Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1899-12-18
DEMOCRATIC ISSUES.


Lines the policy to be followed by tn.
Democratic party in the present Con-
gress, in an interview dated Decem-
Der 3.
GAS nearly as ] have been able to
Judge" said Senator Jones, "the Re-
publican party will be III the position
OF the lighwayman who met his VIC
tim unexpectedly in an undesirable
place and then had to entertain him
until he could safely draw his weap-
ons. The only activity the leaders of
the party have displayed thus far is
in relation to the House financial
bill with its gold standard provision.
The Administration wants that bill.
1t wants the gold standard clause
passed even if all the rest Of the bill
fails.
"lf it succeeds in passing the gold
standasd provision, it will be in a po-
sition to mask it's intentions regard
ing the Philippines, Cuba and Porto
Rico. That is what the President
wants to do. He does not want to
announce definite policy regarding
these islands. On the ntarry it is
his purpose to avoid all direct refer
ence to them and their government
Just as long as Congress will permit
him.
"The passage of the gold standard
bill, will in the judgment of the poll
ticians who are acting as advisers to
the Administration, cause the Demo
Gratis to forget the new issues-im-
pe1alism and trusts-in their haste
to renew the fight Of 1896 for silver.
Mckinley is afraid OF the new issues.
He has indicated several times re-
Gently that he would be pleased if
silver would be the dominant issue OF
the campaign Of 1900, if trusts and
imperialism could be forced into the
back ground, where they would be
temporarily forgotten. Evidently
there is an impression i'll the minds Of
some OF the Presidents advisers that
if they secure the passage of the
House bill, or even the gold standard
clause, they will compel the Demo
cratic party to drop every thing else
for silver.
"The passage of the gold standard
law will not affect in the least the at
tltude of the Democratic party OH i'm
periallsm or trusts, nor will it serve
to diminish the importance of those
issues in the coming Presidential
campaign. l have never tried to de.
termine the place which silver or any
OF the other great vital issues on
which the Democratic Larty is stand.
ing will assume next year. The peo-
pie will determine that.
"The Republicans cannot escape
the consequences of their acts. So far
as the Democrats in the Senate see
their duty at this time, believe it is
their purpose to force vote ON every
question that is pending in the Con-
gress.
"The Republican majority will be
compelled to indicate what it pro.
poses to do with Cuba; whether it
will accord the Philippines freedom
and Republican form Of govern
ment, or whether it will be ruled as
a colony from Washington. The
Democrats will not be in a position,
numerically, to accomplish anything
III the way OF positive legislation, un.
less they obtain Republican support
for their measures ana they have no
right to expect that. They will be
strong enough, however to compel
the republicans to betray their in
tentions as to the future conduct OF
our island charges.
awe will expose their trickery and
hypocrisy and make clear to the peo-
lIc they do not intend to carry out
'heir solemn promises made last year.
SO far as the Democratic attitude on
financial leuia1atiop 10 oonoo..ol r