) = Nothing
has occurred since 1896 to shake the
faith of Democrats in the principles an
nounced in the Chicago platform. The
financial question is still the dominant
issue, and all other economic questions
are but collateral to it.
The trust question has, since 1896,
become an issue of the first magnitude
The Democratic States of Missouri, Ar
kansas and Texas have this year
adopted drastic laws against such
combinations. The Democratic Ma
tional Convention of 1900 will en-
nhatically and specifically deal with