The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-30
How Local Democrats View the
Round Robin Episode.
a v,cr'm or LEWIS ARTS
EvfAenee II R1en1lfal That Sono
one PerpetrateA . Crael Job eA
the Fusion Observation-Disclosures
. HypoAeRnie Infection Of True
Denoeraoy-Whero the ExDaA-
sion DoDDeFaao VIA Lana

Among Democratic politicians Ne inci-
dent Of recent happening has caused
more quiet gossip and suodued amuse-
ment than the historic visit OF Col A. J.
Blethen, proprietor OF tho Daily Times.
TO Chicago. his consultation there with
Bryan. Stone and other leaders OF tho
silver party and the Incidents that LED
up to his going. Now that Mr. Ble&nen
has returned, interest II again aroused IN
tho famous round robin" which was the
tmpeli.nx cause of Mr.. Blethen's seanes
with Bryan and other party leaders. re-
suiting, as Il did, in the change or ffont
in the fusion editor ON the expansion
question
II Is now quite generally conceded BY
shrewd Democrats and Populists that Mr.
Biethen was made the innocent victim
of a clever scheme. which. it Is believed.
was the product OF the resoureefui mino
of ex-Congressman Lewis. Indeed, it Is
quAe difiicult TO dissociate MT. Lewis
from Mr.. Blethen's alleged acrooatic ies.
on the expansion question, az least IN s st,e
minds Of we'll posted politicians OF tne
fusion persuasion. This. in TACT, - tne
view taken by even some or those VINO
signed the round robin when IL was
presented to them. little thinkins AT Ine
time that the letter was anything moro
than formal note and without poiiticai
significance
The current View among
politicians is that few Demoeratic lead
ers had resolved 10 administer, II II were
possible, hypodermic injection, so 70
speak, OF s.mon-pure Democracy oeneatn
the skin of the editor of their mouth
piece. This was especially desirable, II Is
said, on account of the fact that on one
vital matter. which they believed likely 70
grow into a national issue, MI Bietnen
poles are separated. In season and out,
these plotting Democrats recalled the
evening paper had advocated Philippine
policy In line with that OF PRESIDENT NC
Kiniey and had apparently taken posi-
ton. with foundation firm as adamanf:
on the question of establishing. for all
time the sovereignty OF the American
republic in the Philippine islands.
Urgent Need for Reform.
1t was. OF course, Of little consequence to
the men who. II is said. conceived the
round robin idea. what views Mr..
Blethen personally might cherish. As the
exponent OF the party In this state OPP
posed to the Republicans. there was ur-
gent need OF radical reform on the line
named.
The letter penned to Mr.. Blethen is al
most touching in its smooth veneer OF APP
parent sincerity. He was asked TO Join
the conference of fusion statesmen in
Chicago TO consider the financial ques-
ton which we hold to he uppermost and
important as Mr.. Lewis and his fellow
signers expressed ii.
''ft would enable you to understand
with clearness the position TO be taken
by the silver forces and thus. TO an ex-
tent, enable you TO conform the policy
OF your paper accordingly"
Not one word about expansion. Not q
whisper relative to the Biethen idea of
holding up the flag. though the stars fall,
as distinguished from the Bryan plan OF
abandonment Of the Filipinos TO their In
II will hardly be denied that In the
large collection OF political literature and
historical letters that should not have
been written in Democratic archives in
ply stands pre-eminent. He assured his
admirers that Col. Bryan was one of his
most devoted frinds" and that II was
only ON one question-that OF expansion
that he had ever felt called on to dis
agree with the fusion leader.
fhe rest Is known. Mr. Bryan and Mr..
whether or not Col. Lewis gave a teIe-
graph tip to Col Bryan as TO what he
should do to bring about a successful
consummation OF the plan 1t Is hardly
went blindIy into SO weighty an under
taking.
Dwindlea the Blethen Views.
Under the spell of the Bryan eye dwin-
died the Blethen views on the duty OF
the country I'm maintaining peace and
order In the Philippines. and of building
up a trade In Asia that would make the
RACINE COAST great IN commerce. Mr..
Eiethen has returned home after com
municating his new ideas 10 a GREATNESS.
waiting band OF patriots through the coll
unfns OF his paper. Col. Lewis is report
ed TO have smiled In his own peculiar
satisfied WAY when the last of the ia
NOUS kilograms had been sent from Chi
cago and To have been the first To well
come the Times proprietor into the Dem
ocratic fold on his return here. ).
OF course there some Democrats in
King county who will. not entirely ap-
prove the evolution of Mr.. Blethen az an
antf-imperiaiist. Among these ~ National
Committeeman W. II White who Is en-
phatieally for the retention Of the Phil
ippfnes and who has publicly predicted
that any party advocating an opposite
course would court certain defeat With
Judge White IL respectable and ener-
gatie portion of the Democracy. estimat-
ed ar not less than one-fourfh OF the
party. These men are not talking much
on the expansion question. but I'm private
they do not hesitate TO EXPRESS their be-
lief that n campaign on the Little Amer
lean plan In Washington would be a
hopeless cause from the beginning