The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-23
FOR DEMOCRATIC VICTORY
TALK OF WHAT THE ISSUES
WILL BE THIS FALL.
GOSSIP OF WHO WILL FILL SECOND PLACE
German Gives Dinner TO Lesoer at Which
Politics Is Carefully Avoided. The
Fight Over the Place of Holding The
Convention Was Warm.
CIV ashington Post).

w dSIlngton ROStt.
Hope springs eternal i'm the human
breast" said wise and ancient poet by
the name of Pope.
Hope springs eternal IN the Democratic
breast" says Josephus Daniels, of North
Carolina, and every other National Dem
ocratic committeeman echoes his senti-
lnents Consequently, at the Raleigh Ho-
tel last night, where the committeeman
are gathered in readiness for their meet
ing today, the Democratic hope is so
thick that it can he cut into large chunks.
If anybody thinks that the Democrats
are going into the approaching campaign
with downcast hearts, a few inspirations
of the atmosphere in the Raleigh lobby
WIFI cause different opinion. The Raj
eigh lobby is filed with tobacco smoke
and optimisnl--a good deal of both.
Daniels is the National committeeman
from the Tarheel State. He wears big.
black soft felt hat, and speaks in a
voice that is typically Southern in its
sOftness. He talks with emphasis, too.
when he makes his predictions as TO the
outcome of the campaign. I'VE will carry
every State we carried in 1885, said he
and in addition we will carry Maryland.
West Virginia, Ohio. and Indiana. We
can win without New York. although
there are people who think that we cam
carry New York. On what PLATFORM?
Why tagin' the government. Dissatis-
faction with the administration will be
great help to us. although there will be
three other isSues-anti -trusts, anti-impe-
rialism and the money question. | think.
too. that Secretary Cages connection
with the New York City National Banks.
the Republican policy in allowing the
national banks to control the issue of
money, and the friendliness of the admin
iStration toward England will also help
us. For the first time in the histOrv OF
politics the Irish and the Germans are
united"
And James G.. Johnson, of Kansas vice
chairman of the executive committee, puts
it in another way. Il cannot find a man"
says he. who voted for Bryan in 1895
who will not support him in 1900, and
cannot find anybody who has met such
a man. On the other hand, | find any
number of voters who supported McI<:n-
ley four years ago who are mot going to
vote for him again.
they are going to win without being able
to quite figure it out, but who have no
idea of abandoning amy of the principles
of 1896. Such Democrat is Alexander
Trcup, of Connecticut, rotund of stature
with a round and pleasant smooth-shaven
face and a way of impressing his listener
i'm forc.ble manner with his views. Mr.
Troup wants the Chicago platform reaf-
firmed without the change of the dOtting
of an l or the crossing of t. IF prin-
ciples are right one year they are right
always" says Mr. Troup. IF they are
wrong, we viii lose; if they are right, we
will win some time. | am in favor of
making the old fight over again
"Nhat States north of the Potomac or
east of the Ohio will You carry?'
Nome said Mr.. Troup. promptly.
Then how can you VIM"
II don't care whether we win or lose,
was the equally frank reply. Il wonrld
rather lose than abandon any of our prin-
ciples."
Mr. Troup. it might be remarked paren-
thetically. stands alone i'm this indiffer
erce. but he is in the swim in his hope
and his devotion to the cause of silver.
When a score or more of the National
committeeman were asked last night What
the dominant issues of the campaign
would he. every one of them included sill,
yer i'm the list. Clark Howell. of Georgia.
SAYS that the Democrats cannot shelvt
the silver question, and If they did they
would lose five or six Southern States
Allen W. Clarke of Indiana, who holds
the proxy for Committeeman Shanklmc
said that the campaign could be summed
mp in four words. Bryan, Chicago plat
lfnI01
handsome and debonair as ever, puts sill
yer first. with anti-trusts and anti-impe
rialism as the other issue. I'VE cannot
win without silver" says J. G. Brown
proxy for the Idaho committeeman. ''Ihf
dominant issue will be the money ques-
ton" said Thompson, of Nebraska. al
though in some sections the fight against
trusts and against imperialism will be
more effective.
Notice, though, that some of the conn
mitteemen. like Daniels and Thompson
speak of 1.-The money question" instead OF
the free coinage of silver" There will
me less of silver talk and more about the
control of the currency by the national
banks Some of the committeeman. like
True L. Norris. of New Hampshire, point
out that conventions and platforms do NOT
make iSues, but that the stump speakers
will very soon discover the topics which
the people want to- hear discussed. and
then the campaign win form itself on
those lines. without regard to party dec
larations In which utterance, born of
experience. there is much wisdom.
The National committee does not for
mUlate policies or make platforms. so
that after all. the expressions regarding
the lines along which the campaign viii
he fought may not have much value. Ii
is interesting. however, TO note that the
feeling that the financial issue is still
very much alive is universal, and that
SO far as the Philippines are concerned
the general idea is that the people of
those islands ought to be put on the
same footing with the Cubans. 1t looks