The times., 1899-02-13
GENERAL WASHINGTON
NEWS AND GOSSIP.

Mr.. Bryan and I9Oo.-Mr Bryan is
expected in Washington within few days.
and in all probability several important
conferences of Democratic leaders will fol-
low soon after. Some curiosity is mani
tested to whether Mr. Bryan is still
the choice for President next year of the
Democratic Senators like Jones and Cor
man, who refused to follow Bryans ad-
vice and vote for the ratification of the
Peace Treaty. Part of their opposition to
the Treaty, it is believed, was due to jeal-
ousy of Mr.. Bryan and the resenting OF his
presuming to give them advice. MIR. Cor
man entered a denial that such was the
case just before the vote was taken on
the Treaty last week, but Mr. German is
not always frank in his statements for
publication. He says a great many things
apparently with a mental reservation
While German, Jones, Cockrell, and others
are saying nice words about Mr.. Bryan
calling him the foremost American and
other things of like nature, it is strongly
suspected that quite a number of them
have knives up their sleeves for the Ne
braska statesman, and are planning Hank
movement to sidetrack Bryan ill the Dem
ocratic National Convention next year
of COURSE, they would like to keep under
cover as long as possible. The storm
centre OF the anti-Bryan movement among
the Democrats is in New York Richard
Croker is credited with having originated
1t over year ago. right after the election
of Robert a. Van Wyck as mayor of the
Greater New York. He conferred with
the leading goldbug Democrats. like VIII
liam c. Whitney, Roswell p. Flower, and
John ID. Crimmins, and secured their CO.
operation. Mr.. Croker has made a num-
Der of excursions through the West and
South during the past twelve months, and
while 1t is not believed that he has gained
many converts to his new-deal arrange
ments he has at least been listened TO
respectfully by quite number of eminent
citizens. Don VI. Dickinson, in Michigan
is said to be at work quietly pulling wires
to help along Mr.. Croker's plans in the
Wolverine State. Former Senator W. f.
Villas of Wisconsin is also said to be en-
listed IN the cause. Mr.. Villas has ap-
parently captured one man in his State
T.. {. Wall. The latter is the Wisconsin
member of the Democratic National Com
mittee, and he has addressed a letter to
Chairman James X. Jones stating that he
could not conscientiously advocate the free
coinage of silver at ratio of 16 to |
next year and asked If he (Jones) did not
think that he should resign his position
on the committee. Chairman Jones' reply
mas not been made public. He will prob
aDIy tell Mr. Wall to resign from the Dem
ocratic National Committee. incidentally.
Mr.. Jones may improve the opportunity to
outline what will be the position of the
Democratic party on the silver question in
the coming campaign. 1t was hardly nee
essary for Mr. Wall to write letter to
Mr.. Jones on this subject as his views
are well known. Mr.. Wall apparently had
an object in view in writing his letter that
does not appear on the surface II is
intimated that his purpose was to start
discussion which would draw out ex-
pressions of opinion from influential
statesmen from all over the country on the
issues that should predominate in the
Presidential campaign in 1900. 1t is well
known that the bulk of the goldbug Dem
ocrats who bolted Mr.. Bryan In 1896 would
be glad to get back into the fold of the
Democratic party. The way would be
open for them to return without sacrifice
ing their awful dignity and Importance if
the silver issue were dropped and some
other man than Bryan nominated for
President on the Democratic ticket.
When Mr.. Bryan gets to Washington he
will probably obtain a great deal of in
formation as to what is going on in the
field of Democratic national politics that
will be of interest and value to him.