The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-07-24
!. E. IS NOT NOW an ISSUE.
What is Said in Washington Of
Free Silver and the Ohio
Platform.


Washington, July 1s.-Considefing
that free silver is practically conceded
to be no longer present issue In the
political field, Democrats here feel that
the Ohio State Convention might have
used greater courtesy towards its chief
exponent, Mr.. Bryan. They say that
it is not the policy even of those who
believed-and believe-in silver to
make any present effort to force it to
the front except in case of undue con-
traction of the currency. The lack OF
money made it of great Importance
some years ago: the plentifulness Of
money makes it of comparative unim-
portance nowadays. The most radical
advocates of free silver believe it.
would be unwise, if viewed from no
other point than that of the interest
of silver itself, to force it into the
fight inopportunely. Moreover, other
issues are regarded as of too grave i'm
portance to admit of their being jeop-
ardized by disputes within the party
over differences impossible Of settle
ment at this time.
This is not new sentiment, but has
been entertained by all the leading
Bryan supporters since the President
ial election. and was entertained by
many during the campaign; but they
want it distinctly understood that
silence on the subject of any feature
of the national platform does not i'm
ply recantation. Hence the effort in
Ohio to stamp upon the issue on
which the Democracy twice polled the
largest vote on record, may. it is fear
| ed, lead to chickering's which will GER
tainly do no good to the party.
If any irritation is caused by the
agitation of the question it will be
due, so Democrats here say, to the ILL
advised action of the Ohio conven-
tion. Until that was held there was
no disposition on the part of men
prominent in the party to attempt to
bring about condition which
would result in another nomination
for Mr. Bryan Or to force the silver
issue to the front either in the next
Congressionl campaign or in the gene
raj election of 1904 Even, now, Bry-
ans political friends of such position
as to make their opinion on such a
matter valuable make no serious COM
plant of the platform adopted at the
Ohio convention. That platform
brings out strongly the issues upon
which it is expected, from present in
dications, the battle between the two
great parties will be fought. While
there are some conspicuous omissions,
that is not seriously objected to, nor
is it thought by Mr.. Bryan IS friends
| ~ TO Thns
mention of Mr.. Bryan's name in the
platform or reference to the national
platforms of 1896 and 1900. The
thing Objectionable to the Bryanites''
was the apparent purpose to throw
about the convention spirit of hostil-
ity toward Bryan and his platform,
while adopting declaration of prin-
ciples which Mr.. Bryan himself would
readily indorse, corresponding as far
as they 60 with what he and many
other Democrats have been saying
since the last election.
That there has been no effort to
force silver to the front is evident
from the fact that Democrats, Silver
Republicans and Populists alike are
talking other issues Towne, Dubois,
Teller and Pettigrew, who left the Re
publican party on account Of silver
and have the right to be considered
the particular champions of the cause
of free coinage, have not in any way
indicated desire to make chat an
issue in either the next Congressional
election or the contest of 1904. On
the contrary, they say that the need
of free silver is not as pressing with
the larger volume of money now in
existence as it was, in their opinion,
before or may be at some other time.
Dubois, Towne and Pettigrew are talk
ing anti-imperialism when they talk
politics at all.
The truth of the matter is that
Democrats here are beginning to sus-
pect that the alleged hostility to Mr..
Bryan in Ohio was mostly manufac-
tured attempt to make it appear that
some principle being repudiated, SO as
to provoke conventions in other
States and perhaps, to lead to
the incorporation Of silver and vocife-
rous acclamations of the Chicago plat
from in some sections by way of re-
sentiment of supposed attack on Bry-
an. The fear is expressed in some
quarters that Mr.. Bryan may be taunt-
ed into taking up the issue but his
best friends would regard this as
display of weakness on his part not to
be expected.