The evening times., 1899-08-11
VIEWS OF COLONEL irish
The Californian Has Doubts of Mr..
Bryan's Nomination.
He Believes the Question Rests With
the Democrats of the East-He Is
Not of the Opinion That MIR. Whit
ney VIII Accept the Nomination
III 1t Should BE rendered Him.

Col John P. Irish, United States naval
officer at San Francisco, is In the city. He
is one of the best5knoYn characters on the
Pacific Coast, and has ebeen mixed in poll
tics in the Golden Stafe for several years.
He has been an editoH and has also been
an oficeholder under two administrations
one was Democratic and the other was Re
publican. Before Colonel Irish left for the
Golden State he was well-known poiiti-
| clan in Iowa. Henwasithe Democratic can
didate for governor inl that State in 1877,
and was defeated. by John H. Gear, one Of
| the present United States Senators from the
Hawkeye State. !Her, ran for Congress
against James H.lWilson, the present Sec
retary of Agriculture, few years later, but
was defeated by Mr.. Wilson. Later Colonel
Irish drifted to California and soon became
prominent in politics in that State. He
tried for Congress two or three times and
once was defeated by Justice McKenna
who was first brought into Mr.. McKinley's
Cabinet as Attorney General, before being
appointed to the Supreme. Bench.
Colonel Irish when seen by reporter
this morning declared that his visit here
had no political significance at this time.
.
| report to the Navy Department regard
ing his position as naval officer at the
| Golden Gate
1t might be interesting to state that Col
onel Irish was appointed to this position
| by Grover Cleveland, during his last term
| When the campaign of 1896, was on il is
| asserted that Colonel Irish changed his
views on several political issues in order,
| it has been said, to hold his $4,000 perl
| mum place under a Republican Administra-
| ton. He joined the gold Democracy, and
| has since been a firm advocate against the
| silver views Of Mr.. Bryan and others who
| have been leaders in the Is to / movement
! He Joined the gold Democrats and was at
| the Indianapolis convention which nomi-
mated Palmer and Buekner. Later he as
sociated himself with H. Fl. Hanna, OF In
dianapOlis, and with the latter and his as
| sociates promulgated the monetary bill
which has since been buffeted about with
| so much yigor by those who favor it and
those who oppose II. Colonel Irish was
asked today whether he thought the Han
| ma movement would be successful. His
| reply was this:
| H. H. Hanna is of the opinion that it
Will While have not seen him recently,
l have corresponded with him right along
and he is satisfied that the bill drafted
by the House Special Committee at At
lantic City last spring will be pushed with
yigor at the coming session of Congress
and there is a bare possibility that it will
pass. This bill, as you know, provides for
a single gold standard"
Colonel Irish, of course, will not admit
that he is in favor of expansion or opposed
TO it. He put the thing this way regarding
| California this morning: The people in
the Golden State believe that this issue is
| yet to be determined. They are securing
all 1hE infn tirD n
| the soldiers returning from the Philip
pines. The views of the high privates' and
others, who have definite opinions, may de-
! termine their opinions SO far as expansion
| relates TO politics in the next campaign
I Colonel Irish said that there is no doubt
but that Mr.. Bryan would be the choice OF
the California silver Democrats for the
Democratic Presidential nomination next
year. He also said that the Democrats of
the Pacific Coast States favor Bryan and
| that Washington, Oregon, Nevada. Wyo-
ming, Colorado, and other States would
send delegations in his favor to the con-
! yention in 1900. The following questions
| were put to Colonel Irish:
Can MIR. Bryan carry California on the
! silver issue next year?
He cannot" came the determined reply
Can he carry Oregon"
| He cannot came the quick answer
viii he carry Washington ?"
Il do not believe that he will be able to
do so. 1t is my opinion" continued Col
onel Irish, that Oregon will hereafter be
Republican State. 1t is also my opinion
that it will take some radical change TO
induce the people of California to reverse
their political decision of a year ago.
''Will Mr.. Bryan be the Democratic NOM
inee next year?''
There is some doubt in my mind -
answered Colonel Irish, whether he will
succeed, though the chances at this time
seem to favor him. an my opinion the
whole matter depends upon the action of
the Eastern Democrats.
| will William c. Whitney be their
choice?" was asked the Californian.
81 doubt whether Mr.. Whitney would
accept the nomination. if he could secure
| it,"
rs there any other man in the East
who would win against McKinley?''
| This question" came the reply, lis one
that the voters will answer at the polls a
| year from next November
Further than this Colonel Irish would