The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-09
CREELMAN SAYS,
After Talking With Mayor Sam
Jones, of Toledo,
That Bryan VIII Defeat Nc
Kinley In Ohio.
GIVES STRONG REASON
Declares that the LOG, 72I
Votes Given "GOlden Rule"
Will Be Cast Against the Pres
ident In Coming Election.
GIVES STRONG REASON

flames Creelman in N. Y. Journal
A short trip through northern Ohio
and a talk with Mayor Jones have con-
WINGED me that Mr. Bryan will proba-
bly, carry the state this year. The
slightest investigation of the situation
IS sufficient to discover the fact that
heavy majority of the 1O6.721 citizens
who voted for Mayor Jones for COVER
nor in the recent election will support
the Democratic national ticket. That,
of itself. will be sufficient to defeat
President Mckinley in his own state.
In the last campaign I announced at
the very beginning Of the struggle that
the Democrats would be overWhelm-
ingly. beaten at the polls, and my per-
Sistence in telling the truth subjected
the Journal to constant and severe crit
icism by reckless party organs. The eX-
animation of facts which satisfied me
that Mr.. Mckinley is likely to lose Ohio
this year has been as careful and I'M
partial as that which enabled me only
a few months ago to boldly prophesy
Mr.. NaSh's election
Senator Hanna is making impressive
appeals to the trusts for a fund large
enough to crush the Bryan movement
in the middle west, but the experience
Of both Democrats and Republicans has
proved that the power of money in cleo
tions. although great, is limited. The
unbeatable secrecy of the Australian
ballot system makes it impossible to
buy and deliver votes. The fact is that
Mr.. Hanna and the trusts which he
boldly champions and befriendS have
placed Ohio in the doubtful if not the
Democratic column of states this year.
If one-half of the men who voted for
Mayor Jones three months ago support
Mr.. Bryan, Ohio is a secure Democratic
state. Nearly all of the men who were
prominent in the Jones movement have
privately assured me that they and
their friends will vote against McKin-
leyism and Hannaism this year.
The most vital element in the situa-
ton is Mayor Jones himself He does
not pretend to be able to swing his fol-
lowers in a mass from one side to the
other, nor does he for a moment propose
to relax his fight for the non-partisan
idea in politics; that is. the system of
nominating candidates for office by free
petition and not by bOss-ridden party
conventions. Up to today he has been
a mystery to the professional polite
ians All realize the tremendous power
which he holds in his hands. The ques-
ton which the leaders have been trying
to solve is whether Mayor Jones will
throw the weight of his influence with
the enormous detached mass of Ohio
voters in favor of President Mckinley
or against him.
My position this year." said Mayor
Jones, will be this: I am opposed to
the old party and boss system but in
the presidential contest my support will
be given to the party whose platform
contributes most to the cause of human
liberty and the uplifting of the plain
people to higher level of life The
nOn-partisan movement will be inhu-
enced more by true and noble political
ideals than by any sordid appeals to the
stomach or the pocket. We are anx-
ious TO arouse larger, purer patriot
Ism IN the people. It is degrading to
ask man to vote for something that
VIII help him materially for the mo-
Inent at the expense of other men. The
republican and Democratic parties
ooth base their arguments too much on
mere material considerations OF course
the Democrats stand on higher ground
much higher ground than the Republi-
cans. II the Democratic national plat
form is lifted little more to a purer
IeYel OF ideal politics I have no doubt
tnal ohio viii be carried by the Demo-
cratic candidate this year.
How will you vote yourself, Mr..
Jones? Holding the views that YOU do
you cannot escape the responsibility OF
throwing the weight of your influence
on one side or the other in the coming
struggle between Mr.. Mckinley and Mr.
Bryan. Your influence may be decisive
IN this state. and it is likely the elector-
a vote OF Ohio viii settle the election.
10 vote In the air through a third party
VIII De merely an indirect way of help
ing one side or the other OF course
you will not be guilty OF that"
nave thought it all over carefully. -
sald Mr.. Jones gravely, land I have no
qoupt that 1 will support Mr.. Bryan If
ne is nominated"
Do you see any hope of relief from
party?'' a.
None whatever. But want To soc
the Democratic platform before I make