Washington sentinel., 1900-07-21
The Silver Boyle.

DR. Oswald OHendorfer, talking
about the silver plank in the Kan
sa' City platform frightening
voters away from Bryan" you
readily see" said DR.. Ottendorier
to an interviewer, that the Ger
man-Americans really are in a
quandary. They are opposed to
Mckinley on the imperialistic is
sue and they are opposed to Bryan
on the free silver issue"
That the German-Americans are
opposed 10 free silver it would be
foolish to deny. 1t would be
equally as foolish for anybody to
claim that this same class OF citi-
zens are not opposed to Mr.. Nc
kinley's imperialism. The doubt,
then, as to how they will vote is re-
duced TO this: Do the German
Americans think free silver is
more imminent danger than i'm
Derialism2 II they do, then they
would stultiiy themselves by vot
ing the Democratic ticket. IftheY
do not, then they would stultify
themselves by voting the Repub-
liean ticket. This proposition is
so simple that child can grasp it.
We believe the dominant
thought in the minds OF the people
Tor whom DR.. Ottendorier speaks
was clearly defined the other day
by DR. L. w. Habercom, Of Wash
ington. who for many years was
concerned in Republican manage
ment and who had charge of the
bureau OF the Republican National
Committee during the past two
campaigns that was especially
entrusted with the important work
of holding the German vote in
line. DR. Habercom severed his
connection with the Hanna organ
ization and gave as his principal
reason therefor the fact that the
"imperialistic expansion" policy
OF his party was threatening the
republic, and that this overshad-
owed all other issues. This view
OF the paramount issue oil the cam
paign is distinctly stated in the
Democratic platform, and free sill
YER in this document is so thor
oughlY subordinated as to be COM
pletelY divested Of its vitality.
DR.. Habercom recognizes this and
very frankly avowed in his state.
ment given out for publication that
Sixteen to one no longer had any
terrors for him" DR.. Habercom
called attention to the we'll known
facts that the Senate will stan6
across the path Of free silver Tor at
least four years, and may be six,
even if Bryan and a Democratic
House should be elected this year,
and also that the spirit Of the Kan
sas City convention showed plainly
that If the Democrats should come
into full control Of the Govern
ment they would be unable to pass
a free silver bill.
This view OF the case is entirely
rational. 1t also reveals that inn
perialjsm and not silver is the real
issue Of the campaign. 1t be-
hooves all Of those hostile to Dem
ocratic ascendancy 70 keep up
shrlll outcry against silver. Mr..
Mckinley is doing this, and so are
all OF his supporters. The trust
magnates likewise, and the advo-
Gates Of large standing army con-
tinue to shudder whenever the
public gaze is turned upon them |
while they are shouting out that |
the sixteen to one bogie man is
stalking over the land. But the
people who do not want to find |
some excuse upon which to hinge
opposition to Bryan do not profess
10 believe that silver is even OF
secondary importance in the cam
oaign.
Let US ask DR.. Ottendorier and
Ill those who talk as he talks this
simple question: With the gold
Itandard fixed in the statute book
low could Bryan as President and
With an adverse Senate disturb or
n any way affect it7 No executive
rider that he could issue could in
eriere with the present law. But
Bryan as President could and
,ould check the Republics on
lard march to imperialism.
Sooner or later, DR.. Otendorler
iii see this.