Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-16
FROM THE OLD TIMER.
On the Motives of King Croker I'm De
clarlng for Bryan. i'll

Kansas City Star: "yvhy does the
democratic cat endorse the democratic
dog?" exclaimed the old timer. "Why
this anxiety of Tammany.to appear in
fatuated with Mr.. Bryan! What
makes Mr.. Croker arch his back and
appear behind Bryan saying, Don't
mind the majorities. You're the stuff.
Go in and win. You have them beat
now. I'm with you'll
The way to find out mems motives
is to put yourself in their place and
think as they. would think. The other
day I imagined / was Croker, to find
out why he changed, all of a sudden.
from rosy eSpansionist to bitter.
dark green anti-eNpansion, and why
he is SO eager that Bryan shall be the
candidate. Success in 1900 is now as
sured,' he says. Trusts and militarism
are ruinin the country, says the pres
ident of the auto-truck corporation,
and will land Bryan in the White
House,
''Now, at former period Of my
democracy, when I was plain Ken
tuckian," added the old timer, "my
efforts to imagine was Croker would
have resulted in thinking was John
C. Breckenridge. Since then 1 have
breathed the atmosphere of New York
and been close to the scenic settings
and had few drinks in the dressing
rooms, and know the breed. There
is no sympathy between Tammany and
the Bryan democrats. The honest Bry-
an democrats in New York are the
democratic Ishmaelites whom the out
er Tammany guards tap on the chest
AMI say, Haven't you made mis-
take in the house, my friend| The
only use Tammany has for Bryan dem
ocrats is that they are out west.
"Well. gentlemen, imagined I was
Croker. put myself in the place of
the metropolitan democrats of the
east who want things to be regular and
easy, and object to excitement and
Investigations. They want things to be
quiet when they are in power. AS
Croker I considered the political stu
alton in 1900, in 1902 and in 1904.
Bryan is not one of u.s. says.
He will turn US down. He's consci-
entious and violent amateur! Who
else can we nominate? Van Wycke
was beaten. He's out. There is no
time, nor chance, nor timber, nor an
other candidate. Anyway, the attempt
to nominate another man would split
the party wide open, worse than in
1896! if we try that says. the chasm
will engulf the democratic party in
1904.
"'Well,' says I, as Croker, let's take
on this Bryan. He's a noble young
man. But we must get him to lay
low on silver and go in for busting the
trusts and the robber- tariff by standing
for free trade and expansion. But will
he do ftp I says to myself, as Croker
to himself will he do it? Isn't he
raising hell with us about silver and
imperialism and militarism this min-
ute? Isn't his mouth blind and work.
ing overtime? Is there anything this
side of death that will stop this Will
liam Jennings Bryan? Yes, there's
one thing, and, thank the saints, can
didates may come and candidates may
go, but the democratic party goes on
forever!' 'lA
"Gentlemen, as Croker I couldn't see
anything in the game except holding
the party machinery intact, main
tanning regularly and letting Bryan
run for president and get right out in
the center of the stage and attempt
to haul down the United States flag!
You know what General Dix said
about any man hauling down the
United States flag. Well, with Bryan
shot on the spot we know where we
are at in 1902 and can take a fresh
start for 1904.
Gentlemen confessed the old
timer, Il fear have been a damned
old fool. have been appealing to the
democrats to repudiate Bryan and go
in for expansion and the flag. When
I was thru imagining I was Croker /
awoke to realize that what the Crokers
and Germans want is defeat in 1900,
with Bryan at the bottom of the
wreck! That's why the democratic
cat proclaims its love for the demo
'em, Tige!'"