Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-07-05
aryan Republicans in New York

Bryan Republicans in New York
From a New York letter.
There viii be three sorts of votes cast in
New York next November Republican
votes, Democratic votes, and anti MeKin-
ley votes. Much of Bryan's strength IL
New York will lodge in the latter class
And some of the names win cause mors
than ripple OF surprise.
Perhaps the most striking figure among
the Republicans who are taking the Demo
cratic Bryan end of the argument in al
aggressive and militant way, is James R
Keene, the ear of Wall street, the unchal
lenged king of speculation. Mr.. Keene wa'
for Mckinley in 1896, and gave $4,000 to-
ward his campaign. To-day be is fol
Bryan even warmer than he was for Nc
Kinley before.
New York is shallow, and there's nc
voice so potent with New York as the
iingliug voice of money. Therefore the
story to follow made deal of uneasy stil
among Mckinley folks. 1t was just prioi
to Mr.. Keene's sail for England. He and
party of gentlemen were at dinner at
at Dslmonico's. One of them, an adhereni
of McKinleys, and somewhat oversteeped
in that form of Eastern ignorance that
makes no account of any West or South
was yoeiferously confident of coming Re
publican success. This sage closed his
Republican defamation with mad desire
to bet. He was eager for a wager. Mr..
Keene bent on him his steel-gray eye, that
eye which for twenty years has looked
further and more proftably into Wall street
futures than any other, and asked -
what odds do you want to offer Oh
Mckinley / infer from your exuberance
that you've something more startling to
propose than even money ?"
"Call it two to one in thousands" ex-
claimed the Mckinley adherent.
CONTRARY to the belief of many" retort-
ed Mr.. Keene, seldom make bet. But
I'll depart from my rule on this occasion
and wager trifle with you. Moreover, ]
won't take the odds you prefer; they're
unfair. I'll do better by you. I'll wager
you s., 500 against $4,000 that Bryan
defeats Mckinley.
The Mckinley champion hesitated.
Ofatory was one thing; cold proposal to
jeopardize $4,000 on his Republican hopes
and fears another Again, his opponents
well-known genius to forsee events-s
genius which makes him the magician OF
the Bourse-daunted him. But he had
gone too far. Taking two other gentlemen
ID as equal partners. he accepted Mr.
Keene's offer, and $4,000 against 1850
that Mckinley defeats Bryan was wagered
This transaction has done little to wet
blanket those forward anticipations Of local
Republicans and their party is to have q
walk over. Mr.. Keene has never, within
their experience, failed to have reasons fol
any faith within him, and his prompt
wager puzzles, while it dism avs them.
The people of this country" said Mr.
Keene to me in a recent conversation
must arouse themselves. The coming
election is of more Importance, from the
standpoint of . pure and true American
ism. than any that has transpired since the
second election of Lincoln. Money is in
the saddle it is riding down the institu-
tions of this country with a confident
insolence that tells of It's firm belief in its
own inyincibility. 1t is running the
government to day in its every branch and
arm. If moneys power in moulding
public affairs goes forward for four years
more as it has for four years past. the name
of American liberty will only be worth a
recollection as matter of history. Money
is pressing the people backward step by
step What is to be the end If it goes on
there are, as matters trend, but two solu-
tons One is socialism, and the second is
revolution. The American people must
defend themselves from money, Just as
they once guarded their forest frontiers
from the savage. Unless they come solidly
shoulder to shoulder for their rights, and
come at once, Bunker Hill will have been
blunder, Yorktown a mistake"
When man worth S200000 600, and one
who for a quarter Of century has stood in
the very heart and war-center of money
conquering fortune for himself, when snch
man begins to talk like that, he's apt to
prove impressive. Also, he's not apt to be
alone. The thought voiced by Mr.. Keene
have occurred to hundreds of others, in
corners of existence little dreamed of, and
it all points TO a movement and an effect in
November not flattering to the hopes of the
present Administration.