The times., 1899-03-07
GENERAL WA ASTINGTON
NEWS AND GOSSIP.
MIR. Croker,s Rnnuuet.-Richard Gro

MIR. Croiser's Bnnuuet.-Richard Gro
ker is going to give an elaborate banquet
on Thomas JefIerson's birthday. The din
ner. it is said, will probably have consid-
cradle political significance. Several hun
dred invitations have been issued. but II
is not known as yet how many distin-
guished men will be present. The list OF
absentees and non-invited may furnish
quite interesting reading as the names
OF the actual participants in the aialr Ihe
dinner is likely to cost Mr.. Croker great
deal of money, but il he accomplishes what
he is said to be after. namely, controlling
influence in the councils of the Democratic
party, he will probably not complain 1t Is
plainly Mr.. Crokers purpose to head of
the nomination of Mr.. Bryan for President
next year, to keep silver out of the Demo-
cratic platform, and to prevent deciara-
tion by the Democratic National COnven-
tiOn against the leXpansion policy IL VIII
be conceded by, anyone almost who has
paid any attention to the political drift of
the past few weeks that the chief OF Tam
! many Hall has undertaken a pretty large
contract, and that the chances are de-
cidedly against his succeeding in his un-
| dertaking. =. Mr.. Croker is a man of re-
sources, however. and he has shown him
self n wonderfully adroit political man
ager. 1t is by far too soon to dismiss him
and his followers from all consideration
in connection with the Democratic Nation
al Convention next year. One of the argu-
ments advanced by Mr.. Croker in favor of
the abandoning of the free coinage of sill
yer at ratio of 16 to l as an issue in the
next campaign is that a careful analysis
of the returns in November last demon
strate that the majority of the people of
the country have grown tired of the silver
question. IT. Mr. Croker points out. the
silver States of the West. or the States
where silver was made a conspicuous fea-
ture of the Democratic PLATFORM had made
as good showing as the States in the
East and elsewhere where the silver ques-
tion was kept in the background or ig
nored altogether. the Democratic party
would have a decided majority in the next
| House of Representatives" According to
| Mr.. Croker's reasoning, this is conclusive
! evidence that silver should not be made
| prominent in the campaign next year. He
also believes that it would be a mistake to
nominate Mr.. Bryan again on account Of
J his being so thoroughly identified with
alleged defunct issues of the past.
| The biggest fight in the Democratic Ma
! tional Convention, next year, however, it
| Is believed, will be over the question of ex-
pansion. There can be no doubt in the
mind OF any impartial and unbiased OBJ
server that the great mass of the Demo-
/ time heartily in favor of the general ex-
! pansion policy Of the present Administra-
| ton. 1t is not believed that they are any
! more in favor of our Withdrawing from the
! Philippines or abandoning any OF the ter
! rtory that we have acquired by conquest
| from Spain, than any OF Mr. McKinley's g
| supporters in the Republican party.
/ Whether these Democrats will be permit
| ted to have a voice in the making of the
| Democratic National platform OF 1860 re-
mains to be seen. 1t is believed that they
| will. and that they will be strong enough
| to bring some of the Democratic leaders Of
! the country TO their senses upon this sub
| ject. 1t is pointed out in this connection
| TO burn his bridges behind him. that he
| has done nothing and said nothing that will
prevent his acceptance of the Democratic
nomination for President upon a platform
endorsing expansion. He periodically
urged the ratification OF the Peace Treaty.
THE Democratic party" said a promi-
| nent Democrat last night, will have the
choice next year of remaining out of pow
| er for the next quarter OF century. or
| getting back into the saddle at the expira-
| tion of Mr.. McKinley's term of office On
| March 4. 1901. The former will certainly
| be the result il ii pursues the policy at
present outlined by some Democratic lead
/ ers in Congress and elsewhere. But with
broad national platform frankly endors-
| ing expansion and any clear-cut. honest
| candidate like Mr.. Bryan the Democratic
party can sweep the country