Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-25
Political Conditions Will Not Be
Affected by Them.
TIE MOVEMENT IN new ENGLAND
A Significant Change Among the
Gold Democrats.
A SUBSTANTIAL ADVANTAGE

A question most interesting to politicians
is whether the "anti-imperialist agitation
in sections of the east amounts to enough
to have material influence upon political
conditions as relating to the next presi-
Dental campaign. An argument being
used to convince Bryan democrats that
they should be more conciliatory toward
the eastern contingent Is that the oppost-
ton to the policy of the administration is
so strong that some of the eastern states
may be captured if the democratic party
will pay some attention to the matter and
let up little on silver. This argument has
very little effect upon the Bryan people,
who, in the first place, have very little
faith in 1t, and, in the second place, are so
set in their opinions as not to care for a
success which does not carry with it the
triumph for free silver and the Chicago
platform generally.
Extent of New England Movement.
Men of both parties, however, have been
trying during the past several weeks to ar
rive at some sort of estimate of the extent
and possible influence of the "anti-imperiaI-
ist' movement in the east particularly in
New England There is a close agreement
between reports from various sources. A
report from radical anti-Bryan source
the Bryan people themselves have on the
subject, giving very little encouragement to
the idea that the democrats can profit
much from the dissatisfaction among GER
tain republicans with the Philippine policy
of the administration. Taking Boston and
the state of Massachusetts as the location
or the most extreme anti-imperialst Senti-
ment, it is reported that the situation there
is not threatening to the republicans and
necessarily, is less so in other sections of
the east, where the movement is less active
1t is said, however, that the situation is
not such as it was in '96. 1t is represented
that circling around Boston, as the hub
there exists an opposition to Mckinley
which would be manifested at the next re-
publican national convention If there was
the least hope of defeating Mckinley for
the denomination, but that it is recognized
by those most desirous of having it other
wise that Mckinley cannot be defeated be-
fore the convention. These people do not
carry their antagonsm to the administra-
ton policy to the extent of aiming at the
defeat of the party; therefore their oppo-
sition amounts to little more than a senti-
ment, which will find expression only in
reduction of republican majorites in GER
tain sections. For instance, it is said that
whereas Mckinley carried Massa chusetts
by more than hundred thousand in '96,
the republican majority next year may be
reduced as low as 10000.
Change in Gold Democrats.
The most significant change of sentiment
is said to be among those democrats who
refused in SO to support their party ticket
There We're two classes of these, one COM
posed of those who voted for Palmer and
Buckner and the other composed of those
who voted directly for Mckinley. Those
who voted for Mckinley, 1t is said, very
generally stand by that record and will vote
with the republicans as long as the demo-
Gratis stand committed to silver. Those on
the other hand who voted for Palmer and
II Volyr i,nc;r
selves as democrats, are, as a rule, prepared
to vote with their party next year regard
less of the position of the party on the
money question. Many of the most promi-
nent. as well as the most extreme, of the
anu-Bryan democrats of this class who
have been questioned on the subject have
declared their intention to support the DEM
ocratic ticket next year, no matter If Bryan
IS the candidate and the platform contains
all the Objectionable features of that adopt
ed in 90 If the contest were a close one
in the east this disposition to put party
above everything else might be of some
consequence, but as the situation is II is
merely significant Of the streng. h of Bryan's 8
hold on the democratic party organization
The same sentiment among gold democrats
In New York, New Jersey and Connecticut
might have little more significance but it
Is believed that the disposition Of gold dem
ocrdts to disregard the money question Is
IN proportion to the intensity of their on
position to the policy of expansion and
er OF these three states, where the general
disposition is to accept existing conditions
rms leads to the conclusion that nowhere
VIII the democrats gain enough by the re-
turn of the prodigals to affect the result in
any eastern state.
Money Advantage.
The substantial advantage, which. it is
said, the democrats may derive from the
eastern "anti-mperialist'' movement. will
be In the form of money contributions for
the campaign. 1t is said to be likely that
number Of wealthy men, who would not
vote the democratic ticket under anv cir.
cunstanceS but who are fanatically op-
posed to the retention of the PhiHnninans
Viii VIII contribute to the Bryan campaign fund
Inc Inc men who occupy this position are
theorists and emotionalsts, who forget
everything In the intensity of their opposi-
ton to expansion.
Personal Mention,