Arizona republican., 1899-08-24
PHRNIx. AUGUST 24. 1899
MUCH WASTED SPACE.

A great deal of talk which it appears
 was entirely needless, has been occa-
 stoned during the past few days oy T
 report sent from Des Moines, Iowa, to
 the effect that William J. Bryan in
 speech delivered in that city q week
 or so ago had expressed his willing
 ness 70 allow free silver to be made
 subsidiary in the next pVeside ntial
 campaign to the antitrust and anti
 imperialism issues. Many columns of
 editorials and comments Of politicians
 without number have been wasted on
 this supposed indication of the weak
 ening of MT Bryan upon the ques-
 tion which was the foundation Of tts
 political eminence and the backbone of
 the platform on which he made his
 appeal to the people in 1896. The
 newspapers have been full of discus
 sions Of Mr. Bryan's imaginary change
 of base. which is surprising when the
 fact is that these same papers contain
 the expIici- denial of the story, which
 leaves Mr Bryan in precisely the
 eume attitude that he occupied before
 the erroneous statement was sent out
 This denial cCnes from De5 Alo-nes
 over the name of Charles A. Walsh, secretary Of the democratic national
 committee. who says that Bryan's speech vas n a vein exactly contrary 10 the idea of wavering upon the silver question. MT. Walsh says:
 'SMr. Bryan handled the money ques- ton in the. same s2i.Et ths's he has sx- hihited toward it since he was rcm-- hated for president three years aso. Instead Of advising democrats to re treat from the position thsy have been holding, he urged them to stand for everything they have been stan1ing for. The reports as printed are pure fakes, without the slightest fourda- tion in fact. I am convinced that the l motive underlying their circulation WAS sheer malice"
 So. as cur Scotch friends say. 'La. | that flea stick to the wa''' There is l another recent instance of alleged | change Of front by a noted political ! leader-Richard Croker-which has i caused even more talk than the one attributed to Mr. Bryan, probably be- l cause the report has been allowed to ] run loose much longer, without ex- plicit denial, than the one affecting tka silver leader Mr Croker is said to have practically "come out for Bryan" and to have been transmitted during his recent visit to England from strong supporter Of the expan- sion policy to a bitter anti imperial ist" We believe that f. will be pru- dent to await further information about this reported tr2nsmog.tficatiOn Of the great Tammany boss Already there have appeared disclaimers Of the idea that Mir Crokar in the compIi- phrases which he used the other day concerning MT Bryan had any idea Of accepting him as the in svitabie nominee of the democratic Darty for the presidency. It would rot be in the least surprising if this dea shall turn out 70 bs entirely H. usory. And it would be well to be prepared to hear in due time that Mir Croker's alleged plunge into the stag lant pcol of imperialism has been nvested with fictitious significance This is what is called the of season" ! n political matters There is not half Q much of importance going on in the development of policies or the groom , ng of candidates as the always indus rious and ingenious newspaper cor espondents, who have to make hay whether the sun shines or not, would nake people believe.