Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-23
Free Silver Likely to Drop Into the
Background.
MANY INTERESTED IN OTHER QUESTIONS
Democrats Will Stick by the
Chicago Platform.
FIG Z RING ON EXPENSES

The visit of Mr.. Bryan to Washington
was not made the occasion to discuss the
eligibility of possible candidates for the
vice presidency on the democratic ticket
The question which now occupies the atten-
ton of Mr. Bryan and his friends is that of
raising sufficient money for the next cam
paign and the perfection of the party or
ganization. The idea that he and Jones Of
and then to ask each other if they still ad-
here to free silver and the Chicago plat
form is erroneous. There is no doubt about
the devotion of either of them to that in
strument. and any one who INDUCES in the
belief that there is simply fools himself and
helps to make it easier for those who would
Ike to Join Bryan in opposition to trusts
and Imperialism but object to silver.
After the eAnti-Imperialists.
The things that Mr.. Rryan's friends are
now figuring on how to get the best ad-
vantage out of whatever anti-imperaSist
sentiment there is in the country the German
and Irish resentment of the extreme friend
Lness that has grown up between this gov
ernment and Great Britain, and the general
cry against trusts. without losing any of
the support that came to Bryan in 90 on
account OF the silver issue. 1t is felt by
many "f BrEans supporters that he sill oe
aided in this by the fact that the publ,
cannot become again as much excited over
the money question as they We're in 90.
ana that. therefore. adhering to silver as
persistently as he will. it will not be the
issue Ii was a. that time in the sense of OBJ
scur1ng everything else. 1t is calculat ed
that Bryan's loyalty to silver not being
Questioned by any one who is we'll informed
he Will have the support next fall of all those
VINO before supported him on that account
ana that while the feeling will not be as in
tense as in gj, all who could withstand the
pressure put upon them at that time to
break them away from this object of parti-
san worship will stick to the party that
stances for silver in another campaign.
thouSh they do not get as excited over it,
Not 81 Burning Question.
At the same time while calculating that
lack Of interest will not cost the party any
OF the silver votes, it will, on the other
hand, deprive the question of much of the
terror it had for people in the business
world when it was a burning issue In other
words. they do not fear much from the ex-
hsustion of those who have shouted their
lungs dry for silver in the east but do ex-
pect benefit from the Indifference of those
VINO before We're violently opposed. They
th'nk that the financial bill Of the admins
Iation now before Congress will have the
double effect of irTevocably aiIying all who
oppose the single gold standard to the
Bryan cause and of allaying the apprehen-
slons OF those who fear free silver. The
silver men will be offended and more
quietly determined, they think, while the
gold men will feel reasonably secure with
such a law on the statute books, and will
not have such fear of Bryan's election as
they had in 90
This situation they think opens the way
Tor recruits to the Bryan forces from
among men VINO oppose the administration
on other grounds while believing in its
financial policy.
1t will not be the policy of Mr.. Bryan and
mis- adviser: to push the money question
into the background. On the contrary, they
Will constantly reiterate their devotion to
that cause, and will make as much of 1t as
IL Will stand; but, at the same time, it is
not believed that this will fix the attention
of the people generally and make that the
main point of interest in the campaign.
IN spite of all that may be said on the
money question, the fact that it has been
discussed so much and that there are newer
and more interesting questions will make
the public view it with more or less indif-
terence.
Attracted by Newer Questions.
When the money question, together with
many other questions, are discussed from
the stump it is anticipated that the people
themselves will determine what interests
them the most, and that the things they will
take home with them and chew over and
talk about in hotel corridors, at clubs on
street corners, by the roadside, at the coun-
try post office and the corner grocery store
VIII be the newer questions of British SYM
pathy. imperialism. the growth Of trusts
and the money power viewed irrespective
of coinage.
Meanwhile, no matter what the general
run of people think about it. the democratic
party will continue to be the party of the
Chicago platform, and its aim, if put in
power will be to carry out the principal
provisions of that platform to the best OF
its ability. The better this is understood
the more intelligently the campaign can be
conducted.