The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-29
DEMOCRATS GROW MUTE
FEAR TO INDORsE BRYAN'S VIEWS
ON THE FILIPINO WAR.
Even John w. Kern and r. M. John.
son Have Nothing to Say on
the Topic.

"Hostilities in the Philippines would at
once cease Mr.. Bryan thought, if the policy
adopted in Cuba should be extended to the
Pacific islands. The war. he said. would
never have been fought IL the assurance of
independence had been given to the Fill
pinos.
"Let us give them independence; say to
other nations: Hands off, Then we will
be sending school teachers to Manila in
stead of armed men. We cannot destroy
self-government In the Philippines without
injuring self-government in the United
States. 1 hate despotism, and 1 love a re-
public"
The above is an extract from report of
one of Mr.. Bryan's speeches at Greenfield,
Thursday. An attempt was made yester-
day to gather opinions on Mr.. Bryan's SEN
timent from representative men other than
Republicans. In several instances the at
tempt was successful. and in others 1t was
not. 1t was noticeable that Democrats of
the gold persuasion were willing to be in
terviewed, but the silverites were chary.
Eudorus NJ. Johnson, city controller, who
was chief functionary in welcoming Bryan,
was approached in his office, and the news
paper clipping containing the above eX-
preston OF opinion was rendered to him
with the request that he pass his opinion
on it. He read it carefully, seemingly sew
eral times, and then turned and said: Il
don't care to give my opinion for pubica-
ton. I've got my opinion, but won't ex-
press It,"
Samuel o. Pickens is well known as a
gold Democrat, he having been particular
ly active in the movement which resulted in
the nomination of Palmer and Buckner on
a gold presidential ticket in 1896 The clip
ping was read TO him, and he said: Il am
not prepared to say what the Democratic
party as now constituted and with Mr.. Bry-
an as its recognized leader, would espouse.
i am prepared to believe that the party as
now organized and led is liable 10 espouse
good many theories and causes which
have heretofore been regarded as allen to
the principles of true Democracy" There
was an element OF sarcasm in Mr.. Pickens' S
voice.
EVEN KERN is CHARY.
At the reception to Mr.. Bryan at the
Grand Hotel the other night, John W. Kern,
city attorney, stood at his side and pre-
sented to him the party leaders who
passed in review. Mr.. Kern seemed so hap
py that two true silverites who had been
introduced to Mr.. Bryan with pleasing SEN
timents from Mr.. Kern were constrained
to say: John Kerns all right, amt hep
even before they confded to each other
their opinions of the great leader" whose
hand they had just pressed. In view of this
fact, II may be said, with some measure of
conservatism. that Mr.. Kern is a Bryan
Democrat. He was asked over the tele-
phone wire yesterday what he thought OF
Mr.. Bryans Filipino opinion
What are you trying TO do?' his voice
came, after some hesitation. Are you try
ing to set the Democrats by the ears?''
1t was explained to him that the sinister
project was TO gather a few opinions on
WELL" he responded, "I'd do almost any,
thing else for you, but I'm not in on this
proposition III not express my opinion. -
John X. Wilson, who Is not charged with
being in sympathy with Mr.. Bryan and the
free silver mirage, also listened TO the
humanitarian phrases which had fallen
from the lips of Mr.. Bryan and were faith
fully reproduced in the daily press.
Il don't pay any attention to what Bry-
an says or other utterances OF that sort, T"
he said when IL came his time to speak.
'You'll have to excuse me-"
VI. Il. Wilson, president of the Capital Ma
tional Bank, is another Democrat who Is
said TO be a traitor to the principles OF JEFF
fersonian Democracy.
Il don't think much of his opinion on any
question: SAID Mr.: Wilson. I'm not that
fight and We've got to win. The war must
continue until it is fought through. The
with the Fflipinos and 1t must be continued
to the end. I'm out of patience with any,
body who is kicking against the government
is over, IL the country wants to give
the Filipinos their independence. it can be
DONE
VAN VORHIS RATHER APOLOGETIC.
"A Democrauc pOllIlcldn said yesterday, In
speaking of Flavius J. Van Vorhis: II un-
derstand he is a free silver Republican. He
was once very active in Republican politics,
but when the free silver proposition was
sprung he espoused it. 1 think he is a pro-
tectionist. There is no doubt, guess, that
when it comes TO question of candidates
he is for Bryan II was with this measure
taken as true one that Mr.. Van Vorhis
was asked for his opinion of Mr.. Bryan's
declaration of the way 10 solve the
Philippines question. Mr.. Van Vorhis
was somewhat disposed to argue the ques-
ton. Mr.. Bryan said other things about
the proper thing to be done in the Philip
pine situation, Mr.. Van Vorhis said He
seemed 10 think that an effort was being
made to put Mr.. Bryan in wrong light
by not giving all he said In the matter. Mr.
Bryan did not advocate Withdrawing the
troops from the Philippine islands per-
emptorily, he said. He declared, however
that Mr., Bryan believed that the war would
end at once If the Filipnos were assured
they would be, given their independence.
do you think il is the governments in
tention TO give the Philippine islands inde-
pendence when the war is over?" he was
asked.
NO" he replied. emphatically. II do not
believe the administration has had that in
Filipinos We're assured OF their independ-
hred-this Is Mr.. Bryan's belief"