Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-26
CLAIMS NEW JERSEY
Ex-senator Smith Says State is for
Bryan.
ATTITUDE OF GOLD DEMOCRATS
They Want to Get Back Into
Democratic Fold.
HOPE FOR BRYAN'S DEFEAT
FOR BRYAN'S DEFEAT


with the eastern representatives OF the
democratic national committee Until now
he has been holding off, not being q SYM
pathizer with the doctrines for which Mr..
Bryan most conspicuously stands. Hereto
fore efforts to interest him in the campaign
have met with little encouragement There
fore speculation is excited as to the con-
sideration which induced him to visit dem
ocratic headquarters in New York on We'd
nesday, manifesting great interest in the
campaign, and giving the confidential tip
that Bryan is going to carry New Jer-
sey. few Bryan enthusiasts have re-
ported from time to time that there is a
chance for Bryan in New Jersey, but no
one has attached any Importance to these
reports. The secret hostility toward Bryan
within the state organization which is
known to exist, and the fact that the two
elements of the party in the state are
watching each others every move with
suspicion, have not served to encourage the
hope among the democratic managers that
anything could be done for Bryan in New
Jersey. If in their claims of states they
have ever put New Jersey down even in the
doubtful column it has been merely as a
matter of form. The assertion Of Mr..
Smith that Bryan is likely to carry New
Jersey is therefore accepted with great in
terest by the democrats at headquarters.
Their construction of this move on his part
Is that he is convinced of the accuracy Of
his own announced conclusion: that he be-
lieves that Bryan can be elected, and is
going to do his part in helping to that re-
suit.
In '92 Mr.. Smith, in cooperation with Mr..
Whitney and small circle of men who
could make and fulfill promises, held confer
ence late in the campaign and succeeded in
making arrangements through which Mr.
Cleveland secured valuable assistance. But
the leading spirits in that movement are not
with the New Jersey ex-senator in any pur-
pose to elect Bryan.
Undoubtedly there Is a certain substantial
assistance Bryan could get here which he
now has not If pledges could be given that
legislation effecting credits and business in
terests would not follow if he were elected
While such pledges might be safe enough
on account of the difficulties in the way OF
such legislation, 1t Is recognized as useless
to try to get any sort Of promise from
Bryan or anybody who could speak for him.
Therefore, the possibilities of any deal are
too remote to be thought Of
Does Not Alarm Republicans.
Republicans do not interpret the; awaken
ing of interest in Mr. Smith as do the demo-
Gratis. They put upon 1t a similar construc-
ton to that which they put upon the course
Of Olney and other gold democrats of prom
inence who seek to keep themselves "of
record" in line with their regular party Or
ganization. The suggestion is made that
none of these men has any idea that Bryan
can be elected, and that all of them realize
that with his defeat will come a readjust-
ment of the democratic party along old
lines which would admit of all the former
leaders of anti-Bryan cast to front seats.
The attitude of eX-Secretary Carlisle, f.
c. Benedict and even Of Cleveland in pub
licly repudiating any desire on their part
to aid in the election of Mckinley, though
positively declining to support Bryan, is
pointed to as being in line with this idea
of resurrection after death. All these
men, it is urged. seeing the death of the
present party organization inevitable from
natural causes, want to be placed beyond
the suspicion of foul play, so that they
may with good grace participate in giving
life to regenerated democracy. This is
the Interpretation placed by the eastern
republicans upon the course of all the
gold democratic leaders who either support
Bryan or decline to support Mckinley.
Republicans and Wall street men who
are not republicans are saying that Croker
is mistaken even as to what Tammany
can be relied on to do for Bryan. They
say that many of the Tammany leaders
have heavy interests in Wall street, which
they make pretense Of activity in the Tam
many campaign and that, while nOminally
supporting Bryan, therefore. they do not
intend that he shall be elected by any
assistance from them.
One man, talking to me on this subject,
said:
1T is all very well to talk sentiment,
but when you appeal to men to sacrifice
their self-interest for some remote and
not too certain blessing, they do not listen
long. Bryan may talk about the dollar be-
ing put tefore the man and Croker may is
sue the orders Of his organization but men
are not going to sacrifice their profits
Bryan is appealing against personal in
terests, and he will find that neither the
man who has stocks and bonds or invest
ments in Wall street nc1. the clerk with a
ployed after having passed through
period Of protracted idleness, will listen
to this appeal.
There are lots of men in town who oppose
the administration and would like to vote
for Bryan, but who have business invest
ments which they believe would be de-
stroyed or seriously injured by his election.
and the sentiment of self-interest will con-
troll them. From my own point OF view,
one of the strong arguments that the policy
of the administration is wise and right is
fee of self-interest Mr.. Bryan asks busi-
ness men to sacrifice their investments-for
what? He asks laboring men to vote them
selves out Of job-for what?"
Some of Croker's Calculations.
Croker's leaders probably do not talk
with him about the conflict of their personal
business interests with his desires. He fg-
ures out that only about 2 per cent Of the
people receive any dividend from the busi-
ness Notwithstanding the corporations
which are supporting the republicans in
are interested in these great business en-
gines are, without reference to professed
party preference. supporting Mckinley, but
that they are only per cent of the people
and that those who sit around the tables
and manage the business are not one-half
of per cent.
If he is right about this. some Of his Tam
many leaders are part Of that interested
per cent.
One of the interesting things connected
with this political struggle Is the change
that has come over this man Croker. He
has either become great enthusiast or else
a great actor. His bearing, his manner of
speech and even the expression Of his face
has changed. do not know whether it is
due to his associations in England or wheth-
ser he has been completely hypnotized by
Bryan, but from some cause a great change
has come over him. The characteristic hard
ness OF his countenance has been toned
down. He carries with him the expression
and manner common to the thoughtful and
gives signs of emotions utterly unlike the
Croker of old. He speaks Of Bryan almost
with q reverenee-though he can't get out
OF the habit Of calling him 'Bryant.-and
shows unmistakable signs Of enthusiasm.
He shows no special learning in the great