The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-25
IS 1T A straw

It was stated in our dispatche yester-
day. as coming from the Herald Of New
York. that ex-senator German Of Mary
land had said to Mr. Croker OF Wednes-
day that Maryland would lead in en- anti
Bryan movement provided she got any
encouragement in New York and other
Eastern states. Mr.. German was also
quoted as saying that enough delegat ties
would be elected to the Democratic Ma
tional Convention to prevent the nominal
lion OF Mr.. Bryan.
There is no reason for doubling that Mr.
German was quoted correctly. He is I'M
derstood TO be against the nomination of
Mr.. Bryan. not because OF any personal
feeling against him, but because he is of
the opinion that II nominated ne could not
be elected. In the event of his nomina-
ton tire issues Of 1900 would be, to a very
great extent. those on which the Demo-
cratic party fought the campaign of 1896.
No Democrat, even though ne is a member
of the Democratic National Committee, is
in a position to say what the platform Of
the Democrats party viii contain next
year. 1t Is not at all improbable that
there are surprises in store for those men,
bers of the Democratic National Commit
tee who have been saying in the newspa-
pers recently what the Democratic Ma
tionaI Convention win put in the Demo
cratic platform.
one thing that seems 10 be clear, and
that is that there is very strong desire
among Democrats to win the election next
year, and it is doubtful if they are going
to be influenced by sentiment in making
the platform or in selecting the candidate.
They will make platform which they
think win command the confidence of the
people and will nominate man that they
believe has the best chance of getting the
approval of the majority.
In Maryland, in the recent election, the
Democrats, following the advice of Mr..
German, said nothing about free silver or
anti-mperialism or any other thing con-
corning which there was a great difference
of opinion in the ranks of the Democracy
They simply said they wanted to put into
office men who would give the people good
government and they we're eminently sue
cessful. 1t is undoubtedly Mr. Germans
idea to make national platform that viii
command the approval of Democrats
generally, and even of those who are not
known as strict adherents of the Demo-
cratic party.
1t is said to be the purpose of the Mary
land Democrats to hold their convention
for choosing delegates to the national con-
vention early, and to select delegation
that viii be opposed to the nomination of
Mr.. Bryan. II they should do so it would
not follow that Mr.. Bryan would be in
any great danger of losing the nomination
The only things that will cause him to be
side-tracked will be a partial abandonment
of the issues in the Chicago platform and
the belief that he has little or no chance
of being elected. 1t cannot be said that
there is as yet any clearly defined move
ment To abandon anything in that plat
form or to give Mr.. Bryan the cold Shout
der There are, however signs apparent
here and there, in the South as well as in
the North, that there is not entire har-
mony among Democrats as to issues or the
candidate The talk of Mr.. German may
be considered straw showing this lack
of harmony.