Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-22
GOSSIPFROM GOTHAM
New York Democrats Want Changes
in Chicago Platform.
D. B. HILLS RE-ENTRY into POLITICS
Revival of the Plan for a Trans
continental Highway.
NATIONAL GUARD MATTERS
D. B. HILLS RE-ENTRY into POLITICS
GUARD MATTERS

NEW 1Ofth, MdrCn Il, Ib'b
There are indications that the democrats
will indulge in considerable tinkering with
the Chicago platform when the national
convention meets at Kansas City on July 4
this year. This is undoubtedly the case, the
statements of William Jennings Bryan to
the contrary Notwithstanding. An agreement
has practically been reached among the
leaders to the effect that there shall be al
terations as well as additions. 1t is the
knowledge that this arrangement has been
entered into between democratic leaders in
the south and the west that had caused
sas City convention. Then Hill expects to
claim all of the credit of forcing a COM
promise with the radicals now in control Of
the party Were the program to include
additions only had it not been understood
here in New York that some changes are
to be made, Hill would never risk the in
suits that are likely to be showered upon
his head by the agrarians Of Kansas and
Nebraska These changes, according to
the program, will be made not in the inter
estS of harmony, not because the national
democratic committee cares the snap of a
finger whether the New York democratic
delegation SulkS or takes off it's coat and
goes to work, but it is said they will be
made rather because the candidates and the
party are entitled to clearer statement of
the issues of the day than can be found in
that eccentric patchwork known the Chi
cago platform David b. Hill is said to be
the author of the famous phrase that po-
litical platform. like the platform of a rail-
road car, is made to get in on. Hill
having aScertained that the Kansas City
platform is to differ in some respects from
the Chicago platform, has evidently con-
cluded that now is the time to get on the
democratic band wagon" AT any rate.
this is the Interpretation that is placed
q hSrn "a thf for
mer democratic senator from New York is
to form one of the big four from this
state.
New Workers "Agin the GOvernment.'
The position of the New York leaders
upon subjects like the Philippine Islands,
the Porto Rican tariff question, the Nicara-
qua canal treaty, the Boer war and other
subjects that have come up since the ma
tiopal convention at Chicago four years ago
is easy to understand. Like Bryan, they
are "agin the government" 1t is expected
that the New York delegation will ask the
Kansas City convention to explain the 16 to
l clause and incorporate a specific state
ment that Reputation IS not meant. that
existing contracts will not be interfered with.
that debts contracted on the present gold
standard basis will be paid in gold in case
the democrats come into power. 1t is argued
that the Supreme Court would rule that
contracts on a gold basis must be paid in
gold anyhow, and that there is nothing to
lose and everything to gain by the adoption
of this course. The New York leaders will
also probably urge the adoption of a plank
in the platform favOring a tax upon cor
porations that trade between the different
states, thereby eliminating the income tax
plank pure and simple, which former Sen
ator Hill has opposed so bitterly.
The nomination of Debs by the socialists
will probably render unnecessary the attack
on President Cleveland caused by complca-
tions growing out of the Chicago strike,
thereby eliminating the government by in
Junction clause If attacks upon the jul
dietary and the executive ara made the New
Workers want them phrased so that Mckin-
ley's name shall be substituted for Cieve-
| land Sand the Idaho mining trouble for the
famous Chicago railway strike.
The reports widely circulated recently to
| the effect that Cleveland was coming into
| the democratic camp this year undoubtedly
| had their origin in the report that no refer
ence will be made to the Chicago strike this
year. The nomination of Debs for Presi-
| dent by the socialists and the extreme wing
| of the radicals makes 1t extremely likely
| that what has bean styled "Debssm" will
not figure in the platform this year. If the
| convention should drop Debs to curry favor
with the Cleveland wing of the democratic
party 1t will undoubtedly swell the vote for
the railway agitator. The democratic lead
ars here have never fancted DebS, and they
are glad that he has taken himself out of
the party. But they profess to be seriously
alarmed by the recent gathering at Indian
| apOllS OF the SOlQ STANDARD democrats, and
the threat to put another national demo-
cratic ticket in the field this year.
Whisky Trust In Hard Luck.
According to the representations of one OF
| the stockholders of the whisky trust its
\ surplus of nearly million dollars in 1896
has melted away, 1t has ceased to pay divi-
| dends and its common stock is selling on
| the curb at about and its preferred al
| about 26. In the supreme court, Brooklyn
| the other day, Bert Reiss. a stakeholder
| representing about 2,SOO shares, asked au,
thority to examine the books of the Ameri-
| can Spirits Refining Company, the legal
| title of the trust In his APPLICATION Reiss
| for the stockholders protective committed
| AYERS that the officials of the trust have di-
| verified about $2O,00,UO to the loss and det-
| rfment of the stockholders. He says it has
been impossible to get clear official state
| ment of tho workings of the trust, his de-
mand upon the secretary having been re-
| fused. The most serious charge he makes
| is that 1.-The assets, surplus and property
| of the American Spirits Manufacturing
Company have been diverted from the
| stockholders for the benefit of corporate
known as the Spirits Distributing Company
| organized by certain directors and officials
Of the American Spirits Company"
| Plan for a National Highway.
| Once more the plan of a national high.
| way from the Atlantic to the Pacific has
been revived. this time by owners of auto.
| mobiles. The Automobile Club of America
| which has 800 members, $50 of whom live ir
| this city, is taking active steps to popular.
| ize the movement for good road from sea
| to sea. commission of enthusiastic auto
| mobilists has been appointed, among its
| members being Gen. Nelson A. Miles, Col
| Peter S. Mitchie and Prof. Samuel E. Till,
| man of the United States Military Academ,
| and Maj. Richard l.. Soxie of the Engineer
| Corps, u. S. A. This commission will hold
| its first meeting at the Waldorf-Astoria
! April .. and the movement will be formally
| launched at dinner in honor of Gen
| Miles Among the speakers will be Gen
| Roy Stone head of the department of roat
| inquiry under the Department of AgricuI
| ture, who has expressed his sympathy witt
| the movement. Automobiles intend tina
| the highway shall be built independent o1
| existing roads and the expense borne b,
| the United States, aided by states through
| which the road will pass.
Artillery Branch of National Guard.
The first official steps have been taken h,
the National Guard authorities of the stat;
| toward perfecting the artillery branch ri
the service. The orders just issued proyid,
rules for the drill and instruction of TIL,
batteries Of light artillery, They mean tina
J this branch Of the service, which in u.