Sunday morning globe., 1901-08-18
POLITICAL Talks.
Hon, James L. Norris on the Ohio
Platform.
SILVER A DEAD ISSUE.
Hon. Horace |. Chapman, Er-Canddate for Cox
smor IndOrsss tho Democratic State Ticket
Of Ohio and Predicts Victory In November -
Nh. Norris Defines His Democracy In His
Usual Clear Manner.

member of the National Committee,
unrecognized by Chairman Jones' be-
ing asked his opinion on the Ohio plat
form, promptly, as will be seen, ap-
proved the same.
Il have read the platform clear
through and can not see how anyone
claiming to be a Democrat can find
any objections to its planks.'
How about the omission, or rather
the ignoring Of the Kansas City plat
form?"
We'll; the Ohio platform doesn't re-
pudiate the Kansas City or any other
national Democratic platform Of prin-
ciples. 1t simply and specifically
states the issues on which the Democ-
racy will contest Ohio, not the entire
country, with the Republican party of
that State"
well, to be more specific, Mr.. Nor.
ris. how about the silver issue?"
"That, sir, as Senator Stewart him
self said the other day, is no longer
an issue by reason Of the fact that the
conditions which made it such no
longer exist When the Republican
party again creates these conditions,
the silver issue, as you call 1t, or
some other antagonistic Issue to the
Republican scheme will be launched
by the Democratic party, and that is
all that any man can say on this head,
For the present the free coinage Of sill,
yer at 16 to 1, or any other ratio, Is no
more a Democratic issue than the limi
tation of free soil statehood or the
extension Of slavery"
Now, Mr. Norris; what would you
have The Globe understand-that you,
too, have gone back on Mr.. BTyan?'
Mr.. Norris laughed and struck his
mighty thighs nervous fashion, and
replied:
Gone back on iiddlesticks. Mr..
Bryan is a Democrat, and l go back on
no Democrat who accepts the result of
primary, District, State or National
Convention. The trouble with some
Of you newspaper men is, you insist
on substituting an individual for the
Democratic party, The party is big
ger and mightier and stronger than
any individual. It has buried leaders
and Presidents and still survives, and
as nobody can take it to the grave
with him so nobody can wear IL eX-
cluslvely as a necklace or o scarf-pin
while he is alive, l am an admirer
indeed I might say, a partisan Of Mr.
w. J, Bryan's, with whom have main
tanned the friendliest and closest per
sonal relations, but Mr.. Bryan himself
would consider me eccentric If 1 had
to consult him or any other Democrat,
touching my acceptance Of the fiat,
platform or principles of a Democratic
convention before l gave in my adhe-
sion to the same You see, me boy,
the convention declares the platform,
and all good Democrats get on board
as soon as It Is laid down, just as they
have done in Ohio, Maryland, and
Thursday last, In the Old Dominion"
rs Mr. John r. Mclean, in your
opinion, the logical Senatorial bene-
fciary of Democratic victory in ohio?"
"If he isn't, he ought to be, and
would consider the Democracy Of Ohio
unworthy Of victory place or power,
If they failed TO recognize him. For
30 years he has borne the heat and a
great share Of the expense Of keeping
the standard ahoat in the State, II
Mclean was a Republican, and did
half as much for that party as he has
for the Democracy, he would not only
have worn the Senatorial toga long
ago but sat in the Presidential chair
Yes, sir; If the Ohio Democracy wins
this fight, and | believe they will, Mr..
Mclean, by all the rules Of party war
fare, is the first man in the State for
Senatorial honors, and believe he
will meet little or no opposition in Sc
curing the honor. He has been an ag-
gressive and consistent fighter, and his
purse, paper and services have been
given freely when others fiunked or
left him to go 1t alone"
How about Mayor Tom Johnson, Of
Cleveland?"
"He is a great fighter, and doing
b0od work, but do not think the cOun-
try at large is yet prepared, or as you
would say, educated up to his ad-
vanced ideas Mr. Johnson has been
shrewdly devoting his time and tai
ents to money-mahng, and some,
though not all, his leisure, to politics.
He has taken a very little part in even
| Ohio State contests I'm the past, al
though he had the means, opportunity
and pressing invitations TO do 50, but,
like a sagacious man Of business, he
followed a sure thing and raked In the
| dollar. His assistance now TO the
State ticket will be very welcome, no
doubt, and very valuable, and the De-
mocracy Of Ohio will. in due time, l
hope, reward him for such services,
but it has a debt to pay the continuous
and untiring chieftain who has backed,
led and kept It's flag aloft. and that
chieftain is Hon. John r. Mclean"
and the great patent attorney, as he
rubbed his legs, turned to his desk
with a gentle lnumation to withdraw
our gimiet.