The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1899-07-28
BRYAN IN CONTROL.

THE deliberations of the National
Democratic Committee, recently in ses-
sion at Chicago, plainly showed that not
withstanding all reports to the contrary,
ex Colonel William Jennings Bryan is
still leader Of his party and likely to re-
main in that position.
John P. Altgeld and others of his ilk
are closely associated with Mr.. Bryan in
the party management, which among
other measures is obnoxious to sound
money Democrats, not emitting the en-
dorsement of the Chicago platform of
1896.
Those Democrats who supported Pal
mer and Buckner. or who voted for Nc
Kinley, were promptly and unceremoni-
ously turned down.
In an interview concerning the result
of the Chicago meeting, James a. Eek
els, Comptroller of the Currency during
President Clevelands administration,
and who voices the sentiment of the
sound money element SO powerful in his
party, recently said
1.-THE condition of the Democratic par
ty is such that every one who has ever
had any interest in its well-being must
wish for complete change in its leader
ship and policy. | do not believe any
considerable number of Democrats who
left the party in 1896 will accept Dem
ocracy now that they repudiated then.
1.-THE difficulty then was in both men
and principles. That difficulty still ex
lists, only made more pronounced by the
things that have been said and done by
Mr.. Bryan and his followers.
''The entire lack of unity upon even
the issues the Organized Democracy
stands for was never better illustrated
than at the recent gathering at Chicago.
That meeting developed no purpose or
plan save the purpose and plan to still
more and more eliminate character and
business ability from the Democracy.
Nothing is to be gained by Demo
Gratis who remained with the party, des-
pite their disbelief in its leaders and
platform, keeping quiet. They were
regular, and as such are legitimate coun
sellers for party action, and have right
to be heard.
81 notice frequent suggestions of con-
ferences being held by these regular anti
silver Democrats to try to find some way
of compromising existing differences in
the party. My judgment is that they
could accomplish more by steady and
systematic work within the party, apart
from any compromise with the purpose
of getting the rank and file properly in
formed as to the weakness of those who
now lead them.
'sThe excuse the Southern leaders have
given for their course is that it was
necessary in order to keep their States
from the Populists. They have succeed
ed in so doing by making the whole
party Populists.
"The trust issue cannot be substituted
for the silver with any effect under the
same party management, for no one be-
lieves in the management or is willing
to trust it with power 1t can gain moth
ing from anti-expansion talk because,
for the sake of preventing undesirable
foreign territory and peoples being at
tached to this country, the voters will
not run the risk of turning over the care
of important domestic affairs to the
party.
1T is possible that after Mr.. Bryan's
utter defeat and route in 1900 protests
from the rank aud file which cannot
now find voice. will be heard. With a
united party, under strong, conserva-
tive leadership, advocating true Demo-
cratic principles the Democratic party
would win in the coming election. AS
it now stands, with its avowed purpose
of contesting for the things advocated in
1896 and the same Presidential candidate,
it is already beaten"