The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-07-11
STANDS WHERE HE
STOOD LAST TIME
EX-CoMPTRoLLER ECKELS FIRM
AGAINST BRYAN.
Gives Reasons Why No self-Re-
specting Democrat Should consort
with the Spawn of Modern Popu-
lism as Typifed in the Candidacy
of the Nebraska Party Boss.

Chicago, July 1O-James II. Eckels
comptroller Of the currency during
President Clevelands second admins
tration and now president of the Com
mercial National Bank, of Chicago, is
as firm against the election of William
j. Bryan as president as he was In
1896, and as a sound money Democrat
will do his utmost to encompass the
Nebra skan's defeat. In an interview
with q representative of the Times
Herald yesterday Mr.. Eckels thus de-
fiend his reasons for the course he has
adopted:
IL did not support Mr. Bryan il 1896, and |
don't intend to now | shall oppose his election
this year with all the yigor and ability l pos.
sess do not feel that J could stand to my con-
yictions by remaining merely passive and con.
tenting myself with simply voting against him,
No issue set forth in any platform no matter
how cunningly devised and arranged in this
campaign can be made paramount to the issue
OF Mr. Bryan himself, his erroneous views Of pub
lie questions, his numerous yagares and his de-
monstratcd desire to find popularity and votes
In never absent appeal TO class preudiCes and
supposed race hatredS.
| am still a Democrat, IL believing in Demo.
cratic principles correctly interpreted and prop.
cry enforced as an agency for good constitutes
true Democracy; but | am not one il the utter.
ances Of the platform adopted at Chicago four
years since and just rc.aiiImcd and re c-emphasized
at Kansas City are the right expression Of what
modern Democracy stands for.
Isms of Populism.
The many isms Of Populsm were abhorrent
four years since to my sense Of what was safe
and sound in the operations of government and
the general welbeing OF the people, because
viewed them as being fundamentally wrong, and,
being so, neither lapse Of time nor errors Of the
party in power reconcile me to their adoption
or make it possible that | should support can.
didate who not only approves Of them, but is
their best embodiment and most vigorous cham
pion.
have not read all OF Mr. Bryan's uttcranccs
during the past four years, but | have taken note
Of enough Of them to know that his views have
not changed any important question since
1890, and his determination to stir up class
strife is not less manifest. Throughout all his
addresses. public and private, is shown uniformly
an apparent pleasure in preaching the desinbilt.
~ Of discord between employe and employer,
class and class No appeal ever comes from him
which is not tingcd with advice to those who
must work TO distruSt those who must employ.
Harmful to Labor.
All this is not only un. American, but 1t is un.
Just, unfair and harmful most Of all TO the labor
er, for whose well.bcing beyond all others it is
necessary that complete harmony between capital
and labor and not continual antagonism should
exist. The interests Of labor are never in such
great jeopardy when intrusted TO a man who
has the gift OF oratory coupled with unhounded
political ambition and no business judgment or
training.
No man is fitted for the presidency who day
IN and day out pToclaims in the midst Of a
demonstrated better condition Of affairs, the re-
verse to he true in order to ioment discomfort,
which will gain TO himself and party political
advantage.
Mr.. Bryan, without the craftsmanship TO
snayze the conditions as they exist and find a