The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-01-23
BRYANS EASTERN TOUR
The Democratic Leader Refuses to
49,. Discuss Candidates,
BUT WILL STICK TO SILVER.

His Dinner With the President Of
the New York Democratic Club To-
night IL Resarded with Special Sig
niAcance.
New York, Jan. 23.-William J.
Bryan arrived in Jersey City from
Washington yesterday and was met by
James oliver, sergeant-at-arms of the
Democratic national committee, and
number Of newspaper reporters. Mr..
Bryan was escorted to the Hoffman
House, the headquarters of the state
Democracy, in which hotel a suite Of
rooms had been engaged for him. Mr..
Bryan said to the reporters that he
hoped his presence In New York would
contribute to general good feeling all
around.
Mr.. Bryan breakfasted at the Hotf-
man House with Ex-Governor Hogg Of
Texas, DR.. w. J. Girdner, one of the
leaders of the Chicago platform Demo-
Gratis, and James oliver. Mr.. Bryan
had number Of callers during the
day, but the hotel was by no means
crowded.
One Of Mr.. Bryan's callers asked
him what he thought Of o. H. P. Bel
mont as vice presidential candidate.
II am not saying word about can
didates Just now" he replied.
A reporter asked Mr.. Bryan later IL
there was any truth In a statement in
a morning paper that he was gradu-
ally abandoning the silver issue.
II am tired Of denying those stories,'
Mr.. Bryan answered. II will keep
right on In the same line have fol-
lowed all along. l adhere to my belief
in the Chicago platform, but, of course.
I don't object to throwing in some
more issues for good measure"
Mr.. Bryan later, when asked If he
had any plans for bringing back Gold
Democrats to the party, replied:
Eyes. have plan. In the first
place many have already come back.
In the second place there are some who
never will come back, and it is no use
to work on them. In the third place
there are some who will return on enc
or two grounds, either that they now
like the Chicago platform, although
they did not in 80, or that they favor
the Democratic position on new ques-
lions that have arisen since then and
are willing to take the whole platform
while not agreeing with every part
Of 1t.
1.-THE only way to keep present DEM
ocrats In the party and bringing Gold
Democrats back, and inducing Repub-
leans to join us, is to advocate meas
ures that are best for the people, and
thus deserve their support. I believe
that the Chicago platform, with the
addition of new questions, including
strong planks against trusts and i'm
perialism, would give excuse to every
body to vote the Democratic ticket in
1900"
Mr.. Bryan was the guest of honor at
a dinner given by O. Fl. P. Belmont
last night at his residence on Fifth
avenue. The dinner was private, no
reporters being admitted, and to
pencilled note Mr.. Belmont made re-
Spouse: "There will be nothing at,
during or after the dinner for pub
LEGATION. The dinner is a purely social
affair, and of no public interest" Mr..
Bryan was the only guest Of national
prominence, but big men in Tammany
Hall were present.
Mr.. Bryan will spend today in New
York, and this evening will be the
guest of John W. Keller, president of
the Democratic club, at the club. This
dinner Is understood to mean that Mr..
Bryan and the Tammany organization
are in complete harmony, whereas ten
months ago Mr.. Bryan and Perry Bel
mont, then president of the Demo-
cratic club, were exchanging bitter let
tiers.
Tomorrow night Mr.. Bryan Is to ad-
dress meeting in Jersey City. Con-
gresham DAILY and. Robert Davis, Of
Jersey City, have sought to induce Mr..
, Bryan to drop silver in the Jersey City
speech, and 1t Is thought they had
made some impression on the Nebras-
kan, but he said yesterday:
IT intend to discuss all three living
issues of the day-money, trusts and
imperialism--in my speeches. I am
getting tired of having one particular
topic suggested for my speeches by
those who like one theme more than
another"
Mr.. Bryan gives the following out
line of his eastern itinerary: Thurs
day, Harrisburg. Pa; Friday. Will
mington and Smyrna. Del; Saturday,
the guest of the Gridiron club, WASH
ington; Monday, Providence; Tues
day, Boston; Wednesday. Portland,
Me-; Thursday. Concord, N. H.; Friday,
Montpelier, vt.; Saturday, Holyoke
and Springfield. Mass. He then re-
turns to the west.