Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-04
Vice Chairman Payne Urges Greater
Activity.
TEE DISFRANCHISEMENr QUESTION
Praises the Germans and Says They
Are Unwavering.
DANGERIN GENERAL APATHY

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
CHICAGO. ILL.,. September 4.-Vice Chair
man H. C. Payne of the republican nation
al committee has been In charge of the
western headquarters here from the begin
| ming and is thoroughly familiar with the
outlook from close association with the
party leaders and the hundreds Of people
that pour into the headquarters daily. He
meets a flood of visitors every day and
deals with bigger flood of correspondence
from all parts of the country.
Mr.. Payne Is well satisfied and confident.
but earnestly urges greater activity on the
part of the rank and file of the party.
Inasmuch as the vice chairman is from
Milwaukee, where the German vote is very
large. and where the democratic leaders al
lege there exists republican disaffection, a
representative of The Star questioned Mr..
Payne today as to the accuracy of these
statements, and as to the general situation.
The Danger of OvercOnfdence.
APATHY is our only danger" he answer
ed. "At one time it seemed as If the peo-
pie would take the continuance of pros
perity as q matter of course, and so be in
danger of losing it, But within the last
week things are beginning to move in
a way that means something. The CORE
spondence pouring in on the committee
from people all over the country means a
great deal The American people are slow
to start sometimes but they seldom fail to
be ready for an emergency.
what do you think of the new scheme
for the permanent Acknowledgement of the
negroes in North Carolina and other south
ern states and what are the republicans
going to do about ft?"
WELL" said Mr.. Payne. 81 think for one
thing they are going to make a protest that
will be heard There are some differences
of opinion as to the legal scope and effect
| of the remedy most talked of-reduction of
representation in Congress and the cleo
tora1 colege-but there is another cure,
which has no drawbacks or complications.
Let the country serve notice on the democ-
racy that systematic frauds and wrongs
against the ballot will only solidify the
power in the nation. That is an effectual
| remedy and the people have 1t in their own
hands,
The German Vote Secure.
what about the Germans of Wisconsin,"
81 don't know anybody who values honest
money and prosperity more than they do
They know good things when they see them
and they know how to keep Them
Are they affected by the imperialist is
sue?"
81 WISH said Mr.. Payne with a sugges-
tive smile, that you could ask few Of
them that question for yourself. One thing
you can safely say is that the German
American voter is not likely to be fooled
by any such campaign tricks or false cries
as imperialism. He knows what real i'm
perialism is-the arbitrary rule of the ex-
ecutive through military power-aHd he
knows that is an impossiblity in this coun-
| try, since appropriations for military pur
poses limited by the Constitution to two
| years and must be voted then from time to
| time by the representatives of the people
| i'm Congress
THAT alone dsposes of the imperialst
| bogy. Then. too. under our treaty guaran-
| tee with Spain, we have to remain in the
| Philippines at least ten years. Bryan even
| would have to do that if he respected
| treaty obligations: but according to his doc
| trine he could not rightfully stay even one
year or force any kind of government on
| the Filipinos. not even the most stable.
| The Germans are inquiring into these
| things. Their distinguishing characteristic
| Is coolheaded judgment. and they are not
1 going off on tangent over a false cry.
| They see too. that the 16 to 1 issue is still
| before the country; that Bryan, if elected
| President, could notwithstanding the gold
! standard law. start a silver chain in the
| treasury, which Of itself would carry US
! dangerously near to a silver basis. They
are not going to take any such risks. We
| shall have full share Of the German
| vote"
The People Must Get Out and Vote.
How many northern states can Bryan
carry, giving him the benefit Of all doubts ~
HE can't carry any, not even his own, If
| the people turn out and vote. Public SEN
timent is overwhelmingly for Mckinley,
| and we have nothing to fear but overcon-
! fidence. The feeling that 1t is ali right
| and the loss of one vote will not make any
| difference should not be entertained by the
| voter, but / think the tide Is turning and
| the people are beginning to be aroused to
| the real meaning Of a presidential election
| which in far-reaching importance will be
second to none ever held in this country"