Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-16
HE is NOT A CANDIDATE
WILLIAM j. BRYAN MAKES 4
POSITIVE ANNOUNCEMENT.
Analyses Ohio Democratic Platform
and Mildly Criticises Its
Framers.

A special dispatch in todays Baltimore
Sun from Lincoln, Neb., says:
William ]. Bryan will devote all of the
first page of next Fridays Commoner to
an editorial on the Ohio democratic con-
vention. His comment Is mild, and his
criticism of the convention less harsh than
was the convention of himself.
Mr. Bryan begins by declaring excellent
the platforms labor plank and that refer
ring to railroads, but the plank condemn
ing imperialism, he says, criticises repub-
lican policies without pointing out a rem
edy. Mr.. Bryan then proceeds:
THE convention not only failed, but re-
fused to indorse or reaffirm the Kansas
City platform. and, from the manner in
which the gold element has rejoiced over
this feature of the convention, one would
suppose that the main object of the con-
vention was not to write a new platform,
but to repudiate the one upon which the
last national campaign was fought.
Gen. Finley was right in insisting upon
a vote on his resolution indorsing the Kan
sas City PLATFORM but he made a mistake
in including in his resolution a compli-
mentary reference to w. ]. Bryan.
Not a Candidate for Any Office.
MIR. Bryan is not candidate for any
office. and mention Of him might have
been construed by some as an Endorsement
of office.
1.-The vote should have been on the naked
proposition to indorse the platform of last
year and then no one could have excused
his abandonment of democratic principles
by pleading his dislike for Mr.. Bryan. The
cause ought not be made to bear the sins
of the individual. Mr.. Bryan will endure
without complaint any punishment which
the democracy of Ohio may see fit to ad-
minister to him, but he does not want MS
name used to the injury of a good plat
form.
THE gold papers assume that the con-
vention refused to adopt the Kansas city
platform because 1t contained silver
plank. If so, it would have been more
courageous to have declared openly for the
gold standard. If the gold standard Is good
it ought to have been Endorsed; If bad 1t
ought to have been denounced. To ignore
the subject entirely was inexcusable.
Money Question Still In Politics.
THE money question Is not yet out of
politics Every session Of Congress will
have to deal with it. The republicans de-
clare that 1t is dead, but they keep working
at it. At the last session of Congress they
tried to make the silver dollar redeemable
In gold, and when it is accomplished they
will try to limit the legal-tender qualities
of the dollar. The gold standard will not
be complete until gold Is the only legal
tender money and bank notes the only
paper money. Then our supply of primary
money will be controlled by foreign fnan-
ciers and our supply of credit money by
domestic financiers.
This plan has been developed gradually.
and every step has been taken secretly and
stealthily. The republican leaders have
been in this movement for years; as soon
as the democratic party found that some
of it's leaders had Joined the conspiracy
those leaders were deported. 1t looks now
as If the reactionary influences We're once
more trying to secure control. II they sue
coed In Ohio or elsewhere it simply means
another gigantic struggle such as was wit
messed in 1896 The democratic party can
not be made a plutocratic party even II
there were room in this country for two
such parties.
Ambiguity No Longer Potent.
There was a time under the Cleveland
regime when the party leaders used general
and ambiguous phrases to deceive the vot-
ers; but that scheme cannot be worked
again. We cannot expect the voters to
have confidence in the party unless the
party has confidence in the voters; and II
the party has confidence in the voters 1t
will state it's position on all the important
questions before the country and invite
Judgment"
Mr.. Bryan calls attention to the fact that
the present campaign in Ohio involves
United States senator and wonders why
John r. Mclean. whom he regards as
candidate did not demand candid and hon
est dealing with the money question. On
this point he says:
Did the leaders ignore the money ques-
tion to please those who bolted, or did Mr..
Mclean want to be left free to affiliate
with the republicans on financial questions
in case o, his election?"
He concludes by prasing Col. James Kill
bourne. the democratic gubernator1al NOM
inee. and urging all democrats to support
the ticket.
ANTI-sALOON LEAGUE.