Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-10
Mr.. Livingston Hopes the New
Currency Bill Will Declare 1t,
WOULD INSURE BRYAN'S NOMINATION
That Issue Would SoIidify the
Free Silver Men.
SOME REPUBLICANS VIEWS

Il nope the republicans will come out fiat
footed for the gold standard, said Repre-
sentative Livingston of Georgia to a Star
reporter today. Il understand that the new
currency bill which the republicans are
preparing proposes to declare outright the
gold dollar as the standard of value for this
government.
Well, the first effect of the republicans
taking that position will be to solidify the
free silver forces, and to make the issue of
the next campaign Inevitable. 1t will mean
free coinage of gold and silver against the
single gold standard, and will absolutely
assure the nomination of Bryan by the
democrats
Then You think such action by the re-
publicans would serve to advance Mr. Bry-
ans candidacy?'
Undoubtedly. Free silver is to be in the
platform of the democracy, but no one can
tell now who will be the candidate. For
myself, believe that Bryan Will be NOM
mated unless the situation should take an
unlocked for turn before next summer; but
we can't tell this early.
However, in my opinion if the republi-
cans align themselves for gold early in the
hSht, as would be done ii their new bill
declares the standard, Bryan's prospects
would be materially aided. The issue would
be drawn fairly and squarely. There would
be no excuse for running off after new
planks to put in the platform and for new
candidates. 1t would be fight straightout
between monometallism and the use of
both metals in our coinage. With such an
issue Bryan would have to be the logical
candidate
The Sentiment of Bryan's Friends
Mr.. Livingston in these remarks voiced
the opinion Of many democrats who are fol-
lowing with interest the trend of political
events in the party at this time. Mr.. Bry-
ans friends are by no means oblvious of
the efforts on foot to sidetrack the nominal
ton of their leader, and they are keenly
alive to the necessity of taking advantage
Of every favorable incident. Indications
point TO the probability of Mr.. Bryan hav-
ing to go 10 the south and west for the
, bulk of his support in the convention. The
question which agitates his friends now is
whether he can get a two-thirds vote if his
opponents control New York, Illinois, Iary-
land and Pennsylvania, as they threaten
with such other state delegations that
might be induced to join such a movement
Inc Bryan men start at every suggestion
of changing the battle cry of the next cam
paign and welcome anything which looks
! like ciinching the silver issue. There would
be nothing TO fear from a German boom,
they say. if free silver is to be the absorb
ing motive II the democratic campaign.
Position of Many Republicans.
The eagerness of the Bryan men, how
ever, to make the money question the gage
of battle is shared by many republicans.
y number of the active party managers in
the republican ranks have frequently ex-
pressed the hope recently that there would
be clear-cut issue between the two parties
on the financial question. The republican
congressional committee is eager to line up
for another ba tile between the present
standard of value and unlimited free coin
age of silver confident of wlping out the
silver men at the polls.
These are the men who are now insisting
that the new republican currency bill shall
declare for the gold standard and they
would like nothing better than to go before
the people with that issue and with MIR.
Bryan as the candidate of the democrats.
So il seems that both parties are likely to
be satisfied al the outset with their po-
lltical conditions.