The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-20
Famous Organization Will Fight
With United Democracy.
Mr.. CROKER'S TALK
Interview Furnishes the Principal Topic
OF Discussion in New York-Impor-
tant Questions Before the People.
Mckinley Making Enemies.


circles in the East is Richard Cookers
interview on Bryan, silver and imper-
ialism. Disputes as to Tammany's
probable course in 1900 have been SET
tied, doubts have been removed and
fractional lines within the party in New
York obiterated.
Tammany'S leader is in sympathy
with the rank and file of the organiza-
tion-a fact most distressing to the re-
puDllcans who Were praying for split
The historic old organization is true to
it's record. 1t is pledged in advance to
the nominees of the next national dem
ocratic convention. 1t will have no fight
to make upon the candidate of the
West Its banners will be proudly
borne beside those of the democracy
of the West and South. It's voice will
be blended in harmony with the voice
OF the majority of states. 1t will lead
in the interest of candidates against
whom the republicans have hoped it
would array it's well-trained forces.
1t is inspiring to democrats every
where to know that the last obstacle in
the road to united national democracy
has been removed and that long before
the meeting of the national convention
the party of the people presents solid
front.
There is much speculation as to the
exact meaning of Mr.. Cookers inter-
view but as he spoke plainly and en-
phatically there seems to be no good
ground for doubt. He declared for
democracy without quibbling over the
issues. He expressed his admiration for
Bryan, pronouncing him one of the
greatest men ever produced by this
country. He said that the silver ques-
ton would be settled in time and that
the ratio would be fixed by congress. In
this last statement he left the only
ground for speculation. 1t is well
Known to every citizen, West and East,
that the silver question has been bone
of contention. No thinking man can
honestly deny that the war with Spain
temporarily obscured the money ques-
ton. New issues have sprung up and
the people are thinking seriously on
problems which affect the foundations
OF the government. The war in the
Philippines has brought the republic
face to face with the issue of imperial
ism Are the American people ready
for an excursion into colonial govern
ment? Is the nation which was born
from the travails of colonial rebellion
against mother country to turn Its
back upon it's glorious history and put
the lie to it's patriotic boasts of equality,
just representation and a government
of the people and by the people? In
addition, the multiplication of trusts
has made the subject of financial COM
binations most conspicuous
1T is not surprising that even some,
like Ex-Governor Altgeld of Illinois.
who believe in bimetallsm, should
question the advisahility of making the
silver issue paramount in the battle of
1900, which will be fought during the
season Of prosperity produced by the
war.
Considering all phases of the ques-
ton, it would seem that Mr. Croker
hopes for platform which. while rec
ognizing the rights of silver will give
the democracy an opportunity to go be-
fore the people with a winning shibbo-
leth and thus strengthen the only great
party favorable to the reconciliation
of the white metal. His remark that
the ratio would be fixed by congress
would seem to indicate that he believes
in declaring for silver, but leaving the
ratio to congress. This is mere con-
lecture. Whatever his desire on that
question he has made it easy for the
rank and file of Tammany to GO forth
unhesitatingly for the national democ-
racy with the avowed purpose of sup
porting the ticket and platform pre-
sented by the national convention.
This means a great deal. 1t means
that with wise action on the part of
the convention, victory for the demo-
cratic party is assured. Tammany suf-
fered more from the silver issue in
1886 than any political organization in
the country. 1t threw the banner of
Bryan and silver to the breeze in the
face of a community which was over
whelmingly opposed to the candidate
and the cause. 1t saw it's faithful
standard bearers in various parts of
the city and state go to defeat Inder
the handicap. 1t struggled heroically
against the odds which eastern preiu-
dice imposed 1t recovered it's lost
ground in the city election by ignoring
the national platform. In the face of
these facts it stands to-day pledged in
advance to the action of the next ma
tional convention.
That is democracy. 1t Is the DEM
ocracy of the greatest political organ
iZation on earth. 1t is the democracy
of an organization which when every
state in the North was rolling up Ie-
publican majorities and when no state
broke the monotony of black republic
canism in the West, held the banner of
Jefferson and Jackson aloft in the ma
tional metropolis and carried 1t to
successive victories.
Democracy is moving toward a great
triumph. The republicans of he East
are dazed and stupefied They are
laughing Historically and grtnntng
with pain while struggling to recover
their lost equilibrium.
The fact of the matter is the repub-
liCan machine at Washington is in bad
repair. 1t has been thrown out Of
gear so often and slipped so many Cogs
that it is approaching the national
campaign with all the suspicious PIE
tense of a vanished wreck on dress
parade. Mckinley will not find it al
smooth sailing in his party next year.
| The ablest republicans are opposed to
| him and his policy. General Miles can
not forget the snubbing which he re-
Ceived at the hands of the citizen
| chief at the white house. Tom Reed,
| the ablest republican of the day, de-
| spises the president and is as hostile
| to imperialism as Bryan. A telegram
| from Philadelphia this evening tells OF
| the possibility of Reed running for
| president on an anti-imperialist plat
| form 1t is not probable that he will
take any such step. but that he will
| drive the harpoon into Mckinley is ad-
| mitted by all who have followed the
under current of politics at Washing
| ton Then there is Alger, the repudi-
ated moneybags of Michigan. He has
! a following among the moneyed repub-
| licanS who thDupn Interested in gold