Evening journal., 1900-04-19
THURSDAY, APRIL 10. 1900
nEMocRArIc srocK IN TRApE.

DEMOCRATIC STUN IN TRADE.
Enterprising correspondents in
Washington have made a canvass Of
prominent Democratic members of
Congress to ascertain from them what,
in their opinion, should be the issues
from a Democratic viewpoint in the
presidential campaign. Here is the net
result:
Senator Vest, Of Missouri: "The Chi
cagO platform with such additions as
the developments OF the past four years
have made necessary and expedient."
Senator Taliaferro. Florida: Bryan,
the old principles and such new ones as
have arisen
Senator Martin, Virginia: "The Chi
cagO platform, trusts, militarism and
the mistakes of the Mckinley adminis-
tration."
Representative Livingstone, Georgia.
If the boilers Of '96 return they will
be welcomed"
Representative Hay, OF Virginia:
Bryan, free silver, anti-imperialism,
anti-trusts and militarism will be the
issues"
Representative Slayden, OF Texas
THE Issues will be made prominent
by the people themselves"
Representative sulzer, Of New York:
THE Chicago platform will be re-
affirmed"
There is something charming in the
evasiveness OF Senator Vests reply,
and he and Senator Taliaferro. OF
Florida, must have compared notes be-
fore making their statements. Senator
Martin is more frank. The Chicago
platform and the partisan fight against
trusts are old issues, but "militarlsm
and the mistakes OF the Mckinley adj
ministraton" are new ones. We won
der il Senator Martin has forgotten
with what unanimity the Democratic
members Of Congress voted war funds
TO make that mllitarism possible and
effective. No doubt the Mckinley ad-
ministration has made mistakes
every administration does-but It IS an
encouraging fact that no administra-
tion, Republican or Democratic. ever
made fewer mistakes. Big mistakes
are foreign to its history, and even
small mistakes are rare.
In the reply OF Representative Llv-
ingstone, Of Georgia, there is food for
reflection for the 1000 or more good
Delaware Democrats who four years
ago voted the Palmer and Buckner
ticket. He wastes no words, but says:
IF the bolters OF '9G will return they
viii be welcomed" This means, pri-
marily, that the Bryan-16-to-1 leaders
need their votes, and, secondarily, that
il they will return they must accept
Bryan for their leader and the Chicago
platform for their political creed. In
demonstration Of this, Representative
Hay, another Southern representative
places Bryan and free silver at the
head OF the issues, following them
with anti-imperlalism, anti-trusts and
militarism. The prospect is gloomy fol
any true Palmer and Buckner Demo-
crat who has not changed his financial
spots for the sake OF political expe.
diency.
In Representative Slayden, Texas
has sent to the national capital a mar
who must be a firm believer In tn,
referendum principle. To read his re
ply one might imagine that he nevet
had heard Of such a thing as a conven
tion. "The issues win be made promi
nent by the people themselves" n,
says. The Democratic leaders mus
have left him out Of their confdenc
entirely; but, even under such condi
tions, he might have surmised wha
one or two Of the issues to be raise
would be.
Representative Sulzer, OF New York
seems to see nothing ahead but tn
Chicago platform and its reaffirm
ton. He is not swept of his feet b
the anti-expansion cry, and even tn
failure Of President Mckinley to in
teryene in South Africa does not wor
him into a wealth Of Democratic elc
quence and denunciation.
Taking the Democratic stock /
trade as inventoried by the Democrat
leaders themselves, and discardin
what has been on the party shelves fc
at least four years, it is apparent tn.
the Kansas City Convention win ha,
little that is Of value to offer II
American voter this Fall.
one OF the immediate benefits whic