Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-12
How 1t is Viewed at Republican
Headquarters.
TIE EX-SECRETARY'S PURP 0SE
Speculation as to the Course of
Mr.. Cleveland.
ECKELS ATTACKS BRYAN
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

No recent development of the campaign
seems to have proved so interesting to the
politicians in charge of the various head
quarters as the announcement by ex-Sec-
rotary of State Olney that he will support
Bryan. Republicans generally, who hold
him in high regard, were agreeably disap-
pointed by the tone of his letter His an
nouncement was not unexpected. but 1t was
feared that he would exercise his master
full qualities of discussion to the highest
degree in stating the reasons for his flop
He seems not to have done so. He has
written many stronger documents on less
momentouS questions.
Congressman Jesse Overstreet of Indiana.
secretary of the republican congressional
committee, crystalizes republican sentiment
on the subject in a sentence or two. "Ol-
ney is clinging to the wreck for purpose
of his own he said. He is waiting for
the period of reconstruction which he eX-
poets to arrive in 1904. He wants to re-
main in line. Keep your eye on him in
connection with the next nomination for
the presidency"
Harry S. New of Indiana. member of
the republican national committee, was
greatly pleased with the tone of the letter.
1T lacks force said he. 1T will have
no effect in Indiana. He is unable to find
anything to commend in either of the cam
didates in either of the parties. Yet
his letter must be a source of satisfaction
to those democrats who will be pleased to
learn that he can vote their ticket in spite
of his antipathy to their candidate and
their platform
Vice Chairman Payne of the national
committee says he has been expecting Oh
ney's announcement. Il have been expect
ing it for several weeks he declared.
Like Gov. Pingree, on our side of the
fence, he will hold his nose while he votes
the ticket. That is phrase peculiarly
1.HrI
VIII Gov. Pingree be asked to go on the
stump? Well, hardly. 1t isn't likely, is
1t. that this committee will reach out after
gentlemen who are holding their noses?
No Flop at All.
In some sources it is intimated that OIL
neys flop is not much of flop as
II seems on its face; in fact, it is said to
be no flop at all. A Washington news
paperman is authority for the story. In
1896, he says, he was talking to Secretary
Olney. Several of the Cleveland cabinet
had bolted and declared for Palmer and
Buckner. You can just remember, for
future reference" the Secretary is said
to have said to his newspaper friend, that
there are no letters on file from me. I'm
not going home TO vote, that's true, but
democratic vote will not make much
difference in the state of Massachusetts,
will it?
Other well-infOrmed sources have it that
Secretary Olney's ever outspoken contempt
for j. Sterling Morton of Nebraska, who
was Secretary of Agriculture when Olney
was Secretary of STATE, had something To
do with his recent declaration. Oincy never
did like Morton. He didn't like him any
better when Morton called at the German
embassy at Washington one day and CAV"
the German ambassador piece of his mind
for the unfriendineSS of his goVerIn- ent
toward American meat. Baron Won kct-
teller, who has since met his fate in China
at that time stationed in Washington. made
the visit of the Secretary of Agriculture
the subject OF diplomatic representation
to the Secretary of State. Olney said a
few burning words to Morton on that oc-
caSion. That never interfered to any ap-
preciable degree, however, with Morton do
ing pretty much as he pleased at all times
That is the one thing no one could ever
stop Morton from doing.
Now Morton is lambasting Bryan and
Organism after the fiercest manner mag
Unable. He fairly slaughters everything
BryaneSQue. He is so bitter in his denun-
Citations that he has offended some, al
though he has delighted many. His very
thing to do with influencing Olney to come
out in the other direction. Nothing would
be more natural for him.
The Shadow of Cleveland.
Behind Olney appears the shadow of
Grover Cleveland. What will Cleveland do :?
That is the question that agitates demo
Gratis and republicans alike. His recent let
ter to the effect that he desired to remain
In Seclusion was interpreted by many as a
symptom of Bryanitis. The fact that OIL
ney wrote his letter while under re hos
pitable roof of Grover Cleveland is similarly
construed
you knew about Olney some weeks In
advance Vice Chairman Payne was ask
ed. What do you know about Cleveland? -
Il know nothing" he replied. But l
wouldn't be surprised to see him come out
for Bryan as Olney did
That is what Committeeman New says
also. Representative OverStreet of India ma
takes the other view. II am quite posi-
tive" he declared, that Cleveland will not
come out for Bryan.
Chairman j. X. Jones of the democra tic
national committee refuses to discuss the
matter at all. There are others at his
headquarters more outspoken. They are df-
vided into two camps. The one side, adj
hitting that they abused Cleveland with
all their might and all their main, would
be glad to hear him announce himself for
Bryan. 1T would help vastly in the
east, is their argument. The other side
doesn't want him to come out. They stil
hate him personally and want no affilia-
ton, political or otherwise, with him. Then
again they feel that his support will cost
them thousands of votes In the west
Chairman Tiiotson of the silver republican
committee. little adjunct to the democrat
ic national committee. is one of these. He
would certainly do much harm as
good" Is the way he put it, Perhaps 1t
would be just as well for Mr. Cleveland to
stand still right where he is"
II Is evident. therefore, that If Mr.. Clave-
land wants to come to see the big demo
cratic show he will have to pay for hig
tickets. They will not send him any com
plimentaries, nor will they dispatch a car
riage for him.
Ex-COntroiler Eckels Against Bryan.
Among the literature circulated by the
republicans to offset Mr.. Olney's epistoary
effusion is an interview with Mr.. James H.
Eckels who was controller of the currency
under President Cleveland Mr.. Eckels
gives his reasons for not Supporting Bryan
in 1896 and for not supporting him now.
Among other things he says:
NO issue set forth in any platform no
matter how cunningly devised and ar
ranged. in this campaign can be made
paramount to the issue of Mr.. Bryan him