Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-27
Democrats Plan to Omit De-
mand for Free Coinage.
WEAVER TO URGE PLAN.
Duty to His Party VIII be His Plea-
Promoters Of the Compromise Are
Western Men and They Hope
That Bryan VIII Yield.

SulcdSO, MaTCn So.-ollVer Will hot
be mentioned in this years democratic
national platform unless William Jen-
nings Bryan demands it. Discussion of
the money question will be postponed
by convention resolution until the con-
gressional elections of 1902. Exped-
iency, wrapped up in ssave the repub-
lie" rhetoric, will be the excuse for do
ing so.
I This plan of action has been canvass
ed and generally approved by the Lead
ers of Mr.. Bryan's party and his fol-
lowing outside-by senators, congress
men and national committeeman from
Chairman Jones down. 1t will be laid
before Mr.. Bryan within few days,
it indeed it has not already been pre-
sented to him, by men whose loyalty
to silversis quite as unquestioned as
his own.
General j. B. Weaver of Iowa is the
ambassador in chief of the effort to
Wean MIR. Bryan from the heaven born
ratio. He has been since the days Of
the "greenbackers" leader in the
movement which forced silver into the
democratic platform of 1896, was the
populist candidate for president in
1892, is now one of the leaders among
those allies Of democracy, and enjoys
Mr.. Bryan's complete confidence.
Why Weaver IL Selected.
He is selected because most demo-
cratic leaders are more or less under
suspicion of trying to get rid of Mr..
Bryan, while populists cannot be so
suspected, because they are even more
radical than Mr.. Bryan.
General Weaver passed thru Chicago
las Thursday on his way from Wash
ington to Iowa and thence on to see
Mr.. BRYAN. While here he conferred
with Chairman johnson OF the den1o-
cratic national executive committee.
with Secretary Walsh OF the national
committee and with Willis j. Abbot,
manager Of the democratic press bu-
reau. 1t is presumed they endorsed his
mission. He went westward with high
hopes of success.
enhanced by the fact that it is distinct
~ NSSoSlA II III uSSC UOSSy IlGu
of democrats and populists III the west,
'.the gold bugs of Wall street." have
nothing to do with it.
Mr.. Bryan will be told that this
temporary remuneration of sixteen to
one is his chance to write his name
among the presidents of the United
States. He will be told that his nom
ination at Kansas City is foregone
conclusion and by acclamation if he
will kiss silver good-by and go where
glory awaits him.
Owes Something to His Party.
He will be told, without mincing of
words, that he owes something to his
party and that in the issues of monopo-
listic trusts,of imperialism and OF the
constitution supremacy as the organ
ic law which cannot be suspended by
congressional enactment the party has
an opportunity which must not be
sacrificed for ''blindly" consistent adj
herence to silver.
1t is not intended, even tho Mr.. Bry-
an yield willing consent, to drop silver
without a word of explanation. That,
| it is argued, would look cowardly. By
way of explaining the omission it is
pronosed to insert a plank which al
ready exists in rough draft as basis
for further elaboration. Itruns to this
effect:
"We must recognize facts and condi-
tions and deal with them as they are.
BY enactments Of the last congress,
any change in our financial policy has
been made a Legislative function which
must not be delegated to our repre-
sentatives in, congress; and the com
position of the senate branch OF. con-
gress is such that relief from the odi-
Gus financial system which the republi-
can party has done its utmost to fast
en- upon the country cannot be had in
the next congress.
Union ID a New Issue.
s'Therefore, to all men who believe
in democratic form of government,
we recommend that they cast aside
their differences on questions of speci-
fic legislation and unite against the eff
forts of the republican party, as exeu-
plifed by the acts of the present ma
tional administration to subyert the
constitution, to destroy the republic
and to erect an empire on its ruins.
''We pledge ourselves TO throw off
foreign domination of our financial sys-
tenn at the earliest possible moment.
Therefore we recommend to the demo-
Gratis in the several states that every eff
fort be made in ensuing Legislative
and congressional elections, especially
in the congressional elections of 1902,
to return democratic majority in
both branches of congress to the end
that orr national finances NAV be
pu on a safe and independent basis.''
The platform adopted by Nebraska
Bryanitss last Monday, except for its
four lines on silver, comes near to be-
ing what democratic national leaders
think the national platform should
be.
That contains in the first paragraph
general reaffirmation OF the Chicago
platform. 1t touches everything that
was in the Chicago platform excena