The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-25
POLITICAL NOTES AND GOSSIP.
The Democratic pra,form.-T tt

The Democratic Platform. - TIL
popular belief has grown into conviction
since the meeting in this city OF the Ma
tional Committee that the Democrat
fight this year will be waged along line
somewhat divergent from those of 1886
1t is commented upon as significant tina
while every orator who appeared befor
the committee. even including forme
Senator German, declared for the readop
ton Of the Chicago platform. yet no
one OF them mentioned the ers;while ca
balistic 16 TO l. Even the Missourians
who used never to let an occasion pass
without saying something about 10 TO
had not word to say on the silver ques
tion. Nor did the Mssourians once pro
nounce the name Of Richard Parks Bland
| The time was, and not so long ago either
that a Missouri Democrat did not thinl
he had done himself or his State credit
if. in speech anywhere. he failed TO dwell
! upon the virtues and the doctrines of the
| high-souled and plain hammered Band
But the great commoner's" name and
fame were either purposely or accidentally
ignored by all of the Missouri orators in
Washington this week. When their at
tention was called to the omission every
| MissouTian looked abashed, and had 10
| confess that with the death of Bland and
the adoption by the Republicans of gold
monometallism the financial issue had
| sprung in Importance from the compare
| lively unimportant contention of specific
| ratio into the broader issue of bimeiallism.
| II was agreed by everybody that the issue
| this year could not be confined to 16 to l,
however desperately the Republicans might
endeavor to so confine it: and, indeed. that
though the currency question would nee
essarily cut big figure in the campaign.
the issues of pressing Importance will be
the trusts, imperialism, and entangling
alliances as illustrated by the Hay-Paunce-
fote Treaty. The Westerners quite as
frankly as the fasteners concede that
there will be a shifting of issues along the
lines here indicated. Ii is understood, of
course, that there will be no slurring OF
bimetallism either in the platform or the
party oratory. but ii is predicted by the
new issues will be used to stir up the sort
of enthusiasm that will make itself felt
at the polls in November.
Free silver Republicans. - Former
Representative Towne, Of Minnesota, Chair
man of the National Committee of the Free
Silver Republican party. said yesterday
that the National Convention of that or
the same time the Democrats Convention
is in session. An official call to that effect
will be issued in few days. The meaning
Of this is contrary to the general tenor of
reports that had much vogue a fe y months
ago. From tie West there have besu COM
ing rumors that the free silver Republicans
would go il alone" thus year in order not
to merge their idenjitT.into the Democratic
organization. 1t is qaite evident however.
that the intention IL dsrly fixed to CO.
operate in good faith3Si,A the Democracy.
Ii is contended that SHE co operation will
save TO the Democratic, even irrespe tive of
the stubborn oppositioh5 of the middle Of
the-road Populists. evefs Car Western State
csrried by Bryan foIs years ago. and that
the Democratic managers can concentrate !
their efforts On the German Republican
vote of the close STATES II the Middle West |
with good prospects OF enlisting the sup
port OF that element on the issue of i'm |
perialsm. 1; is not yet known whether ]
the dominant and conservative element Of 4
Popr;lists will abandon The idea Of a ma :
tonal convention at Sioux Falls. South \
Dakota. May 9. aud. following the example /
Of their allies. the free silver Republicans,
assemble their forces at Kansas City July
4, but it is thought not improbable that
this will be done. II is said that negotia-
lions to this end are now in progress.
Philadelphia sHI Sby.-The Phil
adelphians have not yet completed their
fund OF 100000 and Mark
Hanna continues to threaten them with
he loss OF the Republican National Con-
fertion. At last accounts the City OF
Brotherly Love was S55. 600 short and the
ocal committees were in mighty wran-
gle. Mr.. Hanna's definite threat is said to
De 10 order the convention to Madison
Square Garden, New York If by the mid
lie OF May the Philadelphians have not
urned over to the National Committee all
If the money promised. The Quakers are
Inclined TO believe Mr. Hanna Is blufing.
,ut persons who know the Ohioan well say
he Philadelrhians will find that they are
,adly mistaken If by the middle os May
hey have not come up with sl00, 900 and
properly equipped convention hall.
Due to Dudiey.-Tbe friends Of the
Ion James G. Dudley, the Texas member
4 the Democratic National Committee. are
for him the credit OF selecting !
uly as the date for he meeting OF the
National Committee. II is true that this
ate was formally presented to the com
1ittee by Committeeman McGraw. OF
Vest Virginia and enthusiastically cham
lVutu UN MI hOIHldll. uul the luSpild-
ion was Mr. Dudey's Two or three
months ago" said the big Texan TO a
lines representative yesterday. Il urged
hat cur National Convention be held on ,
he Fourth OF July. AT that time an East
IN newspaper polled the committee on the
hoice Of time and place for the conyen-
ion For obvious reasons | declined to ,
Dmmit myself on the location. but came :
ut as strong as | could in favor of July
5 the time. pointed out that the politi-
al issues we're so shaping themselves that
lie nations birthday would be a peculiar
appropriate occasion for the Democracy {
meet in national convention. reafIirm a
lie immortal principles Of the Declaration /
independence. and renew our allegiance S
, the ancient faith Of the founders OF the '
epublic That is about all We shall have L
do this year to sweep Mckinley and Re Il
lblicanism from power I
Behind Quny.-How potent and far
,aching are the influences behind Colonel
uay in his contest for a seat in the Sem a
te is illustrated by the memorial of the :,
old-ove Senators OF the Texas Legisla- I
ire praying that Senators Chiffon and u
ulberson vote for the PENNSYLVANIA U
hen his case reaches the Senate which
i'll be tomorrow. Every one of the me- II
orialists Is Democrat. and 1t is doubt
! if any of them have ever met Colonel
uay They base their plea for him on
lie statement that he assisted in defeat
q the Force bill, when the fact is demon al
rated by the record that Quay never cast b,
vote on that measure. On this point il III
believed the Texans have been deceived. hs
I'd IT is thought that very few of them Ia