The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-12-02
/. ..1sae-1saa-1eoo.

HaTpef'S weekly: HafpefB weekly
recently sent an inquiry to leading Dem-
ocrats : Governors Of states, members of
Congress, and members OF tho National
Democratic Commiltce-Whether the
sentiment OF the Democratic party in
their communities was in accord with
the OHIO Democratic platform, which
emphasized antl.expansion, an antitrust
plank, and the free coinage OF silver at
%l6 to I. We have received answers from
thirty correspondents in twenty, states
and one territory. Twenty-seven Of
these leading and influential Democrats
unhesitaungly declare that they and the
party in their states find the Ohio plat
form satisfactory expression OF their
opinion on these three subject.
The twenty states include eight south
ern states-Ylrgina, South Carolina,
Georgia, Alabama. Mississippi, Texas,
Arkansas, and Kentucky; six far-western
states California, Washington, Idaho,
Wyoming, Nevada, Colorado; Illinois.
Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, New York and
New Jersey. The territory of Arizona
should be grouped with the six farwest-
ern etates. These states cast very
large part OF the Democratic vote, and
will control the national Democratic
convention.
If, then, these various reports be trust
worthy-aud they are from good observ-
ers of opinion and influential men in the
party-there can be little doubt that tho
national Democratic platform will be a
repetition, in substance. of the Ohio
platform on these three subjects. The
party will commit itself to anti-expan-
sion, to; wholesale opposition to trusts,
and to the old silver plank. Indeed, 1t
needed no canvass Of opinion to warrant
such a prediction; but these letters con-
firm the judgement Of every accurate
observer, Both the Democratic platform
and the Democratic candidates are deter
mined, with much greater accuracy than
usual, a full half year in advance of the
convention. So, too, are the candidate
and the platform of the Republican
party.
But letters from these Democratic
sources in the state OF Washington and
in Georgia contain note OF warning
about expansion, corresponding With the
note Of warning given in Ohio, Iowa and
Massachusetts by the election. "On
! this subject" writes our Seattle cores
pondent, .the Democratic party in this
state (but not If and others can help iD
may follow the Ohio Democrats. Ii so,
the Republicans will carry the state by
an unprecedented majority" And from
Georgia: 81 am in favor Of dealing with
the Philippine islands as we are pledged
to deal with Cuba guarantee them in
dependence as soon as they are able to
maintain IT. IN the meantime we
should makait clear that we are in favor
of standing BY our soldiers now in the
Philippines, and Of supplying as many
men and as much ammunition as are
necessary to put down the present in
surrection."
Any wholesale declaration against
trusts will be rhetorical rather than
practcal;a sweeping antiexpansionist
platform will drive part Of the party
into the Republican ranks. The one
subject OF the three which, strange as 1t
may seem, continues to have a cohesive
quality, is free coinage. the free coin
age plank may not receive the stronges
emphasis in the platform, but it is tb'
one subject on which the BRYAN part.
can hold together.
We shall have free silver campaign
? again next year, mlsty as tbe issue Is.