The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-06-13
ATTITUDE
OF The GOLD
DEMOCRATS.
National Committeeman stalnaker
Says They VIII Await Action
at Kansas City.
ADROIILY WORDED PLATFORM
Is That Of the State Democracy.
stalnaker Says Free Silver
Was not Endorsed.

An IntellIgencer man endeavored to
secure from National Committeeman
Randolph stalnaker an expression as
to the probable action that would be
taken this summer by the Gold Demo-
Gratis. but Major stalnaker said that he
could not say what would be done, and
It was not likely anything definite would
be decided upon untn the Kansas
City convention OF the Democrats.
However, he conveyed the impression
that the Gold Democratic wing of the
party would again oppose Bryan II he
stands upon a silver platform, and add
ed that the Views expressed by John P.
Irish, of San Francisco, in Washing
ton dispatch agreed with his own. The
Irish special referred to is as follows:
WASHINGTON. d. c., June lO.--A
clear intImatton that the gold Demo-
Gratis OF the country will not support
Mr.. Bryan while he stands upon the
Chicago platform. or anything resem-
bling Il, was made by John P. Irish, Of
San Francisco, in talk to-day. Mr..
Irish attended the recent meeting OF
the executive committee OF the gold
Democratic national committee in New
York, and his views apparently reflect
those OF many Of his associates. They
feel that the work. Of putting the cur
rency system Of the country upon a
sound basis, begun by the enactment OF
the gold standard law, will not be COM
pleted until other measures have been
taken, and that under the present con-
dltions the Bryan party does not give
the assurance that such measures will
be taken wisely under its guidance. Mr..
Irish was asked:
Are there any conditions on which
the gold Democracy would generally
support Mr.. Bryant"
"Yes, there are conditions which
would make their support Of Mr.. Bry-
an perfectly easy" was the somewhat
surprising reply made by Mr.. Irish.
What are those eonditions? was
asked.
Bryan shall publicly disaVow the Chica-
20 platform OF 1896: second, that he
shall admit that the silver issue OF that
year was a false issue. and that his adj
Vocncy OF It Involved the Justification
Of the financial views Of Jefferson and
jackson. Then, he must admit that ev-
cry prophecy made by him in that cam
paign regarding the disastrous effects
which would follow adherence to the
gold standard has failed to come true.
II he will do these things repudiate the
Populist nomination given him at Sioux
Falls, terminate all relations with the
silver Republicans. and declare that
the financial measures OF Mr., Cleve-
lands administration were sound and
democratic, he will easily receive the
unanimous vote OF the gold Democracy
OF the country"
But in view OF the improbable event
OF Mr.. Bryan's doing thes things was
asked, what do you think will be the
course OF the gold Democracy this au-
tumn?"
"If the attitude of Mr.. Bryan re-
Eains unchanged" replied Mr.. Irish.
Uthe gold Democracy will stand with
great unaDimity in defense Of the gold
standard, already crystaliZed into the
law OF the land. and in urging the ac-
complishment by legislation Of the 9TH
er financial declarations Of the Indian
Rpous platform OF 1896. Surely, as we
were right in those declarations then,
we will be right now in supporting
these policies until they are all embed
ded in safety IN the law. Every one
knows that II Populism should succeed
under the Leadership OF Mr.. Bryan, not
only would there be no further legisla-
ton in the interest Of o sound system
OF finance, but what has already been
accomplished would be swept away.
Chaos would come again"
Asked as to his Views OF the platform
adopted by the West Virginia Demo-
Gratis at Parkersburg, Major stalnaker
made the surprising assertion that that
platform is not an endorsement of free
silver.
I'm fact" added ne, ut is very ad-
roitly worded platform"
Investigation reveals the correctness
of Major stalnaker'a assertion. The
platform starts on thusly: THE Demo-
craey renews Its devotion to and Its un-
falterlng faith In the teachings of
Thomas Jefferson. as expressed in his
first inaugural message, in these words:
(Then follows lengthy quotation Of
1901 generallties having little or no
bearing upon present day lssIes) WE
REAFFIM THE EXPOSITION OF
THESE PRINCIPLES AS CONTAIN
ED IN THE CHICAGO PLATFORM
OF 1896. and find in William J. Bryan
their ablest and most courageous and
incorruptabIe champion and defender"
II that isn't n straddle. the Demo-
cratic party never straddled an issue in
its career Of 100 yelrs.