Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-19
MAP OF THE THEATRE OF WAR IN CAPE COLONY.
REPUBLICANS CAMPAIGN.
Senator flltt foreshadows the Possible Plat
form This Year
uls Views on Bimetalllsm, Colonial
Government, and what The Amer-
lean People VIII DO.

New York Feb. l9-The Herald
quotes Senator Plat Of New York
as saying in an interview. "While the
Republican platform upon which we
win make our next campaign has not
been definitely decided upon. ii is pretty
well understood that We will make cur
fight on the line OF policy Of the pres
ent administration. The campaign is
being shaped every day. and the Demo-
Gratis are entitled TO all the comfort they
are able to derive from what they seem
delighted TO call Republican mistakes.
THE ridiculous exhibition of incapa-
city on the part OF the Democratic lead
ers while the financial bill was pending
IN Congress was sufficient TO convince
all observing persons that they are
hardly capable OF conducting the busl-
ness affairs Of this great nation in a
manner acceptable to the American
people.
II understand the Democratic leaders
are declaring that we weakened on the
silver question by adopting q bimetallic
amendment to the financial bill in the
Senate and they propose TO make that
one Of their campaign issues They
also assert that they will draw heavily
from our forces II the refundlng provis-
ion OF the financial bin becomes law.
Some Of my constituents are troubled
about that bimetallic amendment. and
I have received several letters on the
subject asking II the Republicans had
not lowered their cOlOrs 10 the silver
hosts by the adoption of that amend
ment. My reply has invariably been
that there was no lowering Of colors
TO the silver forces or no substantial de-
Walton from the former policy Of the
Republican party relative TO the sub
ject Of bimetallism.
THE Senate amendment TO the finan-
cial Dill, which was offered by Senator
Aldrich AZ the instance Of the COM
mittee on finance. was simply declara-
ton or a reatiirmatiOn of the party
principles on that subject as laid down
In the last national platform OF the Re-
publican party.
AS to our colonial policy. that is be-
ing formed now. and | have not given
the subject sufficient investigation TO
discuss IL AZ this time. our policy to-
ward Hawaii Is pretty well defined, and
before the coming week expires We may
have n pretty good idea what we in
tend TO do with regard 10 Puerto Rico.
In the discussion OF the Puerto Rico
question the whole question Of our
colonial possessions win come up, and
as there Is a wide difference Of opinion
on the subject. II would be premature
TO attempt TO build a party platform
so far in advance Of the meeting OF the
national convention.
'At the proper time President McKin-
ley and Senator Hanna. chairman Of
the national Republican committee,
viii call conference Of the party lead
ers, with a view to determining upon
what lines II may be deemed advisable
TO make the campaign. | have not
been consulted by either President Nc
Klnley or Mr. Hanna on the subject,
and | don't know that shall be, but my
interest In the success OF the party in
duces me to try and keep posted as TO
what Is going on within our lines, and
when get a chance | take a peer into
the enemy's camp.
II deprecate everything that savors
Of overconildence In q political contest.
and therefore ] am not going TO fol-
low the example Of the Democratic
leaders by making a lot OF rash preiic-
tons as TO the future. In my judg-
ment. the majority Of the people In this
country are satisfied that their inter-
ests are better protected by the Repub.
lican party than they would be II the
administration were turned over TO the
Democrats. / rely upon the intelligence
Of the American people 10 choose be-
tween Mckinley and BRYAN"