New-York tribune., 1901-07-17
TOWNE ON HILLS CHANCES
Mr.. BRYAN'S FRIEND SEES NO HOPE
FOR THE NEBRASKA EDITOR IN 1904.

Charles A Towne of Duluth. for brief period
United States Senator from Minnesota, independent
Free Silver Republican. friend OF William j. Bryan
and nominee OF the Populsts and Free Silver he-
pubIicans for Vice-President upon the ticket Win
William J. Bryan last year. was at the Hotel VIC
tora yesterday. Mr Towne is now Interested III Oh
gushers in Texas and has retired from pohucs tof
good SO he says He called upon Controller Coi~
Yesterday While he head OF a big oil company
and Incidentally and verbally. his company is eX-
r,ec.ed 10 nav 100 per cent a year on capitaiza-
ton of 81 e000Do-he still retains an onooKer inter
est in politics. and yesterday ne made some CUM
nlents which may cause his friend MI f7fyah ueep
pain.
.ar, IN. nresent condition of national prosperity
ADEQUATE supply OF currency and a tendency toward
rising prices continues for the next three years
said Mr. Towne then believe that the Feacuoh-
ary element in the Democratic party Will gain con-
troll OF the next National Convention In that case
II is nv ou.nion that Senator Hill, OF New-1ork
will be the next candidate for President or the
regular Democratic party, ana the pialiorih
adopted will, / believe. be very reactionars one
In fact believe the party will split in 1904 and MT
Bryan will lead third party faction in support Oh
the issues TO which is still loyal. The feeling
abong Democrats throughout the West is that they
want TO win and they don't care rap wnat sort OF
platform they win There is a strong feelins IN
that section in favor of the nomination of Mr. Hill
or some other Eastern and the adoption OF a
platform that will be a total reputation of the
chief issues of 1896 and 1890.
THE free silver question is absolutely dead in the
West long as present prosperous conditions con-
tinue. Our position free silver in 1886 and lSS
was misunderstood. We We're not demanding more
markets and profit for the silver mines, but more
money for the country keep up prices. God, in
His wise providence has provided a vast increase
In the supply OF gold to-day there is more
money in the country than there would have been
IL the gold supply had remained stationary and the
mints had been opened to the free coinage OF sill
Yer. So long the present condition continues or
supply of gold continues to increase there can
be no successful serious demand for the Tree
coinage of silver Certainly that demand cannot
again be made issue in national campaign
until there big change in industrial or financial
conditions.
Mr.. Towne said that he was glad to see that Mr.
Bryan had condemned the Ohio Democrats for
their refusal to stand by the national platform;
lit just like the man. he said Mr.. Bryan Is
certainly loyal to his principles, and he is hard
man to down. but do believe he can again be
the candidate of a united party for the office Of
President All the indications in the West now
point a reactionary platform three years hence
and an Eastern the nominee Such a re-
suit. as / said. may cause Mr.. Bryan to lead
third ticket"
I'm that event. Mr.. Towne asked. whom
would you support"
Il am ready 10 discuss that" was his evasive