Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-20
DEMOCRATS.

When Maryland went democratic last
it was pointed out as a triumph of
the gold wing Of the democracy. and an
indication that that branch of the party
had not retired from business. This was
denied by democratic newspapers OF the
Helena Independent type. which alleged
that f~nancial questions cut no figure in
the campaign in that state. 1t was con-
ceded that no mention favorable to silver
was made in the platform, but this was
explained away on the grounds that
state issues were alone concerned in the
contest for supremacy in that state.
Thus, while a free silver resolution had
been voted down, and an effort to en-
dorse the Chicago platform suppressed.
it was still held by the democratic press
Of Montana that these little discourtesies
desire to fight the campaign IN purely
state issues. u
That the Inter Mountain was right and
the Independent wrong. in an analysis
of the situation, is now demonstrated
beyond the shadow of a doubtaIA few
days since a proposition was made In the
democratic legislature of Maryland to
invite Mr.. Bryan to appear before that
body, and to recognize that gentleman
as the leader of the democratic party.
1t met with a chorus of disapprovals.
49, v.o, ,~ooyar,ovoio,,S1 voted 60u,n
tMOne can hardly conceive of a more em-
phatic snub to the late standard-bearer
of the democratic party than to vote
| down a proposition to invite him to ap-
; pear before the legislative body Of a
democratic state. 1t was a direct and
unequivocal Reputation of his leader
! ship, and served notice on the country
! at large that the democracy of the state
of Maryland would not tolerate Bryan
| so long as he even indirectly stood for
| bi,netallism.
Hut the action of the Maryland demo-
Gratis means still more. 1t indicates a
readiness to back up the candidacy of
German, or any other gold democrat,
who may be brought to the front through
the agitation of the paramount issue
which Bryan has outlined for the forth
coming campaign. While Bryan has
placated Tammany by placing silver in
the background, and advocating anti
Imperialism for a paramount issue, sip-
plemented, no doubt, by generous prom
Uses of patronage in case Of success. he
has not made his peace with the Mary
landers. 1t is evident that that state in
| tends to lead a movement against : the
nomination Of Bryan, failing in which
its electoral vote will be given the re-
publican nominee for president. w
Though Bryan's nomination may be
assured, in the nature of things, Mary
lands position on h political chess
board will make the ratio of 16 to L an
im%possibility in the platform Of the
democratic party. The national democ-
racy will Tx hances on losing the cleo
toral vote of Montana-which political
corruption has already lost to that party
rather than lose that of Maryland, and
I the influence of that state upon the'situ-
{ alton in the east.
t The independent might as we'll get into
, line with the Anaconda Standard and thu
Maryland legislature. and concede tina
t the ratio of values between silver ane
. gold are fixed by the worlds exchanges
: instead Of making a hopeless fight fol
the legitimate free coinage proposltiol
e of 6 to /. 1t is useless to regret the &C
ton of In Maryland democrats. 1t wa
written in the trend of the day, and wa
invited by Bryan himself when he as
scented to a paramount issue other thai
that which awakened the echoes in 1885,