The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-07-25
AMI BRYAN.

ALTGELD AND BRYAN.
The democratic clans held high cur.
nival in Chicago last Thursday, where
there were meetings Of the national
committee Of that party and an out.
and.out Altgeld meeting, which was
feminist the national committed and
Mayor Harrison Of the windy city.
Mr.. Bryan attended the national com.
mittee meeting, but, strange to relate,
had nothing to say and did not vote,
although be held two proxies. The
national committee did nothing but
transact routine business, except, when
it was called upon by the Ohio Valley
Bimetallic League, which defiaNtly dc
mnnded that IS to / be Incorporated IN
the next presidential platform, tetsely
inform that organization that 1t would
be called upon for advice and assist.
ance when they were needed. And
the league made u sneak, and Mr..
Bryan said nothing. Then the COM.
mittee fred one p. j. Devlin out OF
the press clipping bureau Of the organ.
ization because 1t was proved that he
had used his influence IN the last
municipal campaign in Chicago against
Mayor Harrison and in favor OF An.
archist Altgeld. the particular friend
of Mr.. Bryan and Pitchfork TillmaD.
But the national committee did not
formulate or even discuss any "para.
mount issues" for the next cNmpaign.
Instead, it wisely concluded to wait,
in the hope that II famine, u pestilence,
a flood or some other great calamity
may overtake the country before next
year, which will be- charged up to
Mark Hanna and thus give the demo.
Gratis a chance to win the presidency.
The committee is diplomatic; II fully
realizes that democracy eau only thrive
Oh national disaster Of some sort and
proposes to trust IN the devil to bring
one about.
But 1t was different with the Bryan.
Altgeld. Tillman meeting. It was held
at the Auditorium and there were 1000
people present, but only one:third OF
the members Of the national committee
attended. But that cut no Ice. Alt.
geld was cheered every time his name
war mentioned; BRYAN spoke against
Imperialism, trusts and for 10 to II;
Pitchfork Tillman was there, and the
gathering would have been complete
had Bloody Brides Waite of Colorado
and Pennoyer Of Oregon been present.
But the spirit OF their followers pre-.
dominated, which was much the same
thing, aud, although Bryan was the
big gun. the incipient presidential
boom Of Altgeld was given quite Il
boost. For several hours after he
reached Chicago, Mr.. Bryan was Ia
doubt as to whether he would attend
Mr.. Altgeld's meeting, although no
had wired that he would do sO. The
''boy orator. Of the Platte was impoi.
tuned not to 90 by the national com.
mittee, but his boon companions-Alt.
geld and Tillman--weie to DO there
and he could not resist, He went,
compromised the situation by declaring
that all Chicago. platform democrats
(not coons) looked alike TO him. and
made paramount issues" plenty,
And the two biz meetings camc to
AL end, the not result OF Thorn being
that Mayor Harrison got the glad hand
from tho national committee, and Alt
geld got ii from Bryan, To tho credit
Of the committee, be- II suid, II did not
embrace Altgeld or Gilman or their
followers; 10 left thHt for Mr., Bryan TO
do, And no did ~ no remembered
their support Ia 90, Thought no would
want 1t again next yeM and virtually
declaIed that h. was with that element
of tho democracy, v an though tho ma
tional committee did not like il, He IN
with tho right m0wd,