The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-31
the CHICAGO PLATFORM
Winning Converts to the Ranks
of Democracy.
IT IS A WAR ON TRUSTS
Bryan Talks to a Thousand Democrats
at Topeka-A Ringing Denunc.-
alton of Militarisna and
Imperialism.


conference and banquet under the au-
spices of the democratic state central
committee was held in this city this
evening. Prominent speakers included
Colonel William J. Bryan of Nebraska,
Champ Clark and Ex-Governor William
Ohio and Sidney Clark of Oklahoma
Covers were laid for more than a thou
sand guests. The new library hall,
where the banquet was held, presented
brilliant scene, with thousands of in
candescent lights and decorations of
natural roses, flags and bright colored
bunting. The meeting was in the ma
ture of a conference of the democratic
leaders. the policy of the party in the
campaign of 1900 being touched upon.
Mr.. Bryan himself was given the most
prominent place. his subject being
Democracy" Mr.. Bryan stood out
squarely for the Chicago platform and
said there had been no retreat from the
position taken in 1896.
We are not only holding our OWL"
he declared. "but we are gaining back
those democrats who left us without
fully understanding the nature of the
struggle.
Sometimes we hear pleas for har-
mony from those who opposed the party
in 1896" continued Mr.. Bryan, but
harmony, instead of being a. thing
hoped for, is at last a thing realized
not pretended harmony between those
entertaining antagonistc principles, but
an actual harmony between those who
are united in common purpose against
| common enemy. NThe democratic
its harmony can only be disturbed by
admitting within the fold those who
are at variance with it's principles and
| aspirations
The democratic platform for 1900 will
be written by those who stood upon the
platform of 1896, not by those who tried
to overthrow the democratic party in
| that campaign.
THE failure which attended those
who organized the gold party and wrote
the Indianapolis platform ought to re-
| strain them from proffering their serv-
! ices as platform-makers for some years
! to come"
Mr.. Bryan declared that events have
been vindicating the policies proposed
| by the democratic party In 1896.
He then passed on the subject of
| trusts, and characterized them as the
products of republican methods. He
gave this warning:
IF the republican party goes into the
| next campaign upon platform defend
ing the trusts, it will antagonize senti-
ments which are rapidly growing
| against them. even in the ranks of that
| party
Mr.. Bryan closed with denuncia-
| tion of militarism and what he termed
the tendency of the present administra-
| tion toward imperialism. He said
The republican party came into ex-
istence in an attempt to apply the dec
! laration of independence to the black
man; it seems likely to go out of ex-
istence for its refusal to apply the same
principles to a brown man-only half
| black"
Champ Clark of Bowling Green, Mo-,
had for his subject prosperity: Past,
Present and Future" Said he: Print
ing flaming advertisements In metro
| politan papers, even in the guise of edi-
torials. announcing that prosperity has
arrived, fails to prove the truth of the
statement to the men who, though toll
| ing industriously in summers heat and
winters cold and economizing to the
utmost still find themselves sinking
deeper and deeper into debt as the
years go by. I wish to heaven prosper
| ity universal and abiding would come.
l care not who brings 1t. so it comes.
I would acclaim it as cheerfully. Justify
and gratefully if brought about by.Wil-
| liam Mckinley and a republican con-
gress, as | would if produced by Will
liam Jennings Bryan and democratic
congress. From the bottom of my heart
| wish President Mckinley well. HI is
| most gracious. taCtful and pleasant
! gentleman: but unless he and the 56th
congress do more to fulfill the multi-
farious and gorgeous promises of 1896
than he and the 55th congress have
done, it will become the agreeable and
patriotic duty of President Bryan and
| the 51th and 5Sth congresses to induct
the country into an area of general and
lasting prosperity
Ex-Governor Stone of Missouri spoke
eloquently of The Future of the Dem
ocratic Party" He was followed by
Allen Q. Myers of Columbus. O., whose
toast was THE East and the West
The toast responded to by Sidney Clark
of Oklahoma was Oklahoma the Next
Star in the Flag of the Union"
| Not Enough Evidence.
st. Louis, March 20.-Boiler Inspector