New-York tribune., 1900-08-04
ERIE COUNTY'S CONDITION.
SILVER AND ANTIEXPANSION LIKELY
TO DEFEAT BRYAN - STRONG
LOCAL NOMINATIONS.

IN 1870, amounting tG lO4SO votes, that
naturally politicians are specializing about the
probable outcome Of the election there this year.
Intervening elections have not all been favorable
10 the Republican party, in 1897. for instance,
the Democratic party. having a plurality of 155
votes IN the county, for its candidate for Chief
Judge OF the Court of Appeals Alton B. Parker.
which was a backward step for the voters to
take. Some unfortunate local nominations,
however, contributed to this result. Yet it
must be acknowledged that the county showed
a persistently Democratic feeling. for in 1898
Augustus Van wyck the Democratic candidate
for Governor. had 242 plurality in the county.
In 1S99 however with more discreetly named
candidates for county offices the Republican
party was successful in carrying the county
The present year also the Republican outlook
is favorable. Three four elements contribute
TO this result among them dissension among the
Democrats, dissatisfaction Of the Gold Demo-
Gratis with the readoption of the is to plank
demanding the free coinage Of silver into dol
lars on that ratio, and an apparent determine
ton by the Republican leaders 10 make strong
nominations on their local and Legislative
ticket.
David B. Hills friends in the Democratic
party here resent his rejection by the New
York delegates to the Democratic National Con-
vention when he was a candidate for the posi-
tion of New-York's representative upon the
Committee on Resolutions. The Erie County
delegates joined hands with Richard Croker in
this insult TO Mr.. Hill, and it is recognized that
they did so for consideration, namely, the
sIection Of Norman E. Mack. of Buffalo as New
York's representative in the Democratic Ma
fional Committee. Possibly, also, there was
second consideration-that Of the nomination
Of Senator Mackey. Of Buffalo. either for Gov
ernor or Lieutenant Governor. Mr. Hill has
many Democratic friends in Erie County. II
was a county whose Democratic politics, 1t may
he remembered, were controlled for many years
by William F. Sheehan. one Of Mr.. HilPs most
trusted leutenants. There is keen resentment
felt therefore by the Sheehan-Hill Democrats
over the attack made upon Mr.. Hill at Kansas
City and indignation over the conduct OF Mr.
Mack the Democratic leader here, in coun-
tenancing that attack because OF his personal
ambitions It is also felt by them that William
J. Bryan himself inspired this attack upon Mr.
Hill because Of the latter's efforts to eliminate
the 10 to / plank from the Democratic plat
form. Mr. Mack has had such an intimate per-
.sonaI friendship with Mr.. Bryan since 1896 also
that it is believed he knew all about the plan
10 deprive Mr.. Hill of membership in the Com
mittee on Resolutions of the Democratic Ma
tional Convention from its inception and yet
made no protest against its consummation
HILLS FOLLOWERS INCENSED.
That the resentment of the Hill Democrats is
likely TO reveal itself at the polls in Erie County
IS evident by the action taken by ex-Judse
Jacob Stern one OF their leaders. Mr.. stern
was once the Democratic candidate for Mayor or
Buffalo. In 1886 he one Of the few prom
, fnent Democrats Of Erie County who zealously
supported Bryan for President People there
fore expected that he would support Mr.. Bryan
this year. but he has surprised every one by
stating plainly his opposition to the election OF
Nr Bryan Mr.. Stern says that he is a believer
in the Nations expansion, and. referring to MI
Brvan's course and those Of other Democrats
who are opposing the expansion policy, he says:
These gentlemen have done all they could to
keep the Filipino rebellion alive by their con-
slant fire on the Administration, and 1 believe
with many others that their conduct has caused
the death of many of our soldiers and sailors
Now they talk ot the terrible sacrlhce OF hTes
in the Philippines. It is enough to disgust the
Iarcest kind of a Democrat Better, far better,
another four years of Mckinley than putting
such men in the saddle
Ex-Judge Sterns resentment over the exclu-
sion OF Mr.. Hill from the Committee on Resolu-
tions OF the Democratic National Convention, at
the demand Of Mr.. Bryan. is shown by the fol-
lowing statement:
The difference between Mr.. Mckinley and Mr..
Bryan is that the former is conservative and the
latter radical. The former gave indication of
dominating the Republican Convention but Mr..
Bryan, with a boldness unheard Of absolutely
controlled the Democrats When a man asCends
so high and becomes powerful and assumes
the dictatorship Of a great party, then it be
hooVes the people TO go slow and think several
times before placing in his hand the greatest of
sll powers-the Presidency Of the United States.
William f. Sheehan was here few days ago,
avowedly upon a business mission solely. but he
did not avoid meeting his former political asso-
ciates and Iieutenants, and it is therefore be-
leved his visit had political well bust
ness purpose. Mr.. Sheehan is believed to be as
much opposed TO Richard Croker in Buffalo as
he is in New-York, and TO look with much dis
favor upon Crokers evident scheme to create a
little Tammany in Erie County.
The prominent Gold Democrats almost unani-
mously are opposed TO Bryan and favor the re-
election of President Mckinley. Franklin D.
Locke has spoken out In most decisive terms
against Bryan. General George S. Field has de-
cIared in favor of Mckinley and Roosevelt.
Spencer Clinton has said that the issue is the
as in 1896, and vote for third ticket is
vote thrown away. Harvey D. Williams has
declared his opposition to Bryan. and so also
have Frank N. Loomis and Ansley Wilcox. Mr..
Locke said in the present week in reference to
the contest for the Presidency:
Tho main issue of the proposition to coin
silver at a ratio Of 16 TO l is precisely the same
as in 1896 and therefore the result Of the cleo
ton, IN Tny opinion, viii be the same, unless the
gold standard men become oyerconfdent and
neglect TO vote. do not know Of five Gold
Democrats in Buffalo who intend to vote for
Bryan. The Bryan Democrats see how un-
popular the 16 To / plank is, and ever since they
letUrned from Kansas City have been attempt
ing to get away from the declaration, but they
will find it impossible TO do The people will
hold them and M. Bryan to that plank. II re-
minds me Of the political situation in 1864. when
the Democratic National Convention declared
that the Civil War a failure. Then followed
the victory al Atlanta and several other Union
successes Democratic bad No