The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-21

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| fort should be made. it would not be worth
while to raise a row over ii. If the plat
! form is to be considered an authoritative
/ expression Of Mr. Bryan's views. IL is
! quite evident that the paramount issues OF
! the next campaign will be the trusts and
! imperialism-the latter term meaning the
! course mapped out by the Republicans for
| the government of the lnsular possessions
| as vasSaIs to be exploited by the protected
| interests. This will resolve The fight into
the old struggle between the parties on
! the tariff. With these issues occupying the
| place CT prominence in the Democratic
| platform this year. it is believed many
| thousands of Democrats who left the party
! four years ago will come back to the fold.
| despite the fact that the Chicago platform
! will be readopted in its entirety at Kansas
| City.
Debs Making Claims. - The Hon.
Eugene Violence Debs. Socialist nominee
! for President, is already putting forth
| the claim that he will pol! more votes
| than were cast for General Weaver, the
! Populist candidate, in 1892. Weaver poll
ed about one million votes out of the to-
! tai vote that year of less than eleven
| million. II Debs runs over the million
mark it is safe to assert that fully three
! fcurths of them will come from the ele-
ments that would support Bryan were
! Debs ont of the field. A million votes
lured from the Bryan column will. it is
thought mean the defeat of the Nebras-
kan by a larger popular majority than
was east against him in PC. Debs' sup
port will come mainly from New York,
New Jersey. Illinois, and Indiana-States
which the Bryan managers at this juno
ture are quite hopeful OF carrying. With
out at least one OF tbem-New. York-it is
conceded that the Democrats will stand
very poor show. Though New York was
Carried by Mckinley in the last campaign
by the unprecedented plurality OF more
than two hundred thousand. yet the issue
which then gave that State to the Repub
licans is now removed from politics and
the signs ct present seem plainly to in
dicate strong Democratic revival in
the Empire State. However. the Debs
candidacy VIII so confuse the issues in
the minds OF 4 large element of New York
voters that unless something is done 20
sdetrack him il is feared the real Demo-
cratic growth will not be strong enough
to carry the Democratic ticket through.
What is true of New York in this partc
ular is true of the other States named.
| Especially can this be stated OF Illinois,
which has in Chicago an element of
York City possesses. The question, then.
of interest to Democrats is as 10 how to
eliminate Debs from tle problem. He can
not be influenced by argument. No re-
ward of office can be offered him as was
offered 10 PowderIy by Hanna in the
last campaign for his support of McKin-
ley. Debs' record as a wild asitator p. e
cludes consideration of his name for any
place OF Importance in the public service.
and they have been called nearly every
thing else but fools-they will see to it
that Debs stays on the track. even if it
costs them more money than they had to
spend in Illinois in SO.
Nothing for weeL.-Senator For
aker spent nearly an hour in private con-
ference with the President at the White
House yesterday. At the close of the con-
sultation the Senator told the newspaper
men that he would have nothing new tc
give out on his Porto Rican bill for fully
a week At the end of that time Senator
Plat OF Connecticut. who next 10 Henry
ONnard was mainly instrumental in forcing
the tariff policy on the party in the House.
will have returned from Cuba where Iie
now is Oh tour OF inspection of the to-
bacCo prospects, of that island. Senator
Foraker's announcement is distinctly die
couraging to the Beveridge free trade
amendment. There is no likelihood that
Mr. Foraker has had any misunders landing
with Mr. Mckinley On the colonial quss-
ton. Their friendship is OF too recent
growth to admit of the suspicion that they
would part company again at this critical
time. Senator Foraker is committed to the
Porto Rican tariff proposition. With these
premises granted. the conclusion is newt
able that the President also is committed
to that proposition. II he should change
front on it now where would he leave the
thirty or more members of the House
whom he got into very serious trouble with
their cons tituents by winning them to the
support of the Oxnard bill through a strong
personal appeal? Senator Beverage has
not stated 20 lively that he offered his
amendment at the request of the President
The Indianian however is not averse to the
impression getting abroad that he repre-
sents McKiniey's latest change of front
Such an impression would eXalt the Sena-
tor not a little among lis admirers in
Hoosierdom whose saliyary glands are in
cited to great activity by the bare thought
Of the flesh pots to which he would have
access in the next Administration if Mr.
Mckinley is reelected and their young
Senator should remain IN close touch with
him. Also il may stop some of the harsh
criticisms now threatening the party in
Indiana with disruption. The Hon. Benia-
min Harrison is said to continue to discuss
freely with his neighbors various public
questions of Importance, and he is not
known evef to have recanted his treason
able declaration that the Porto Rican bill
was "a departure from right principles"
As long as this eminent private citizen of
the. Hoosier State persists in receiving his
ueichhors when they call and talking to
them about politics. domestic and inter
national. with an occas ional enquiry as tC
whittier are We drifting" il may be ex-
pected that the highest considerations of
Indiana craftsmanship demand that free
trade amendments be offered in the Sen
ate TO the Porto Rican bill.
Hoke smith in Town.-The Hon.
Hoke Smith has come up from Georgia
to the scenes OF his former glory and
,riumphs. He arrived in the city yester-
day morning. and soon found his way to
The Capitol without the aid of a guide.
Went he there straight to the Senate
wing. and in a j;ffy both Senators from
Georgia We're by his side. TO private
gallery of the chamber they conducted
him, after a friendly talk In the marble
room. While seated in the gallery the
eminent Georgian held in his mouth a
long, black cigar. unlighted. and in his
left hand an iridescent silk tile. He
viewed askance the empty seat of the
lion. Augustus Octayius Bacon. whose
tenure in the Senate he attempted to
cat short By launching for him Vice