Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-01-26

States to-day by making Col. VIM j..
Bryan it's choice for the presidency in
1900. This action was taken by the
committee while Col. Bryan was on his
way to Harrisburg from New York 20
attend the meeting and confer with the
party leaders. This Is probably the
first time in the party's history that the
Democrats of Pennsylvania have indi-
Gated their choice for president in ad-
vance of the State convention.
There was a large attendance of
Democrats from over the State to meet
Col. Bryan and hear him discuss the
issues on which the coming campaign
will be waged.
The State convention will be held III
this city on April 5, and will adept a
platform along the lines laid down by
the Nebraska orator in his speech to-
night before 5000 people at the Kelker
street hall. The platform will endorse
the Chicago declaration of principles,
denounce the trusts and imperialism.
advocate ballot reform and pure cleo
tons and condemn machine politics.
The convention will also nominate
candidates for auditor general, Con-
gress at large and presidential electors
and elect eight delegates at large to the
national convention.
Col. Bryan reached here at 8 o'clock
and wal escorted to the Board of Trade
rooms, where the State committee was
in session by a committee representing
the State and local Democratic COM
mittees. He was introduced to the as
semblage by Chairman Killing and
made a short speech which was receiv-
cd with much enthusiasm. At the close
CT ne meeting he held an informal re-
ception at the Commonwealth hotel,
and later he was
The Guest of Mayor Fritchey
at a dinner party at which Col. Guffey,
Chairman Killing and other party lead
ers were present.
After to-night's meeting he attended
a session of the local lodge of Modern
Woodmen, of which he is an active
member at his home in Lincoln. Col.
Bryan will go from here to Whining
ton, Del, and from there to Washing
ton to meet the national leaders. Con-
gressmen Hall, of Elk, Polk, of Column
bia, and Green, of Berks, who came
here last night with the expectation Of
meeting MI. Bryan, were called to
Washington before he reached here to
vote on the Roberts expulsion resolu-
The meeting in Kicker street hall to-
night was the largest political gather
ing ever held in Harrisburg. Mr..
Bryan was introduced by Chairman
Killing and spoke for two hours. He
said:
81 congratulate the Democracy Of
Pennsylvania on the suspicious open
ing of the campaign Of 1900." Mr..
Bryan said.
I'm 1896 the Democracy of this State,
in spite of assertions and dispensions,
polled a vote almost equal to any for
mer vote for a Democratic candidate.
This year, unless signs fail, we shall
IarooIv ipcroaca our uota in tbic Cfo4o
both because of the issues and be-
cause of the hostility which machine
politics is arousing among Republicans
who believe that the people Of Penn
.sylvania ought to be allowed to gov
ern themselves, even If they have
doubts upon the rights of the Fill
pinos to govern themselves"
Mr.. Bryan said that in 1850 Mr.. Lin
coin wrote a letter in which he said
that the Republican party believed in
the man and the dollar, but that in
the ease of conflict it believed in
The Man Before the Dollar.
81 want to assert" he added, that
to-day the Republican party, instead
of putting the man first and the dol
lar afterward, put the dollar first and
the man afterward, If at all. People
ask why / don't drop the money ques-
ton, as il / were to drop it, 1t might
break. 1t would have no effect on the
money question If did drop 1t. It is
in the keeping of no man, and it
would NOT make any difference whether
I adhere to it or disregard il But II
you will ask me why / do not drop it,
| viii tell you that / am not willing
that a handful of English bankers
shall control seventy millions OF Amer
lean people. But you will hear the
people say that new conditions have
arisen that now make the gold stan
dard palatable. Isn't 1t strange that
men who have labored 10 fasten the
gold standard on this country for
thirty years should now be defending
their position by arguments that have
arisen since the eiection7 When, I say,
that reserses IN . val with = hand