The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-13
Replies to Chairman Albaugh's
Republican Predictions.
Calls Attention to the Result
of Election of 1896.
SOME INSIDE HISTORY.
the Reason For the
Defeat of TOWne.
fasteners We're Afraid of the
POpulist Influence.

Frank s. Thomas is certain that the
Democratic national ticket Will win next
November.
Mr.. Thomas has been treasurer of the
Kansas state Democratic central COM
mittee for six years and is close in with
the leaders. He is himself one of the
wheel horses. When he speaks about
the treasury being depleted four years
ago he knows whereof he speaks. In
speaking Of the Democratic ticket and
the coming campaign he said:
'Of course the nomination Of Mr..
Bryan was a foregone conclusion, and
the only thing in the way of a contest
was for the vice presidency. 1 think a
large majority of the delegates preferred
an eastern man, and especially New
York man if the New York forces could
agree on a man who was in accord with
Mr.. Bryan, but it seems as though the
eastern Democracy and especially the
New York Democracy had agreed 10
disagree and neither would agree to
what the other agreed to. Hill was pull
ing against Croker and Croker against
Hill and they could not agree on any
body and as a result the convention
naturally turned to the west
Those who believe David B. Hill is
dead politically will find him to be a
very lively corpse in my humble opln-
ion. If he lives / predict that he Will
be president of the United States. Next
to Bryan he seems to have wonderful
hold on the people and 1 attribute 1t
largely to the reaction from Cleveland
Cleveland was twice hOnOred by the
Democratic party and he twice betrayed
them. I take it that the people who
supported Cleveland and assisted IN
downing Hill deeply regret it and feel
that it was a terrible mistake and they
naturally feel a warmth towards Hill on
account of their error in opposing and
defeating him Croker seems to have the
upper hand of Hill just at present but
doubt if he can maintain his position.
1.-The nomination of Towne of Mime
sofa was almost impossible from the
start, not on his own account, for he is
a magnificent man; a man OF spotless
reputation and a great scholar. He will
be heard from in the future. but If he
had been nominated it would have been
suicidal for the reason that the world
would have said that we nominated no
ticket at all at Kansas City and that
there was no Democratic ticket nominal
ted; that we had simply endorsed the
nominees of the Populist party made at
Sioux City. While Populism doesn't
brighten US in the west. its principles,
professions and what it advocates
throws some of our wealthy eastern
friends into a cold sweat whenever it is
mentioned. Mr.. Bryan needed no help
to carry the Populist vote of the coun-
try, and Towne was unfortunately stu
ated geOgra phically. 1t would not have
been good politics to have had both of
our candidates situated west OF the MIS-
sissippi and in states almost adjoining
Our ticket would have been distinctive
ly Populistic-too much so. 1t will also
be remembered that Mr.. Towne a few
years ago was a Republican and while
he is in thorough accord with the prin-
ciples of the Democratic party and as
loyal as any living man, he nevertheless
had that load to carry to some extent.
1T was thought best by the leaders to
select a man who was an old style Dem
ocrat and Stevenson represents the old
Dan Voorhies-Allen Thurman style of
Democracy-the kind that our Repubn-
can friends speak of as the moss back
variety. The Allen Thurman-Dan Voor-
HES style of Democracy has many fol-
lowers yet, especially among the old
gray haired veterans of the party and
the nomination of Stevenson was re-
garded by the leaders as being a recOg-
milton of that element. I understand
that Stevenson has never lost the state
of Illinois at any time he has been
candidate.
1T is undoubtedly true that a major
ity of the convention were opposed to a
specific declaration in favor of Is to 1
on the silver question and of course it
is well known that the insertion of that
was due to Mr.. Bryan's personal wishes
A mere reaffirmation of the Chicago
platform they deemed sufficient, but not
so with Mr.. Bryan who felt that the
proposition was right and if it was right
we ought to stick to it. Our Republi-
can opponents of course will probably
seize on that as a weak point in the
platform, but there are two sides to that
question.
1T is said that there is one million
Populist votes and from 100000 to 300,-
600 free silver Republican votes. We
have of course got that vote and pro-
pose to keep it, and if we weaken on the
silver proposition we would probably
stand a good chance of losing it. The
Republicans in 1886 used that as a great
bugaboO and frightened many people on
b11r
bugaboo won't work this time. They
cannot scare voters with that ghost