Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1899-09-29
BRYAN OR DEWEY.


ocratic candidate for President, the
main fact remains that the Democratic
masses from the Lakes to the Gulf and
from the Atlantic to the Pacific are
for him first, last and all the time over
any other man now before the people,
or any who contemplate making their
appearance between now and next
spring.
A New York paper that recently
witnessed the rise and fall Of the Van
Wych boom and whose wish in the
matter is to see Mr.. Bryan defeated.
recently sent out letter to the Demo
cratic National Committeeman aud
other prominent leaders of the Demo
cratic party, such as chairman of State
committees and the like, in which the
three following questions were asked:
l. Would not Dewey represent Dem
ocratic principles
2. Would he not surely beat Nc
Kinley?
8. II Bryan's own State should de-
feat his ticket this year, would he be as
likely to win as Dewey in 1900?
These questions one can see at a
glance, if he be not blind, were pro-
pounded solely for the purpose of get
ting up sentiment favorable to the
nomination of Admiral Dewey. think
ing perhaps that the latter's little Ma
Mia incident would overshadow Mr..
Bryan's popularity and place him in
the back ground. But just how well
the scheme worked we shall see.
The member of the National COM
mittee North Dakota made this re
ply: TRUSTS, Doodle and bribery
would be of NO avail against Dewey.
Az Presidential nominee of the Democ-
racy he would sweep the American
continent. Mckinley, nit.''
From Vermont, Dewey's home State,
the answer says: eff Dewey is nomi-
mated for President by any party he
will be elected. I can not say whether
he would splendidly represent the Dem
ocratic platform until it is adopted. l
see no use trying to formulate a plat
form in 1899 to be acted on in 1900"
Congressman Otey, who is mem
Der of the committee from Virginia,
made answer in two lines and express
ed our sentiments when to the first
and second questions he gave an en-
phatic mo-" and to the third said
'yes" equally as strong.
From Oregon comes the following
''Oregon Democrats are for Bryan for
President and believe be can be elected
in 1900, but should Dewey be nomi-
mated on a Democratic platform he
will be enthusiastically supported and
elected over Mckinley OF any one else.
Oregon is for Bryan first, regardless
| of the result in Nebraska or any other
state"
The Michigan member sent his re-
ply that is most sensible. He says: "Ad-
miral Dewey has distinguished him
self as great naval officer, but Meth
er he nor any other man will be nomi
mated by Democratic convention be
fore his views are known on political
issues. Colonel Bryan is the logical
candidate of the party, and / predict
his nomination by reclamation.
Mr.. Shanklin, the committeeman
from Indiana. after stating that he is
not acquainted with Dewey's political
principles, but places him in the Re
publican party. says: ''All Americans
admire Admiral Dewey, and, of course,
he could beat Mckinley, but all Dem
ocrats are for Bryan for President,
and whether Nebraska goes Democrat.
ic OR not in November, he will be nomi-
mated.
John J. Mediation, of - -, an
other member of the committee, has
this to say: dewey, if nominal cd,
would represent Democratic principles
and beat Mckinley. Any frst-class
Democrat will beat Mckinley but
Bryan will win by larger majority
than any other Democrat. There is
nothing which will prevent his nomi-
nation and election"
The California member in his reply
calls to mind a former error the Dem
ocratic party made by mixing with a
Republican. He says: Dewey would
defeat Mckinley, if he is Democrat;
otherwise he would be defeated as
Greedy was. Bryan will be Loyalty sup
ported by all Democrats, no matter
how the people of Nebraska vote this
fall"
In South Dakota the sentiment is
differeat from that in North Dakota,
as is attested in the statement below of
the member of the committee in the
first named State: "If Dewey IL
Democrat be should represent Demo-
cratic principles. AS to his beating
Mckinley, I think it extremely doubt
full. 1t will cut no figure whatever as
to how Bryan's State goes this fall.
Bryan is unquestionably the strongest
and ablest Democrat in America. If
nominated he will be elected"
Robert j. Lowe, the State chairman
of Alabama, says: "If We cannot win
with Bryan in 1900 we cannot win at
all. Alabama favors the re-afirmation
of the Chicago platform and the re-
nomination of Bryan"
There are others whose testimony is
the same as those given above, but
the preponderance of evidence as shown
in these statements should be sufficient
to convice any man, that as a Demo
cratic candidate, Dewey is strictly not
in it. We admit that there is plenty
of time for change of sentiment, but
We regard it as impossible for any
Democrat to take Bryan's place ia the
affections of the people. much less a
Republican such as Dewey admitted
he was when he said, "Being from