The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-11
Talking Reorganization.

Talking Reorganization.
Prominent Democratic leaders continue
to talk about the future Of their party.
When few of the members OF the Cleve-
land wing Of the party suggested imme-
diateIy after election that possibly the
time was at hand when reorganization
should take place, protest arose from
those who had been conspicuous in the
Bryan campaign. They Insisted that
there was no need OF any reorganization;
and even II there was demand for some
thing of the sort. the work should be per-
formed by those who had remained loyal
to the party and not by those who had de-
serted It and gone over to the enemy.
Mr.. Bryan. Senator Vest. Chairman
Jones and Mr. Stone have spoken for the
Democrats. and Mr.. Teller and Mr.. Towne
for the few Silver Republicans who have
elected to remain with the Democratic
party. They are agreed that the fight"
must go on. which supposedly means that
none Of the leading issues of the last two
campaigns are to be dropped. and that
every effort must be made to effect the
political combination which resulted in
fusion In 1896 and 1900 There is no spe-
there is an intimation from some quar-
tiers that perhaps the wisest thing to do
would be to allow Mr.. Bryan to try
third time for the presidency upon plat
form which shall abate none of the de-
mands that have twice been made in the
name OF Democracy.
MIR. Stone was one Of the latest to speak.
He ridiculed the idea of any reorganixa-
ton along the lines suggested by the
Cleveland people. and said that "the Dem
ocratic party should not and cannot con-
sistently abandon the substance of any
principle 1t has advocated, for IT has adj
voeated nothing that Is not Democrats:
but 1t should broaden its lines and be-
come more aggressive and constructive In
its purposes and less negative and OBJ
pie being discouraged. 1t Is only neces-
sary that we stand resoluteiy for the
right. go on with the work of education
and organization mot reorganization,
keep the party in harmony with the spirit
of the age, while at the same time guard
| Ing cur institutions of government, and
,.fil frgt,p,s.h Ia th. a,a
II Mr.. Stone Is right In saying that his
| party has advocated nothing that IL not
Democrats, then OF course there Is no
need OF reorganization. But those who
are calling for change do so on the
ground that the leading doctrines adyo-
Gated in the last four years are not Dem
ocratie. They claim that the old-fsshion-
ed Democratic doctrines have given way
60 Populistie doctrines and that so long
as the organization Is tied up with Popu-
lism il can never hope for the united
support Of All the members OF the Demo
cratic party
Many people will probably fan 10 un-
dersiand What Mr.. stone means when he
urges that MS party become more ag-
gressise." n there Is any one thing more
than another that has distinguished the
Democratic party during the last sour
years it Is its agEresslveness The plat
form adopted at Chicago In lsss was Ag-
gressive 10 the last degree: and II Mr..
Bryan did not wage an aggressive cam
Pdisn In taat year as well as In the pres
sut year, then the word has lost Its mean
ing. One main reason for the rejection n,
the Democratic candidate has been he
cause both the candidate ana The Mat.
forms upoH which he has stood have e.sp
too aggressive. They have Threatened too
maeh' They have been SO aggressive IN
advancing extreme policies tbas the pso.
pie became frightened. and many rle,n.,.
Gratis refused 20 support Bryan beeanse
they recognized him as leader Of q nsvs.
ment which was aggressive almost 10 tina
point o. revolution. The Democratic Marty
must become less aggressive and less AZ.
s,rnctlve before It viii receive popu,a,
support, and there is not much reason "a
expect change like this so long as ,hs
leadership is in the hands Of men whe
think as Bryan does
The Republican newspapers throughout
the country are protesting against ans
reduction Of the taxes on beer and cigars