Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-22

be nominated for governor, and IL he stays
loyal to Bryan his followers can control
the delegation to the Rational convention.
They tell me that A1tgeld>fs really disposed
of, but their actions belle their words
asked one of them about the 1900 votes
cast for him as mayor of Chicago when
there was no prospect of election. His re-
ply was: You know there are 1900 Ger
man Lutherans who will vote for Altgeld
no matter whether heLis a candidate for
heaven or for hades. Then there are 10000
socialists. cranks and anarchists in this
city. OF course, they'll always vote for
Altgeld. The remainder of that 10000 was
from democrats who for one reason or an
other had gotten at outs with Mayor Har-
rison's administration, but they are all
right now, or most of them are. John P.
Altgeld is done for in Chicago and Illinois"
have not been able to agree with their
opinion. The man whohc get 10000 peo-
pie to vote for him which he is a candidate
without chance of election is not snuffed
out so easily. And the-evidences multiply
that his influence in national affairs will
keep him factor in Illinois politics. though
he cannot regain control of the democratic
machinery. Neither Mayor Harrison nor
any of his leutenants is match for Alt
geld in public controversy. They can beat
him in party organization and they 7yill
continue to beat him there but they can't
measure strength with him in speeches
or in letters to the newspapers Some of
them sigh for the re-entry of Grover Cleye-
land into public life, SO that he might en-
gage the attention of his ancient enemy AS
Tor Mr. Altgeld he is going to keep 20 the
fore until the democratic national conven-
ton meets. He also intends to keep free
silver and some other things in the Chica-
go platform to the-fore.
Hound to Bryan and Silver,
The developments of the national COM
mittee meeting show the impossibiiity of
the democratic party getting away from
Bryan and free silver. l have been inter-
ested in learning what the sound money
democrats, who We're quite numerous, are
going to do. Some, like former Representa-
1--WE Zen cable have gone back into the
ranks of the party, and swallowed their
convictions. Others are still wandering
about declaring they can't become republic
cans, yet not knowing where to 60 | no
tlced an address from the Iroquois Club
published in the local papers which Illus
trates the uncertainty of this class of demo-
Gratis The address was against free sill
Yer, in favor of tariff reform, specially
against the Mckinley administration be-
cause of recent civil service rulings, and
inferentially against 1t on general prin-
cipieS
Years ago the Iroquois Club was the lead
ing democratic organization of the west.
Its members wore silk stockings and the
club was called aristocratic, but it Kept in
line with the party sentiment. Once year,
on JeferSon's birthday the club gave a
banquet which attended by eminent
democrats who had presidential ambitions.
The members of the club Were all free
traders. Their candidate for President was
Thomas F. Bayard of Delaware. One year
he was the guest of honor. At that time
the elder Carter Harrison was i'll the height
of his picturesque career as mayor of chi
cago. He was not popular with the Iro-
quois Club, but his official position made it
necessary to invite him.
Mayor Harrison, the elder, was put some
where at the end of the speakers list. SEN
ator Bayard made a polished tariff reform
address. which delighted the members.
Hours later, at o'clock in the morning,
the mayor was reached. He had imbibed
his tariff ideas as & Kentucky whg. and had
not changed them on becoming an Illinois
democrat. He replied to Bayard, and warn
ed the democrats that if they ever under
took to carry out their tariff program the
democratic party would need a coffin and
a coroner
Speech Made n Sensation.
The speech made a national sensation
The Iroquois warriors indignantly repu-
dated it, and renewed their devotion to
free trade. They did not succeed in nomi-
mating Mr.. Bayard, but, Cleveland was
fond Of them and hoRored them in various
ways. They Were a buwark of his tariff
policy. The wreck and ruin which fol-
lowed the Wilson bill did not shake their
faith, but they found. to their distress. that
the party in Illinois was against the Cleve-
land administration and in favor of free
silver. They tried to stop the movement.
The result was the organization of a rival
democratic club, which took the name Of
some other Indian tribe.
| don't recall what the Troquois Club did
as an organization IN 1895, but it is certain
that few of the members voted for Bryan
and few of them want to Vote for HIM ii
1900. The existence of the club was re-
called to me by seeing some familiar names
attached to the address in favor of tariff
reform and against free silver The only
hope of these people seems to be for ].
Sterling Morton to bring that new party of
his out of the woods.
CHARLES NJ. PEPPER.