Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-07-26


William Jennings Bryan had insisted
upon the appointment of Col. James
M. Guffey, Of Pennsylvania, as a men,
ber Of the executive committee of the
Democratic national committee. While
this intelligence to the outside world
would not be calculated to cause more
than passing comment to Pennsylva-
MIA Democrats, and Republicans as
we'll, this selection is particularly sig
nificant. Col. Guffey, as one of the
chief advisers and manipulators in the
Democratic national campaign, will be
looked upon with interest and curiosity
as the prime mover in Pennsylvania in
the great fusion movement for the cap
ture of the legislature of the Keystone
state from the Republican organization
and the possible election of Col. Guffey
himself as fusion candidate for Uni
ted States senator.
While Col. Guffey, as a member Of
Bryan's Democratic national commit
tees executive committee, will be ap-
pealing throughout the national cam
paign to Democrats to stand by the
Bryan ticket, in the hope of capturing
the presidency, he will In Pennsylva-
MIA be the leading figure among those
Democrats and insurgent politicians
who will, under the guise of reform,
seek to lead Republicans from their
party organization to help elect fu-
sion members of the legislature. The
insurgents under the lead of Martin, OF
Philadelphia, and Finn. Of Pittsburg.
will work hand in hand with Guffey in
the legislative fight. Guffey will wisely
take advantage Of the opportunity to
elect Democrats, where, with the Re-
publican party united, there would not
be any chance for Democrat to go to
Harrisburg. Besides aiding In making
strife in the Republican party, Guffey
sees a chance to elect Democrats to
congress, where otherwise there would
be not the slightest show for the defeat
of the regular Republican nominees.
While Col. Guffey will be entreating
Republicans in Pennsylvania to desert
their party candidates and support the
fusion tickets for the legislature, he
will find that he will be without the
votes Of the sound money Democrats,
who are openly declaring their pur-
pose to vote for President Mckinley
and the whole Republican ticket this
fall. Pennsylvania is furnishing her
full share of this former Democratic
vote which will continue to be cast
with the Republican party as long as
the Democracy stands for the 16 to
idea on the financial issue.
AGAINST 16 TO l.
Every county in the Keystone state
has its due proportion of former DEM
ocrats who will not vote the Bryan
ticket this year and who will not be led
by Guffey or anybody else in touch
with the Bryan campaign into voting
the fusion tickets for the legislature.
They are for straightout Republicanism
and all that implies. and they will be
among the most ardent opponents Of
fusion. They want to see full dele
CATION sent to congress to thwart the
Democratic plans on the silver issue,
and they know that the only way to ac-
complish this is to make the Republi-
can Organization in this state as strong
as possible.
Pennsylvania is relied upon by the
advocates Of the gold standard to send
almost a solid delegation to congress.
A Democratic house, even though Nc
Kinley would be elected, would en-
barrass the Republican administration
in many respects.
1t Is, therefore. important that solid
front should be presented to the COM
mon enemy. With the Republican
party, aided by the sound money and
rational element of the old Democ-
racy, standing side by side in the COM
ing campaign there will De no occasion
to regret the result of the coming elec
tion in the Keystone state.
Some little interest Is taken in the
coming meeting In Indianapolis. where
1t Is proposed to discuss the advisable
ity of nominating a third presidential
ticket; that Is, a ticket which sound
money Democrats might support.
But the feeling Is so intense against
the action of the Bryan Democracy at
Kansas City in interfering the 16 to 1
plank in the platform that the men
who were the leaders Of the third par
ty movement four years ago in the
Democratic party are now advocating
the support of the Republican ticket
from fOn to hOtfOm in Ordar to yuinQ