Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-01-07
CROKER'S COUP.

Notwithstanding the claims made by
Montana democrats that the free coinage
question will have the right of way in
their party counsels in 1900 the situation
is rapidly crystallizing along other lines,
and unless an earnest effort is made in
his and other silver states to retrieve
lost ground the day will be lost to BIZ
metallism insofar as organized de-
mocracy is concerned. Richard Croker,
the leader of Tammany and the official
exponent Of the views of that powerful
faction of the democratic party makes
the following statement:
believe in expansion. I believe in
holding whatever possessions we have
gained by annexation, purchase or war.
This policy is not only patriotic but it
is the only safe one to pursue. Any other
policy would show weakness on the part
of the United States and invite foreign
complications. This must be avoided,
hence our policy must be vigorous. 1
think the 16 to 1 question, as outlined in
the Chicago platform, a decidedly dead
issue. This was fully demonstrated in
the last election. We did not embody the
16 to 1 question, and the result is that we
elected everyone of our congressman.
! There is more behind this declaration
than appears en- the surface. In the first
place, it proves anew what everybody
but the Anaconda Standard and a few
other unenlightened democratic sheets in
Montana have all along known, that
Tammany is unalterably opposed to the
free coinage of silver. The Standard
gave it's support to Van Wyck for mayor
of Greater New York, and presumably
carried the upper n lower works for
that gentleman, on the grounds that
Tammany was all right on the silver
question, and should be accorded the I'M
divided support of the free coinage states
in its struggle with poor old Henry
George.
AS a matter of fact, the only thing that
Tammany has ever lone to reciprocate
the Standards ardent support is to give
John NJ. Quinn, late editor of the Butte
Miner, a job in the water works depart
ment of New York city, where his elo-
quence is said to nave a telling effect.
But the foregoing utterances of the
Tammany chief have still greater signif-
canoe in that they commit that organiza-
ton to the expansion policy, taking
grounds dramatically opposite to the
"anti-imperialism" so earnestly adyo-
Gated by Mr.. Bryan. 1t is a cunning play
on the part of Mr.. Croker. In it's efforts
TO regain It's prestige as a leading force
in the national counsels of it's party, the
democracy of New York is keenlv alive
to its opportunities. In the face of an
overwhelming sentiment in favor of ex-
pansion in Florida, Virginia and some
other democratic states in the south, Mr..
Bryan came out against it. Mr.. Croker
will shrewdly onver this sentiment into
p Tor the leadership of the New
York democracy. Thus the fight which
the eastern democracy will make for the
control of the national convention, and
against free coinage, will be supple
mented by strength accumulated in the
south on the expansion issue. In other
words, Mr.. Bryan has unfortunately
placed a club in the hands of the gold
wing of his party with which to beat out
the brains of the silver men.
AS a strategist Mr.. Croker is a man OF
phenomenal resources, and in view of his
latest move there is but one thing left for
the democracy of Montana and other
silv states to do, and that is to enter
upon a vigorous crusade for silver and
carry the fight into the enemy's camp.
Unless the democrats of Montana are
loyal enough to silver to walk out" of
their next national convention, provided