The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-29
cBr JAMrs cRBDLMAN)

New York Journal.
An impartial investigation OF the pres
emit political situation ought to convince
any man that II the presidential election
were to take place now Mr.. Bryan would
DO elected by decisive plurality.
-Four years ago the plain facts compelled
me to predict Mr.. Bryan's defeat. and
repeated that prediction almost every day
from the time when accompanied Mr.
Bryan from the scene OF his nomination
70 the hour when / stood beside him in
Lincoln and cav him cast his vote.
Facts equally plain point 10 his
election this year.
There Is but ono serious point OF dif-
ference between the most extreme OF the
conservative democrats Of the East and
the great body Of the party which sup
ported MIR. Bryan in 1896. Many Of the
Eastern leaders desire to havo the ratio Of
16 to omitted from tho money plank OF
ahe platform. The leaders IN the South
and West are practically unanimous 10
their opposition to any change.
have been present at several impor
tant conferences OF democrats Represent
ing these two views oi party policy, and
oan speak with some certainty Of the
actual situation. The aim and intention
of the great mass of tho party who were
loyal four years ago has been to readopt
the Chicago platform. aud 10 incorporate
It. word for word. in the platform to be
made IN Kansas City on July A.
Bryan VIII Oppose Amy Change.
I can say authorltatively that Mr.. Bryen
will oppose the abandonment OF a single
plank In the Chicago platform. 1t is dem
onstrable that an overwhelming majority
OF the next democratic National convention
will refuse to abandon. alter or modify the
Chicago platform,
The one great question that now remains
before the democratic leaders is this Will
the Kansas City convention content itself
with a simple reclamation OF tho plat
form OF 1895 in three or four lines and
devote the rest OF It's utterauces to the
issues Of 1900. or will tho convention reit-
crate the Chicago platform. All other
questions are, for the present, subordinate
10 this.
Mr. Hill says that Mr.. Bryan will be re.
nominated Mr., HIN declares that he will
work hard to elect Mr.. Bryan No man
who has met MIR. Hill within tho past tive
weeks can doubt his earnestness or hi.
determination to lend his whole strength
to the democratic party in tho approach
ing campaign.
No sees victory in sight for tho frst
time since Mr.. Cleveland wrecked the
party Mr. Hin VIII support Mr.. Bryan
Chicago platform or no Chicago platform
The abandonment OF tho well-trled Amerl-
can theory of equal rights everywhere un-
as the flag for the British policy OF sub
ject colonies overshadows all other issues
No Hope for silver at Present.
But Mr.. Hill ana State Chairman Camp
Doll and Mr.. Croker and former Senator
Murphy and men who take their view Of
the situation are urging upon the Western
and Southern leaders the fact that the
passage OF the currency bill by the repub.
hcan majority in congress removes the
Tree silvei question for the present from
the heid of practical politics and states.
manship; that even II MIR. Bryan were
president now he would be powerless UNI
DER the law to disturb the gold standard
ana that republican majority In the
united States senate Will make free silver
legislation impossible for the next Ave
vears-therefor readoption OF the l6 to
plank at Kansas CITY can accomplish moth
ing, and will be mere academic state.
ment OF theory about which the voter.
OF tho party Disagree.
some of the conservative Eastern lead.
ere insist thai MIR. Bryan can not be elect
ed without the electoral vote OF New Yorb
state. and that modification OF the Chi.
cago platform viii make democratic vic.
tory in New York a certainty.
But the "Irreducibe minimum OF a ma.
3ority OF the Kansas City convention will
De simple reafnrmation OF the platform
OF 1896. statement that can be made In
forty or nifty words. That seems To be
the utmost that can be hoped for by the
conservative leaders.
To bring the body Of the Chicago Mat
Form into the convention for mutilation O,
amendment would bring on bitter and
useless night, In which the conservative
men would be beaten.
strong group OF leaders believe tina,