The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-18
Mr.. BRYAN ON THE issues
Effect of Sixteen TO One on the
An.i-Imperialist Vote.
Gold Democrats Who Oppose the Adj
miniStTation's Expansion Policy
should Not Find Stumbling
Block In the Monetary Declaration
of the Kansas City Pintforhs-

LINCOLN, Neb., July 17.-Mr. Bryaa is
strongly of the opinion that Gold Demo
Gratis who are opposed to Imperialism
should and will subordinate their opposi-
tion to the free-coinage plank and give
him their support. He believes this be-
cause he thinks imperialism is the supreme
issue, the one upon which all others can
and must wait.
He was asked today whether the fact
that some of the opponents of Imperialism
had announced they would not support him
because he had insisted upon the insertion
OF the specific mention of 16 to l in the
platform would seriously affect the anti
imperialistic vote. He replied:
Several gold-standard opponents of i'm
perialsm have already announced their in
tention TO support the Democratic ticket,
although the Anti-Imperialist League has
not acted officially.
I'm such matter each Individual is
governed by his own views as to the rela-
tive Importance of the issues. The Demo-
cratic platform declares the question Of
Imperialism to be the paramount issue.
If any opponent Of Imperialism refuses to
support the Democratic ticket because OF
the silver plank it must be because he
considers the money question mere impor-
tant than the Philippine question; that is,
he prefers a goid-standard Empire to BIZ
metallic Republic.
When the test comes I believe that
those who adhere TO the doctrine that
Governments derive their just powers not
from superior force, but from the consent
OF the governed. will support our ticket,
even though they do not endorse the silver
plank. a large majority of the Democrats
believe that restoration OF bimetallism
would prove q blessing. But the anti
imperialists who dispute this will admit
that any evils that might arise from BIZ
metaliism could be corrected more easily
than the evils which would follow from the
deliberate endorsement OF militarism and
Imperialism
quite number of the Gold Democrat
leaders In Nebraska have, in the past three
years, become friendly toward Bryan. They
hoped, however. for better treatment than
was accorded them at Kansas City. There
will not be any effort made to secure the
nomination Of Gold Democratic ticket. SO
far as Nebraska is concerned and the ef
forts of Eastern Democrats who have been
sounding sentiment in the West have re-
ceived practically no encouragement here.
or the fifteen men who were the actual
leaders of the bolt in 1896. eight have
quietly returned to the Democratic rarty.
four have as quietly allied them
selves with the Republicans. aud
the remainder are in various
stages OF progression toward Dcnoc-
rlcy. This fairly represents the oondi-
tion Of the Gold Democrats of Nebraska.
twot thirds of whom will doubtless vote for
Bryan this year. The only man who has
essayed leadership CT the Gold Democrats.
]. Sterling Morton. is without a following.
There is no one else who desires the place
This has been very uneventfui day with
Mr.. Bryan. He has had a very few callers,
all neighbors and Nebraska acquaintance,
and they did not stay lcrg. This left him
free to do what he liked and that was
long day in his library with his steno-
grapher,
According TO the plans made by the Ma
t!onal Committee and communicated to Mr.
Bryan by r. E. Burke. OF Chicago. he is
expected to arrive in Chicago on August {.
No definite arrangements will be made un-
til it is settled whether he starts from
Lincoln or from the resort he hopes 10 be
able TO visit beforehand.
From Chicago he IS to be taken on
specLal Tain. accompanied by Mr. Steven
son and the National Committee. to H.
di2napolis. No set speeches on campaign
issues Will be made unit. after the noti-
fication, but Mr. Bryan expects 10 have
scme trouble in DENYING himself TO tie
crowds along the way. The Chicago Demo
Gratis are insistent upon Mr.. Bryan spend
ing one day there, and he has practically
consented 10 do so.
Mr. Bryan's attention was called to the
publication by en- Eastern news agency of
a statement or interview with him in which
he discussed the Chinese question at some
length. lie said that he had made no such
statement. nor had he given out any inter-
view at all upon the question