The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-12
MK|NLEY UNFIT
FOR PRESIDENT
Says Senator Wellington, Of
Maryland.
WILL VOTE FOR BRYAN
Would Regard McKinley's Election
as a Calamity,
THE GRAVE MENACE OF IMPERIALISM
Senator Wellington Considers il Departure
From The Faith Of the Fathers and
The Vital Principle Of the
Campaign.

Cumberland, Nd, Cor. Baltimore Amer
ican) see&,A
II am unalterably opposed TO the
reelection of President Mckinley.
Bryan is a better man every way
than Mckinley, and / REGARD his cleo
tion essential to the preservation OF
the republic.
This is the gist of Senator George
J.. Wellington's position in the pend
ing Presidential campaign. | called
upon the Senator at his office in the
Citizens National Bank this morning,
and in the course of an extended in
terview / became convinced that he
is terribly in earnest. He would not
make a definite statement as to the
part he will take in the campaign,
but it is easy to see that he intends
to aid Bryan. In fact, when asked the
direct question if he did not intend
to do so, Senator Wellington did not
deny it, but declared that Just at pres
ent he is net prepared to describe the
efforts he will make TO encompass
the defeat OF President Mckinley, to
whom he is so bitterly opposed, both
on political and personal grounds.
Here is the interview | had with him,
reported almost verbatim:
Senator, are you prepared to de-
fine your position in the Presidential
election?" / asked.
II am unalterably opposed to the
ID .NH LIZ .,,1.
Does that mean that you will take
the stump against him?"
Il am not prepared to say as to
that
Have you rendered your services
to the Democratic National Commit
tee to aid in the election Of Bryan?"
II have not"
'Will you do SOP
81 believe you arc safe in saying
that ! will not; still | can't tell what
what may happen
Since you are so bitterly opposed
to Mckinley, il is but natural, is it
not, to conclude that you will use
your efforts to bring about his re-
feat?" | asked.
OPPOSED TO MCKINLEY. r.
81 only care to say at this time, that
j am unalterably opposed to McKin-
ley, and regard his election as a cal
amity to be averted, no matter what
the cost" was the answer.
well, Senator, since you say you
will not take the stump, and taking
your opposition to Mckinley into con-
sideration, how would it. do to make
n guess that you will work quietly
to bring about the election Of
Bryan?'
The answer shows the present in
tention of the Senator just as clearly
as would a definite statement. In he
sponse to the above question he said:
Quietly? That's it. just at present
i am devoting myself to my private
business, which has been sadly neg
lected for five years, and, so far as |
know now, whatever ! may do in pol
itics will be done quietly. But | think
my influence will be felt
do you abject,'' l asked, ''to speci-
flying why you are so bitterly opposed
to Mckinley and why you will aid in
the work of defeating him."
Not in the least. He no longer
represents Republican principles; his
defeat is necessary to the preserva-
ton of the Republic, and, in addition,
he has deceived and betrayed me in
my personal relations with him.
You do not. then. indorse the Phil
adelphia platform
FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.
81 do net"
"Why?'
Because / regard it as a grave de-
parture from the faith of our fathers.
It is not the Republicanism of Lin
coin, but an Endorsement of the inim-
ical policies foisted upon the country
by Mckinley
"But do you not acknowledge the
power of the party representatives in
convention assembled to define the
party principles, and as a. partisan do
you not consider yourself bound by
the decision of the convertion?"
''Not when the conventione departs
from what know to be the true prin-
ciples of Republicanism. In certain
matters-correspo to those
things which in religion are termed
non-essential--I am willing to bow TO
the superior wisdom CT the party ma
Jority, but on questions of vital prin-
ciple j refuse to do so, when that de-
cision differs from what / know TO be
right"
'The vital principle in this case
ls' suppose, the thing the Democrats
term imperialism ! said.
You are right" the Senator re-
spOnded. Il am an anti-imi i3erialist.
do not talk one way in Congress and
another way on the outside, nor do
! talk oAe way and act another. |