The sun., 1900-07-13
WHY HE IS A REPUBLICAN,
The Influential James NJ. Beck,
of Philadelphia, Tells Of
His Convention.
MANY DEMOCRATS TO FOLLOW
Many Young Democrats anu In
dependents Will be Influenced
by the Lawyers Stand
For Right and
Principle.
MANY DEMOCRATS TO FOLLOW

The whole country has heard oil i am
no longer Democrat; am Repuoil-
can" the expression used yesterday by
former District Attorney James NJ. Beck
of Philadelphia. 1t is one OF the most
notable conventions Of the campaign.
In his statement OF his political atti-
tude, Mr.. Beck said in part:
~ publicly opposed BRYAN and Bryan,
ism four years ago, and am more opposed
to both now, for the reason that four
wears ago the Chicago platform was
adort ted in moment OF frenzy and de-
moraization. | had hoped, in common
with many others, that after the inevi
table defeat of 1896, the Democratic party
wJuld abandon the policy OF repudlatlon
necessaii involved in the free silver
dogma, aud could then return to its
ranks, in which | had ser yed for fifteen
wears. After four years OF discussion and
deliberation, however, the Democratlc
party, so-called. has deliberately and
unanimously adopted the same policy OF
financial dishonor, and has added a new
test OF party allegiance in declaration
as to foreign affairs, which can only give
aid and comfort to the armed enemies OF
the United States. On the great ques-
tions which have come up since the late
wal, touching the foreign policy OF the
United States and its true position
among the nations, my sympathies are
wholly with the Republican party. an
nounced my belief in expansion when
spoke at the Omaha Exposition on July
4, and at time when neither, party mad
adopted any fixed policy with reference
to it. Why should l longer cling to a
name when my reason rejects the sub
stance of this latter day Democracy?
'sThose of us who, in the hope OF
wiser counsel, called ourselves Gold
Democrats, bsgin now to see that we
cherished an illusion. There can be no
such thing as Gold Democrat or a
Silver Republican, A man is OF that
party with which he sympathiZes, what
e ,er he may call himself. If, therefore
one believes in free silver and in hauling
down the American flag in the Philip
ri .es, he is Democrat, but If he b"
lieves in honest money and in the su
premacy OF the flag in our territorial pos
sessions, he is Republican. Between
these had no hesitation in choosing.
am no longer Democrat; am Repub
lican."
The oratorical ability OF the district at
torney will be called into play through
out the coming campaign. He is special
popular de d epcdhCI III @NCN VI N az
in the West, and it is a that he wi
BE- called on to tour many of the colosss
States. His friends, however, say tina
he is not the man to remain silent upo
convictions that he holde, as he prove
during the campaign OF four years ag
when he opposed BRYAN and spoke fo
the gold Democratic nominees. The
point out that the contest is betwee
Mckinley and Bryan, and the pursuit I
any course outside of being for one or II
.other, is of no avail.
One Democrat said yesterday that
was no use ''fooling around" thin
tickets, and the demand upon courageol
men was to take the stand that Mr.. Bee
did His callers affirmed that many
the younger Democrats and Independent
would be influenced by Mr.. Beck
course, and many of them emphasize
tine influence of the district attorney
sincerity, stating that they knew b
change OF faith cost him an effort, al
that it was upon principle alone.