The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-08-21
BRYAN,S CHANGES NOW

The outlook in favor of Bryan is i'm
proved within a few days. The fact OF
| Mr.. Charles A. Towne's withdrawal as
the populist nominee for vice president
certainly improves the situation and
strengthens the Bryan and Stevenson
ticket. He did not seek the nomina-
ton. We see this in the Chicago Ma
tional Democrat of 18th inst from Mr..
w. j. Abbott:
when Butler and Pettigrew left
Washington for Sioux Falls, Senator
James X Jones said to them: IF you
men have any grudge against Charley
Towne, go out there and nominate him
that will destroy him utterly Both
senators diSclaimed any of
nominating Towne, but had scarcely
reached Chicago until they began to
push his name forward. l ave docu-
mentary evidence now in my posses
sion in the shape of kilograms received
at Sioux Falls which show that Mr..
Towne was not in favor of his nominal
ton, but earnestly urged that the mat
ter go over to a conference committee
at Kansas City"
The western situation is much better
for Bryan. That is generally under
stood out there. The Hanna crowd are
extremely anxious about h German
| vote in the west. 1t was almost nan
| imous in 1896 for Mckinley. But there
is a big change in the German opinion
of Mckinley. The Mckinley organ, the
Brooklyn Eagle, that sc bitterly fought
| Bryan, has been trying to find out what
~ - n,1rnocinr 90 70 tho
presidency. 1t has been inquiring OF
German-American newspaper men. h
goldbug New York Evening Post, that
hates Bryan, gives the following as the
| result of the Eagles inquiries:
"Twenty-four replies were received
from editors whose journals are cred
tied with a circulation of 1885, 900 daily,
of whom fourteen think that Bryan
| will receive the majority of German
American votes, and five that Mckinley
will be favored by the larger propor-
ton. while the other five are non-com-
initial. AS a rule, the smaller papers
favor Bryan. Several editors take
practically the same view as is express
ed by the editor of the Chicago Abend-
Post, that a German-American news
paper has no better mea for aScer-
tanning the opinions of it's readers. or
OI I6TI1du NOtcTS ScIST dllyy lila d pa
per printed in English, and that Ger
man-American voters are divided in
their opinions like all other citizens"
Enough can be learned to know that
there is great dissatisfaction as to Nc
Kinley's course. Republican papers
freely express their opinion about
Bryan's weakness or McKinley's
popularity. Cannot German editors
judge as we'll as to their coun-
coming election. Representative Coop
er, of Texas, is in Washington, and re-
ports hat Bryan is really stronger
than ever before. He said:
ION my way here from Texas I met
and conversed with a large number Of
drummers. With hardly In exception
they aid that this time they would
work and vote for Bryan. They told
me that at least 80 per cent. of the
drummers of the country, those who
did such effective work for Mckinley in
1896, will this year vote for Bryan.
The drummers understand that unless
something is lone the trusts of the
country will gradually but surely rob
them of their livelihood"
"As to the German vote" added Mr..
Cooper, speaking for my section Of
the country, you can say the Germans
are decidedly opposed to the imperial
istic tendency and policy of h admin
istration and they tell me that they will
support Bryan this time. They know
he is honest and that he stands for the
constitution and the flag, as opposed to
Imperialism and a large standing army.
The Germans in the south on these two
questions are united"
Mr.. Abbott writes hat whatever
will be done, one end only will be
sought-the election of Mr.. Bryan.
AS that is the purpose this year Of
all democrats, all ponulists, all anti
imperialists and all silver republicans,
it is safe to predict it will be attained"
MI. Robert Treat Paine is a promi-
net man in Boston. According to that
anti-Bryan paper, New York Evening
Post, he predicts hat the republicans
will be overwhelmingly defeated in the
coming campaign The campaign, he
says, will eclipse that of 1896, and gives
promise of a new era in politics. He
says the issue, as announced and ex-
planned in Mr.. Bryan's speech of accept
ance, has cleft the republican party in
twain. The imperialists, who control
the state machines and the administra-
ton at Washington, have got the party
into a position that is utterly distaste-
full to men of conscience who know the
traditions of their party, and who still
believe in them. He thinks that Mr.
Hanna may we'll complain Of the apathy
Of the republicans"
AS the silver question is not para.
mount neither in the public mind mol
the democratic platform for 1900, it viii
not be pressed to the front, while the
original silver democrats will hold or
to it as of great importance hereafter.
They hold and believe that a victory
will yet come to it through h change:
and demands of the country. So Bryan
IS really gaining strength, and if som