The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-29
THE CHICAGO PLATFORM
Bryan Would Not Speak and
Ignore It.
A WORK OF EDUCATION
New York Will Not Be Permitted to
Dc as the Policy for the De-
mocracy Of the Whole
Nation.

New York, Jan. 2S.-The following
letter from William j. Bryan to Willis
j. Abbott, written in March, 1885, was
given out by Mr.. Abbott to-day. Mr..
Abbott explains the circumstance in
| connection with it as follows:
I'm March, 1898, some Of Mr. Bryan's
admirers in New York learned that he
expected to be in the East the following
month and would pass through New
York. They came to me, saying that q
reception should be rendered him and
that he should be asked to speak.
responded that in my opinion the regu-
lar democratic organization should be
the one to give the reception, and that
Mr.. Bryan ought not to be asked to
speak under my auspices. I consulted
Mr.. Marroll and was by him referred
to Mr.. Croker. Mr.. Croker asked ME
to write to Mr.. Bryan and find out
whether he would be willing to speak
in New York, but refrain from discuss
ing the money question. I wrote to Mr..
Bryan accordingly and received the an
swer which follows:
This letter l wrote to Mr.. Croker
at the democratic club in order that he
might have no illusion concerning Ir.
Bryans position. AS Mr.. Croker has
now definitely antagonized the demo-
Gratis who hold to the Chicago plat
form, it is the belief of many friends of
Mr.. Bryan that this letter, in which
he declares that New York democrats
should show their hands or accept the
| hostility of the members of the party
| in the South and West, should be made
public
March Is, 1s9S.-Willis J. Abbott
New York. My Dear Abbott: l am
| Just in receipt of your letter. Please
say to Mr.. Croker that shall not be
| able to come East until about April
| 18th. At that time l shall be pleased
| to meet him and talk over the political
| situation. If, as / have heard, he is
! compelled to leave for Europe before
that time, express my regret to him.
II appreciate his invitation to speak
there but he WILL upon reflection, real
ize that I could not afford to make a
speech upon the lines suggested. The
national platform declares the money
question to be the paramount issue and I
fully indorse that question. So believ-
ing, ! could not directly or indirectly
encourage any state to abandon the
national platform. While the demo-
Gratis of the West and South have no
right to force the national platform
upon the people of New York, yet the
democracy of the nation does have a
right to expect the democrats of New
York to stand by the platform or ma
| nounce their hostility. We ought to
know whether the New York democracy
means peace or war.
ITO ignore the national platform in a
| state convention will be notice that
the democrats of New York are hostile
| to that platform, but lack the courage
to declare it openly.
The platform of 1896 will be re-
affirmed in 1900, and I for one would
| like to know as soon as possible
whether we are to regard the New York
democrats as allies or enemies. If the
democrats of New York invite me to
| speak while in the East I shall accept
the invitation with pleasure, but it must
be with the understanding that I shall
not be restricted as to the subject of
discussion. / do not care to be a guest
where the Chicago platform is denied a
| hearing.
II believe that the restoration of BIZ
metallism is necessary, and that Is to |
! is the only ratio at which bimetallism
can be restored, and have no right to
expect favors from those who are hos
tile to that doctrine. l can say to BIZ
metallism at 16 to l as Ruth said to