The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-20
The Democratic Policy for 1900.

1t Is about three years since BRYAN was
nominated for President at Chicago in
1895, and about one year before the next
Democratic National Convention. No au-
thoritative declaration OF Democratic prin-
clple and policy by any Democratic Con-
vention can occur until then. New York,
the chief OF the conservative States in
Democratic councils, has no State Convcn-
ton this year. Pennsylvania has already
held its Democratic Convention. State
elections will not occur in Illinois or New
Jersey this year, and there will be no State
Convention in either. Nebraska, Minnesota
Michigan and Kansas elected Governors in
1898. In Indiana Missouri and West Vr-
ginia the term is four years. and there will
be no State Convention in them. The policy
OF the Democratic party for the campaign
OF 1900 and the control Of the Democratic
Convention to nominate a candidate for
President will therefore be determined
most positively by the course OF the party's
representatives in the Fifty-sixth Con-
gress, the Congress which goes into session
next December and will precede immedi-
ately the Presidential campaign.
In the House OF Representatives the
Fusionists or as PoDulists, will have a
larger representation in the next Congress
than in the last. When the several con-
tested election cases, OF which there are
fewer than usual, are decided, they will
have something like thirty more seats than
in the House elected in 1896. The gain ia
not large enough to deprive the Republi-
cans Of an adequate working majority In
that body, while in the Senate they will
have a gain corresponding to their some
what diminished majority in the House.
According to all past experience in tho
Congress OF the year Of Presidential
election, tho Democratic minority will be
charged with the shaping OF the party
policy for 1900.
Now, the fact that the South, West and
Southwest are absolutely in control Of tho
Democratic minority in Congress is i'm
portant as indicating what this policy
will be. In the Fifty-sxth Senate, with a
total membership OF 90, Of which So are
stralghtout Republicans, there will be no
Democratic representation from any Of tho
six New England States, from any OF the
eastern Atlantic States, or from New York,
Pennsylvania and New Jersey. or from any
Of the middle West or Lake Statcs-Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and
> Minnesota. Nebraska and Iowa, too. will
he represented 10y Republicans, leaving tho
Democrats. for the first time since 1861.
without a solitary Senator from the whole
of the most important holt Of States
from the Atlantic to the Mississippi and
from the Ohio River to the Canadian border
the political battle-ground Of elections for
President now and probably for many
years hcnc"l"rtl in the United Sll'"s
Tho total population Of the Union in 1880
was e., 600, 900, and States having popu-
lation Of more than 33, OOO, 900 will have
no Democratic senators, and, in addi-
ton, the twelve Senators from MARYLAND
California, North Dakota, Oregon, Wyo-
ming, West Virginia, will be Republicans
when the Sacramento Legislature, which
has Republican majority, elects a sue
cessor to Mr. WHlr"
1t appears '..u. that e." States whoro
the DrL,p. "u' .l.u u.. -..r Mr. BRYAN and
tn" th.".r' 81! 'r.u orr TOW ,u~r artiy,
Will uu, 49,. solitary Senatorial vote to
tur party '.Vun. Whatever Gold Drmu-
Gratis may aiyprlt" N secret chambers in
New lorh and New Jrrsoy, and Whatever
Mr.. GoRNIAE and his associates may declare
IN Maryland OF the Gold Democrats rec