Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1899-08-18
CROKER'S CHANGE
IN POLITICS
The Political Sensation
of the Day.
For Bryan and Against Imper-
ialism = Will Carry All
Next Fall.

local sensation of the day. He we,
to England nn anti Bryan man and
an advocate Of expansion. He re.
turns with words of glowing praise
fer Bryan and with the severest de.
nunciation of Mckinley and of Nc
Kinley's PHILIPPINE policy. He actually
charges that the administration pre-
cipitated the war for political pur-
poses. No longer is he frightened
by the silver plank. That is a ques.
ton that can be safely left with
Congress. In only one thing ls he
steadfast to his views Of two months
ago. He is still against trusts.
He throws pitcher of ice water on
the Van Wyck boom, and declares
that no man is 30 close to the people
as Bryan. No wonder that every
body is amazed with the sudden flop.
Even the Tammany people are as
tonished, but they will make no pro-
test. But, after all, there is rothing
SO very wonderful about his light
ming change of policy. He is only
doing what Thomas G. Platt has
done several times in his career aud
with considerable success. AS a
political acrobat he is probably th Q
most expert In the country, but
Croker is giving close pursuit. The
full meaning of Croker's somsrsault
may not appear for several days, but
it looks as if the boss was convinced
that the attempt to beat Bryan was
hopeless. Mr.. Croker repeated to
day what he said yesterday, only in
more vigorous language, and he now
becomes about the strongest an til
imperialist in the country. His ex-
planation of his change of views is
that he diden't under stand the sit
uation when he went away.
Yesterday when he returne d from
Europe, Mr.. Croker said "AIr.
Bryan's great strength lies i'll his
sympathy for and knowledge of the
plain people. No other American
has ever been so close to the masses.
He understands and feels for the
toiler, and the toiler understands
and trusts him. l consider him to
be one of the greatest men America
has produced.
"Within the coming year the Dem
ocratic party must agree upon its
natiol al program and prepare for the
overthrow of trusts and Imperialism.
1 believe that the party will be uni
ted and harmonious.
Naturally, I am principally inter .
ested in securing a national platform
that will be sourse of strength to
the party in my own State We
hope to carry New York for the
Democratic candidate next year.
am satisfied that nothing will be
done in the next Demo- ratio
National Convention that will drive
any good Democrat away from his
party.
"This silver question will be
regulated in time, and Congress may
be safely trusted to settle the ratio.
''There never has been time in
my experience when the Re publican
party has not shown its unfiitness to
be in control of the national govern.
ment.
Mr.. Mckinley has turned the war
in tho Philippines into partisan
scheme for his own re. election. The
Administration has purposely drag
ged out the struggle, and spending
tens Of millions of the peoples
money without making any serious
effort to bring the war to CLOSE
this year.
%8his Presidential election takes
place next year, and the Republican
managers are openly making pre-
parations to use the war as a means
of working up another outburst of
popular enthusiasm just in time to
sweep Mckinley into a second term.
''But the people who are paying
the war taxes are beginning to see
through the plan. 1t is almost in.
creditable that President of the
United States is willing to desolate
and destroy thousands of homes
and to shed the blood of the un.
fortunate Filipinos chiefly to keep