The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-10
BRYAN AND MCKINLEY
THESE WILL AGAIN BE THE
CANDIDATES..
CHAIRMAN JONES IN BETTER HEALTH
He is Ready 10 Undertake Preparation for the
Campaign. Prosperous Conditions
have Done Little for Farmers
and Laboring Men.

New York, October S.--United States
Senator James X. Jones, Of Arkansas,
chairman of the Democratic National
Committee, and wife were passengers
on the Cunard Line steamer Lucania,
that reached New York today. They
have been travelling in England, Ire
land. Scotland, Switzerland, and Wales
for several months. Senator Jones said
that his health had been much improved
by his lengthy European travels, and
he felt ready to go into the hard work
necessary in getting ready for the Pres
idential campaign.
Senator Jones, when asked to give
Ibis views on the political situation, said
that owing to his long absence abroad
he was not as fully informed on politi-
cal conditions as he hoped to be in a few
weeks. When asked his opinion as to
the probability of the Democratic nomi-
nation for President going to William
j. Bryan, he said
There is no doubt that Bryan will
receive the Democratic nomination for
President. Has anybody any doubt on
that question? Bryan is sure to VIM
On the attitude of Richard Croker
as to the nomination of Bryan for
President, Senator Jones had little to
say, merely replying to- a direct ques-
ton: Croker is already IN line"
DOUBT REPUBLICAN SINCERITY
AS to the possible outcome of the
national campaign of 1900, Senator
Jones said he believed that the free
silver idea would have greater fol-
lowing than in the campaign of 1896.
He based this assertion on the fact
that the Democratic party would receive
support in 1900 from new source.
''In 1896" he said, there were
many Republicans and others who be-
lieyed that when the Republican party
declared for bimetallism, the declaration
was made in all sincerity. These same
men now doubt the sincerity Of that
plank of the Republican platform"
When asked what effect he thought
the apparent prosperity in the Western
States would have ON Democratic issues,
Senator Jones said:
Yes, | know they say at Washing
ton that the country is in a highly pros
porous condition, and perhaps that is
correct from certain standpoints. But
j cannot see that there's any great mate
rial prosperity among the agricultural
and similar classes. 1t does not appear
to have affected the farmer, nor has it
done much as yet for the laboring man
in general. Cotton and wheat have not
made any advance to speak of in price.
That argument can be readily answered
when the time comes. OF course there
has been an increase in the output OF gold
and that is bound to affect politics in
some degree, greater or less. But that
is only proof of the argument adj
vanced by us in 1896 that what the
country needed was a greater volume
of moneySin circulation.
DOES NOT FEAR PROSPERITY.
When asked what effect he thought
the alleged prosperity would have on
the voter in general, he said in emphatic
tones:
1T will affect only those men who
are very narrow in their political and
social views. That voter it will influ-
ence, but in reality it will be an argu-
ment in favor of our party"
He said that it was his opinion that
the opposing Presidential candidates in
1900 would be Bryan and Mckinley.
The Democratic platform, he declared,
would be launched in that year on
comparatively the same basis and CON
tain essentially the same planks as in
1896. The party would declare for
free silver at the same ratio, and he
thought about the only addition to or
change in the party platform of any
moment would be a plank relative TO
That, he asserted,
would undoubtedly be one of the impor-
tant issues in the campaign. He refused
to discuss the matter any more than to
say, with wave of the hand: Every
body knows what Imperialism means.
The question under discussion means
just the reverse
Senator Jones said he did not know
how long he would remain in New York.
His plans are still uniformed. He said,
however, he might go to Washington
on Tuesday on business matters. Dur
ing the afternoon and evening several
men prominent in political life called on
Senator Jones at his hotel. Among
them was George Fred Williams, of
Massachusetts, member of the national
COMMITTEES, and it is presumed there was
a conference over political matters and
plans for the coming campaign prepara-
tions.