The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-04
WILLIS J. ABB0T'S Letter.
REVIEW OF NATIONAL DEMO-
CRATIC POLITICS.


taIIed-COncessiOn to New York.
.~ewan's Ingratitude TO Bryan.
rom JohnsOn's Part in the Next
Cumpnign Possibilities for the
Eicc Presidential NOminatiOn-Co-
Iumbus, o., Bids for National Head
nuarters-Perry Heath's Offensive
craftsmanship Senator Germans
status in the Democratic Party.
The Issue of Government Owner
ship of Railroads Strengthened by
kentucky and California as .'HOr-
ribIe Examples of Private MonOp-
oIies.
Washington March 2.-The lateness of
qhe date set tor the Democratic National
Convention causes some apprehens! ION st
difficulties with the Populists Senators
Butler and Petligrew are exceedingly dis
tressed because of this and make doleful
predictions cf complications which will
arise The Populists meet in Sioux Falls
on the 9th of May and will undoubtedly
nominate Mr.. Bryan for President and
probably Judge Caldwell of Arkansas as
mis- running mate. Then there Will elapse
two months before the Democratic Con-
vcntion. During this time Mr. Bryan will
be in a most embarrassing position. He
can hardly defer acceptance of the Popu-
list nomination and if he does accept il,
the more narrow Democra IS of the old
school are likely TO think the dignity Of
the party would be lowered by renominat-
ing man VINO already has accepted the
nomination at the hands of another party
And even if Mr. Bryan. with his usual
diplomacy, manages TO unravel this com
Hlication, there will sim be difficulty about
the vice presidential nominee This is the
gloomy view token by the Populists and
the Democrats who favor the Populist al
lance AS against it, the view of the ma
jorty of the committee IS well expressed
by Senator Jones in a talk l had with him.
He thinks that 10 have held the two con
ventions on the same day, though sepa
rated by LOCO miles, would have tended
TO misunderstanding and hard feelings.
rather than TO harmony. And he feels
that the six weeks or two months of
time which will elapse between the Two
viii give opportunity for cool and harmoni-
Gus adjustment of differences. His view
uhst nomination can do so with a refer
ence to the pending Democratic COnven-
ton and it's platform, which Will make il
clear that he will only stand on the Pop
ulst ticket if nominated by the Demo-
Gratis on a suitable platform. l think
Senator Jones views have been accepted
as correct, even by those Democrats who
were most anxious for The earlier date.
The date of the convention was really a
concession TO the state of New York. The
newspapers are trying to make il clear
that the committee was dominated by
Senator German. but nothing could be
further from the truth. The Senator made
a very brief speech, in which he only re-
iterated arguments which had been ad-
Vanced by other men in the committee,
but before he spoke the plea of Mr.. Camp
bell of New York had really settled the
matter. The Western and Southern COM
mitteemen We're absolutely in control and
could have set as early date they de-
sired, but Mr. Campbell with so much
sincerity and earnestness declared that
New York state might be carried for the
ticket, If the more conservative course
was followed, that it was felt wise TO
make the concession. | think everybody
left the committee room feeling that New
York would not be permitted to go by the
board this year as il was in 1896.
Speaking Of the possible complications
which may beset the choice of a Vice
President, owing to the early date of the
populist convention, reminds me of that
heavy lead which the party had to carry
in 1895 in the person of Arthur Sewall
of Maine Few people know how dearly
Mr.. Bryan's loyalty to this man cost him.
/ think that if he had responded to the
appeals of some of his principal support
ers and consented to Mr. Sewalps retire
ment and the selection of a nominee more
acceptable to the poDulsts, the result in
November might have been very differ
ent. But Mr. Bryan's sense of loyalty was
so great that he would not listen. What
sort of return is Mr.. Sewall making
now for this act of sacrifice? He is quot
ed in all the newspapers of the United
States as having said Immediately on his
arrival at San Francisco, that Mr. Bryan
was certain to be defeated this year and
that the whole American people are in
favor of the retention of the Philippines
and the entire expansion programme Mr.
Sewall has never denied this interview
and 1t must be presumed that it is au-
thentic. 1t seems like a rather poor re-
turn for Mr.. Bryan's loyal support.
The administration seems to be in dan
ger of three stunning defeats in Con-
gress. There is not the slightest doubt
mat The Hanna-Payne subsidy bill which
IS the 70 iticians' return for the contri-
buttons of millionaires in the last cam
Uaisn, will be beaten. The Hay-Paunefote
treaty, which proposes to give Great Bri-
tain equal rights in a canal, the whole
cost Of which is to be borne by the Unit
ed States, is as good as dead already,
and the Republican scheme to make Por-
10 Rico a part of the United States while
denying to its peope the guarantees fur
nished by the constitution, has been prac-
ideally slain by Republican rebels. Next
10 the currency bill, these are the three
chief administration measures pressed al
thls session, and their complete demoli-
non affords graphic Illustration Of the
olsesteem in which the President and
ms advisers are held at the Capitol.
The part played by Tom johnson at the
antitrust conference. together with his
known desire to take an active part in
democratic politics this year, has led to
a good deal of discussion of him as an ex-
ecutve manager. l have heard him sug-
gested for chairman of the National Com
mlttee, for chairman of a Campaign Com