The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-03-28
tural and Mechanical college and expert
ment station. Very respectfully yours,
J. II. Connell, Director.
The Cat In the Meal Tub.

Atlanta Constitution.
The discussion that has been aroused
by the Bryan Belmont episode is cacu-
lated to shed good deal of light on dark
places We observe that there is a ten
dency on the part of few democratic
papers to crlticise Mr.. Bryan for the blunt
and uncompromsng way in which he dis
posed of the invitation sent him by Mr..
Belmont. but looking little more closely
into the matter. we find that nearly every
editor who finds fault was either a sup
porter OF Palmer or Mckinley, or was OPP
posed to the financial plank of the Chicago
platform.
Such being the situation, real democrats
can not but feel relieved at the outcome of
the episode. Mr.. Belmonts attempt to
make his Croker dinner merely social af-
fair is simply amusing 1t is TO be a po-
litical dinner attended by politicians, and
when Mr., Bryan refused 10 attend and
bluntly gave his reasons, the main object
of the gold democrats who had provided
feast to cover the trap they had set. was
not only defeated, but exposed.
1t Is clearly apparent to all who have any
experience in political movements that the
presence of Mr. Bryan at the political
spread originated by those who do not be-
lieve In the Chicago platform would have
been regarded as at least a uasi-indorse-
ment of these men. and would have given
tremendous impulse to the real scheme
OF the gold democrats. This scheme is
nothing less than 4 strong effort on the
part OF the gold democrats to get control
OF tho democratic organizations in the
states OF the East They would have sic
eeeded in New York II Mr.. Bryan had in
dorsed the movement by his presence at
the Croker Belmont banquet. Tammany is
regular, and Croker and Belmont would
have taken charge of the state organiza-
ticn In spite OF the protests OF platform
democrats, II Mr. BRYAN had beeen blind
enough to lend countenance TO the affair
The failure of this scheme is what has in
duced the editor OF the esteemed Albany
Argus to write a breezy paragraph two
columns long, in which he severely criti-
cises Mr.. Bryan for sticking to the Chi
cago platform and the democratic party
Instead Of rushing off TO dine and wine
with Croker and Belmont.
Now. a two-column howl means that
somebody has been hit hard. II means an
aching heart or a terrible pain elsewhere.
In its agony, the Argus tries to place Mr..
Bryan In false position 'fe clearly as
sumes that he is again to be the demo-
cratic nominee" lit is now question, so
Mr., Bryan says, OF accepting more than
year in advance. one mans opinion as to
what should be the platform and who
should be the nominee Of that convention,
upon pain OF being prescribed $50 far as
MIR Bryan has power to proscribe) as no
democrat he wants no support from
democrats who do not accept the Chicago
platform In its entirety"
We have quoted this nonsense TO show
how angry and how badly ratified the
esteemed editor of the Argus is over the
refusal OF Mr.. Bryan to eat political
dinner TO be presided over by man who
has actually opposed the democratic party
and It's candidates. and who has not Sig
nlhed Willingness to support them here
after. Because Mr. Bryan, as the pee
Riley would remark, has discovered a dog
in the well. he Is to be misrepresented By
the wild assumptions of furious editor
who is himself opposed to the democratic
platform