Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1899-08-18
CROkER'S CHANGE
IN POLITICS
The Political Sensation
of the Day
For Bryan and Against Imper-
ialism = Will Carry All
Next Fall.

New York, August 13 Richard
Croker's political somersault is the
local sensation of the day. He WEI
TO England All anti Bryan man and
an advocate of expansion. He re.
turns with words of glowing praise
fer Bryan and with the severest de.
nunciation of Mckinley and of Nc
Kinley's Philippine policy. He actually
charges that the administration pre-
cipitated the war for political pur-
poses. No longer is he frightened
by the silver plank. That is ques.
tion that can be safely left with
Congress. In only one thing Is he
steadfast to his views Of two months
ago. He is still against trusts.
He throws pitcher of ice water on
the Van Wyck boom, and declares,
that no man is so close to the people
as Bryan. No wonder that every
body is amazed with the sudden flop.
Even the Tammany people are as
tonished, but they viii make no pro-
test. But, after all, there is rothing
SO very wonderful about his light
ming change of policy. He is only
doing what Thomas G.. Plat has
done several times in his career aud
with considerable success. AS q
political acrobat he is probably th Q
most expert In the country, but
Croker is giving close pursuit. The
full meaning of Croker's somersault
may not appear for several days, but
it looks as if the boss was convinced
that the attempt to beat Bryan was
hopeless. Mr. Croker repeated to
day what he said yesterday, only in
more vigorous language, and he now
becomes about the strongest anti
imperialist in the country. His ex-
planation of his change of views is
that he diden't under stand the sit
uation when he went away.
Yesterday when he returne d from
Europe, Mr.. Croker said "Mr.
Bryan's great strength lies in his
sympathy for and knowledge of the
plain people. No other American
has ever been so close to the masses.
He understands and feels for the
toiler, and the toiler understands
and trusts him. l consider him TO
be one of the greatest men America
has produced.
"Within the coming year the Dem
ocratic party must agree upon it's
nation al program and prepare for the
overthrow of trusts and imperialism.
believe that the parry will be uni
ted and harmonious.
Naturally, 1 am principally inter
ested in securing national platform
that will be q scurse of strength to
the party iii my own State. We
hope to carry New York for the
Democratic candidate next year
1 am satisfied that nothing will be
done in the next Demo- ratio
National Convention that will drive
any good Democrat away from hi.
party.
"This silver question will be
regulated in time, and G congress may
be safely trusted to settle the ratio
''There never has been time il
my experience when the Re publican
party has not shown it's unfiitness t.
be in control of the national govern.
ment.
Mr.. Mckinley has turned the war
in the Philippines into a partisan
scheme for his own re election. The
Administration has purposely drag
ged out the struggle, and spending
tens OF millions of the people,
money without making any serious
effort to bring the war to olos,
this year.
SXhis Presidential election take
place next year, and the Republican
managers are openly making pre-
parations to use the war as mean
of working up another outburst o
popular enthusiasm just in time Il
sweep Mckinley into second term
But the people who are paying
the war taxes are beginning to Sc
through the plan. 1t is almost in
creditable that a President of tn
United States is willing to desolat
and destroy thousands of home