Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-31
THE NATIONAL ELECTION.
Presfdent Mckinley Chosen Again b,-
Strongly Increasel MaiOritx


AT the national election in November of
the year just closing William Mckinley Of
Ohio was again chosen President of the
both of the votes of the people item
selves and of the states in the electoral
college. His opponent, as in 1896, was
William Jennings Bryan of Nebraska.
Their running mates were. respectively.
Theodore Roosevelt of New York and Ad-
lai E. Stevenson OF Illinois,
Since the result in 1896 1t mad been gen.
orally conceded by the leaders of both
political parties that the two men who
had led the tickets in that year would be
renominated in 1900. There was practically
no opposition at any time in tn. republi-
can party during that four years to the
denomination of Mr.. Mckinley A strong
element in the democratic party, however
was opposed to the denomination of Mr.
Bryan. This element, known rs the gold
wing of the democratic party, had used
every endeavor to defeat Mr. Bryan. but
had been thwarted at all points The
partys national organization was in the
hands of Mr.. Bryans most ardent friends
and 1t was wellnigh impossible for the OPP
position to overcome this important adj
vantage. Besides the rank ara f.e If the
party particularly in iliose states which
furnish democratic electoral. votes, were
overwhelmingly for Bryan.
The only incident during the four wears
which gave the slightest promise OF sue
cessfui opposition to INC candidacy of Mr.
Bryan was the announcement by Admiral
Dewey on April that he vas a candidate
for the presidency. In an in,eryiew he an
nounced himself as a democrat and hoped
for the nomination at the democratic con-
Vent1on which was to meet in Kansas City
on July 4. Had the admira. stopped at this
he might possibly have 5cIone formida-
bic rival of Mr.. Bryan, but IN subsequent
interviews he intimated that whether he
got the nomination or not nc would be a
candidate anyhow, and followed this up
by singularly curious declaration as to
his ideas OF the duties Of the chief cxccu-
tive. These declarations both offended and
amused the party leaders. and the Dewey
boom, if he may ever be SAID to have had
one, died an easy natural death.
Some Early Indications.
Straws began to show how the demo-
cratic political wind was blowing early in
the year. On March 10 the Nebraska state
democratic convention, to which Mr.. Bryan
was a delegate. adopted resolutions reaf-
firming the Chicago platform in whole
and in part, in letter and IL spirit" and
instructed its delegates to vote for W. J.
Bryan. The New York stare democratic
gates to the national convention for Bryan
land any platform which might be aaopt-
ed" 1t was significant tina; Of she four
delegates-at-l Croker, Hill, Murphy
the fight against Bryan and the Chicago
platform in the democratic national con-
vention in 1896.
Next came the Indiana state convention
on June q, which declared for Bryan. and
the Chicago platform. The Missouri state
convention on the same date declared for
Bryan and the Chicago platform. and added
an explicit declaration in favor of the re-
monetization of silver at ratio Of Is to l
with gold. The Connecticut convention de-.
clared for MT Bryan on June Z. and the
state conventions Of Wyoming and Idaho
took similar action on the same date. The
Ohio state convention on June IL instructed
It's delegates for Bryan. 1t was at this
convention that the first keynote was
sounded as to the issue which the demo-
Gratis intended to make in the coming cam
paign. The platform declared for rigid
enforcement Of the Constitution everywhere
the American flag hoated, and condemned
what it designated as the rule OF the Pres
ident and Congress. In fact. by the middle
of June two-thirds OF the delegates to the
Kansas City convention had been Instructed
for Mr.. Bryan and his nomination was thus
assured.
Enforcement Of Mr.. Mckinley.
On the republican side the New York
state convention on April II heartily In
dorsed the administration OF President Nc
Kinley, and on April Is the Ohio state con-
vention took similar action. and at the tame
time, reafhrmed the platform adopted in st.
Louis In 1905. Massachusetts. Psunsyt
vania and Indiana republicans Al held