The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-21
NEXT DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION

washington, January lS--lnc pohuVia"D
are looking forward TO the February meet
ing OF the democratic National committee
with keen interest. II is generally re-
garded as likely 20 be the most interest
ing meeting OF a committee in recent
years In addition to determining the I
place at which the next presidential can
didAte OF the democracy will be nominated
the committee will have to determine ne
tween two opposing crowds when II comes
10 fx the date OF the convention
Whether the nominating convention shal'
be early or late has assumed even more
important phase than where the CONVEX
tlon shall be held OF course, the contest |
between Cincinnati Milwaukee ana nan
sas City viii be spirited, aud the frienus OF
these three cities have been persistent ia
presenting arguments TO the National com
mitteemen In favor OF their respective 10
callties, hut the question when the con
yenton shall be held Is one which at tho
present time Is assuming the greatest I'M
porlAnce. Unless all signs fail there wlil
be clashing OF ldcus at the meeting oi
the committee on February %, which WIN
determine largely the issues and the mau
ner IN which the campaign OF 1900 rs TO D"
conducted
After the civil war ended and during tho
long period OF time intervening between
1860 and 1884, when tho republican party
was dominant in the politics of tho Ma
ton. the democracy contented itself with
being party of opposition II was re-
garded by' the old time leaders as being
! tho wsest policy to watch for the mistakes
~ the republicans aud oppose All govern
| mental policies originating with the repub-
| lican party. With the single exception OF
Tllden. the party during this long period
| OF time did not have an affirmative policy
IN any OF the presidential campaigns,
custom grew out OF this condition OF At
I fairs 10 wait untll the republicans had
7 held their convention, but this year new
condition prevails and there are many ag-
4 gressive democratic leaders who are dc
handing that an early convention be held
! and that the National democracy take an
! early stand and begin to press its cam
paign without waiting to see what tho 70
/ publicens are going to do.
There can be no question about the
! growth OF this sentiment within the past
few weeks. II has been demonstrated in
! the bold aggresslveness OF Western con-
grossmen and in the confidence Of num-
Der OF representatives from the South, who
declare that IT Is time he democratic par
" adopted AN affirmative policy and
ceased to be merely party OF opposition.
~
The charge has been frequently made by
the republican press that the democratic
party was simply a party Of negation that
it waited for the republicans to formulate
d distinct policy and then opposed that
policy regardless OF It's merit. There has
been some color OF truth in this charge
The democrats are understood to be anti
trust anti-gold standard. anti-imperIal-
ism, anti National banks, etc, ana 1T Is
understood here that the younger element
OF the party are IN favor OF adopting an
, aggressive affirmative policy by holding
the democratic National convention during
May. of outlining the democratic attitude
with reference to the three dominating is
sues, and going before The people OF the
country IN advance Of all others.
1t is argued that the three dominating
issues of the next campaign are now so
clearly understood that the convention can
as well take Its position In May as in July
or August; that the democracy being in
: the right can better afford to make its
policy public in advance than to bubble
/ about minor matters OF party differences
in the last campaign and to hope to take
advantage OF possible mistakes OF their
s political opponents
Z 49,
n Everybody knows that the question o
trusts. the policy of the United States il
n the Philippines. and the money question
h will be the three leading issues In tn
!. campaign of 1900. What the democrats
Q party proposes to do upon these question
n Is understood as we'll now, so the adyo
II Gates of an early convention claim, as /
will be in September or October, and s.
D. the carly convention movement which ha
+ received great impetus from letters re
% ceived from the States which gave thei
!. first democratic vote in 1896 has game
r It's strength until IL Is certain that a ae
.r termined effort viii be made when the Ma
tionai committee meets for an early con
Nontion However. 1t is not a one-side
NJ tight by any maner OF means. for many {
p- the old line ultra conservative leader
O. contend that the party In power shout
90 hold It's convention irst and that IN
party in opposition should place itself /
- a position to take advantage of possibl
u plumbers upon the part OF their opponents
IL Is quite likely that the fight over tn
location OF the next convention may be
come more or less involved in the discus
sion over the time for holding the conveu
X ton. although this Is not likely. There
, no appreciable advantage between kansA
- city, Cincinnati aud Milwaukee, so far q
l. climatic conditions are concerned 1urin
a. the early summer months, ana these thrC
10 cities are the only enos which are beln
~ seriously considered by National caInmt
teemen. OF these cities, Kansas City WI
the nrst in the neld and at this time
~ faVorite over either OF It's competitor
No sooner hid Mr., Hannas clmmittt
decided To locate It's convention IN Phil'
delphIa than the friends OF Kansas city
Nv Washington DEEQu say.