Evening star., 1899-01-04
BRYAN AND SILVER AGAIN
Decision at Democratic Ways and Means
Committee Meeting.
silver Forces, 1t is Claimed, viii
All Be in Line in
1900.

A special to the New York Herald from
Chicago, Ill.,. last night says: William ].
Bryan will have his own way, and in a
very short time will sound the keynote of
the national democratic campaign of 1900,
which will be silver at the ratio of 16 to 1.
The fight against trusts and monopolies
and opposition Imperialism, colonization
and expansion will be issues. but subsidi-
ary to that of silver. Silver democrats, sill
yer republicans and populists are to join
together in the contest, and, as in 1896, Mr.
Bryan will be the leader.
This was settled upon at meeting of the
ways and means committee OF the national
democratic committee, which began today
and lasted until far into the night. Those
present were National Chairman James X.
Jones. Senator Allen of Nebraska and for
mer Governor Altgeld of Illinois and w. H.
C"Coin) Harvey, representing the national
democratic committee: Senator Teller of
Colorado, former Representative Towne Of
Minnesota and former Senator Dubois of
Idaho.
Same Platform I'm 1896.
After the meet. which took place in Sem
ator Jones' room, at the Auditorium Annex,
Senator Jones said: 81 am profoundly con-
vinced that the platform of 1900 will be es-
sentially the same as that of 1896. The
free silver plank will be strong ever,
ana lne TdllO VIII unOOuDIeuIy ne Ine same
though the question of ratio is not the ques-
tlon of silver. In my opinion the outlook
could not he brighter or more encouraging.
The republicans have failed completely TO
carry out their promises, and are depend
ing on the war for issues. They seek any
sort of subterfuge to keep the people
away from the thoughts that have made
total failure of all promises made. But the
people are thinking. They will not forget
the campaign of 1885,
''Do you think there is any tendency on
the part of the democracy to shelve the sill
Yer question:"
comes from the republicans and from re-
publican newspapers. Eventually they fear
the issue"
What Dubois Says.
"Our meeting today was harmonious from
beginning to end" said former United
States Senator Dubois, land silver republi-
cans and democrats alike will be intensely
gratfied at its outcome. The silver re-
publcans will hold a great national con-
vention and, 1 believe, it will be composed
of the best and most influential men in our
party.
1T will, in all probability be held at the
same time and in combination with the sill
yer democratic convention and the popu-
lists. By the time these conventions are
held we believe that the money question
will have again become dominant as the
issue OF the next presidential campaign.
We have absolutely no doubt of this 1t is
foregone conclusion. The silver men of
the country of all political parties are now
united, and from this time until the cleo
ton Will work together. Time must show
the direction of todays meeting. For my
part. believe there is but one issue before
us-slver at 16 to L.
Senator Teller did not remain in the meet
ing very long, and former Governor Stone
of Missouri telegraphed that he could not
be present. These gentlemen are not anti
eXpansionsts, and Senator Teller is not in
clned to think that Mr.. Bryan is the strong
est candidate the silver people could have.
as he has been favorable to putting forward
antl-lmperialism rs a strong issue. How
ever this may be, Mr. Bryan has gone back
to his first love, but just when he will
sound the expected keynote Is not known.
II may be at the Jackson banquet here on
Saturday night next. He left for Nebraska
at a late hour tonight, after refusing to say
what the result of the meeting was