The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-25
PLATFORM MAKING.


Judging from what Is appearing in theil
newspapers the Republicans are better
informed than the Democrats themselves
| as to what the next Democratic national
pla form will con adm. They are now say
ing that the platform which will be adopt
ed at Kansas City win differ radically
| from that adopted at Chicago, and that
Mr.. Bryan will have no voice in making
| It,
! According to their view Mr.. Bryan has
already been shorn of his power, and If
nominated will be mere figurehead in
the campaign. The Eastern and Southern
| Democrats. they say, have got together,
and wiz make a platform to suit them
selves, They do not approve the plat
form recently adopted by the Nebraska
Democrats. It contains too much Popu-
ism. 1t is admitted that It was the work
of Mr.. Bryan, or at least had his approx
al, and that is one reason why they will
not permit him 10 have voice in making
the national platform of the party,
1t is not stated what the Eastern and
Southern Democrats will put into the
platform, but it Is limited by these Repub-
lcan papers that 1t will have nothing in
It to which Gold Democrats objected In
1896 1t is intimated that what these
Eastern and Southern Democrats are aft
er Is harmony in the party. They are
willing that Mr.. Bryan shall have the
nomination, provided he will abide by their
judgment as to what the platte should
contain.
1t is evident that these Republican pa
pers are not well informed on the subject
which they are discussing so freely. If
the Populists and Silver Republicans are
to be held in the ranks of the Democratic
from the lines laid down in the Chicago
platform. They will have voice in maxi
ing the platform. If it is denied them they
will make a nomination of their own. IL
will be pretty generally admitted that they
are worth more to the Democratic party
than the Gold Democrats
Besides, If the 16 to idea were left out
of the platform, Mr.. Bryan would not be
a strong Candidate. He sees that, and
therefore Is insisting upon a reaffirmatIon
of the Chicago platform. In fact, it is a
question whether or not he would be nom
mated If a platform radically different
from the Chicago platform should be
adopted. He is so identified with the
leading features OF that platform that the
people would cease to think about him if
those features were to be dropped from the
platform that will be adopted at Kansas
City.
No doubt there will be a great deal of
oppositionb the adoption at Kansas City
of a platform similar to the Chicago plat
form, but 1t will not control the conven-
ton. The assertion that there is already
majority of the National Committee
against reaffirming the Chicago platform.
and that majority of the next National
Committee will be against the leading
declarations of that platform is, it is safe
to say, not we'll founded. If the Demo-
cratic leaders are willing that Mr.. Bryan
shall be nominated, they are willing that
he shall outline the platform on which
he is to stand. The stories which are CO.
ing the rounds Of the Republican news
papers that Mr.. Bryan will be only a fig
| urehead in the presidential campaign, and
that Eastern and Southern Democrats will
permit him to be nominated provided they
are allowed to write the platform. have
very little foundation.