The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-10-24
+. w. WOOD & SONS,
Seedsmen. Richmond. Va.
Bryan ana Mclean in Chic.

] bryan aAA NSAEaA 49, s-4Ast
H. L West, the talented CORE
spondent of the Washington, d C.,
I Post, thus writes. under date of Fri
day last, from Defiance, Ohio:
John r. Mclean today followed in
the footsteps of Richard Croker Like
New York, the delegation from Onio
to the next Democratic National Con
ventlon will be for Bryau. If ever
any question existed as 10 McLean's
loyalty TO Bryan, or if there has been
a suspicion that Presidential smbl
tions stirred his soul, be has removed
both uncertainty and suspicion.
Standing with his hand upon Bryan's
shoulder upon the platform ~ q ,eeu-
vile this morning, he introduced the
Nebraskan as the certain nominee OF
the Democratic party next year. More
than this, be has del berately taken
occasion to repeat his declaration az
Cellns, ST Mary's, Van Vert, Pauld-
ing and Defiance. the towns aud cities
visited by the b ysn.McLean com
biustiou today. He has called Bryan
the next President of the United
States" while b -yan has reciprocaled
by designating Mclean as the next
Governor of Ohio. 10 the few brief
sentences with which be has intro
duced Bryan to the assembled Dsmo-
Gratis, Mclean has, in fact, emphsti-
cally removed himself from the list
of Bryan's possible rivals, and has
unhesitatiDgly predicted the peer
less leaders, unanimous nomination
and triumphant election. With his
unquestiOned control of the State ma
chine, no one can doubt McLean's
ability to deliver the Ohio delegation,
and thus make good his prophecy.
The chief development of today,
therefore, has been that so far as Me-
Lean is concerned, Bryan is without
rival.
BRYAN AND M'LEAN II CONFERENCE
1t cannot be stated positively that
Bryan suggested to Mclean that q
publ C expression Of loyalty would be
agreea BILE TO him, but both Bryan and
McLsAn were in conference between
Cincinnati and Greenville, the latter
being the first stopping place OF the
day. Bryan met Mclean at Dayton,
and when he entered the candidates
private car was given a cordial re
ception.
"How are you, Bryan ?" asked
Mclean.
my cold is getting better" was
the reply.
just little hay fever " sug-
gested Mclean.
Yes" answered Bryan, " and you
know" be added, with smile, " that
hay fever ought not to be very trou'
blesome while | am travelling through
the agricultural counties"
With this reference to the route
which Bryan has already followed and
will continue to traverse, the two
gentlemen retired to Mr.. McLsan's
stateroom. 1t was absolutely neces-
ssry, from political point Of view,
for Mclean to make his public decls-
ration of loyalty to BryaT today. The
Western part of Ohio, touching the
Indiana border, through which Bryan
has been speeding since early morn
ing, is the stronghold of silver Dem
ocracy, with a strong representation
of Populists. Nearly all of the coun-
ties gave majority in 1896 for Bry.
an, and the welcome accorded him
today was sufficient evidence that he
is still held in warm regard. ln fact,
if the truth be told, Bryan created
more enthusiasm than Mclean, and
the latter's announcement of Bcyan's
certain denomination was hailed with
demonstration of delight. II placed
Mclean squsrely on the Zsnesville
pl ,tform, which indorsed Brysn for
1900, and will have the effect, it is
expected, of removing all excuse for
detection.
Bryan on his part has indorsed Nc
Lean in the highest terms. He was
not. of course, required to vouch for
McLean's fidelity to the silver cause,
as was the case with Goebel in Ken
lucky, but he has, nevertheless,
placed the candidate squsrely on the
Chicago platform, of which the larg
est and thickest plank was 1" l6 to l "
h could do this safely and with ef-
feet in this section of Ohio. There
was applause when he rehearsed Me-
Leans effective work for free COIN
age, even before that question be-
came a political issue. Mr.. Bryan
has told his audiences that Mclean
not only stood upon the Chicago plat
form, but that he was also against
the retirement of greenbacks, the en-
lsrged issue of national bank notes,
and the issuance Of gold bonds. DE
has asserted that a vote for Mclean
is an Endorsement Of all these things,
as well as vote for free coinage. and
against trusts and imperialism in
short, he has carried Mclean to the
very extremes of Democratic doc
| frines. and placed him there with the