Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-25
Mr.. Vest on Bimetalism.

/ Senator Vest in an interesting interview
printed in today's Washington Post, says:
1.-The money question 1 do not believe
will be conspicuous issue in the cam
paign. The large production of gold has
sufficed to postpone the inevitable triumph
Of bimetalism. The platform should con-
tain a declaration in favor Of double
standard, but no attempt should be made
to force the issue to the front. Some day
there will be another great political battle
in America between the forces of bimetal-
ism and monometalfsm, and bimetaliSm Will
triumph, but that day Is not now.
LAS to who will lead the democratic party
to its promised victory two years hence no
safe prediction can now be made. AS the
situation Is today, New York could nomi-
nate any man upon whom its delegation
was agreed. but many changes are possible
In two years. Mr.. Bryan undoubtedly Will
have a strong following in the convention,
but he hardly can control 1t. HIS influence
Is on the wane everywhere, seemingly. but
in my own state of Missouri. and 1t does
not seem that he can again dictate the pol
icy of the party.
"Mr. Bryan has not the elements Of great
or successful leadership. twice voted for
him because he was the party's nominee.
but he holds many beliefs with which am
not in sympathy and with which do not
believe the democratic party Is In SYM
pathy."
The question arises. would not Mr.. Vests
plank on the money issue satisfy Mr.
Bryan? Certainly the Nebraskan must con-
cede that the large increase in the supply
Of gold has changed the contention as to
silver. In none of his recent deliverances
on the subject has he insisted that the bat
tie for silver should be continued on the
aggressive lines of 1896. He has said that
the issue Is not dead: that it will assume
Importance again, and that in the end 1t
will triumph. For that reason he declines
to surrender it, and holds that those men
who have done so are not democrats, but
republicans, and should not be allowed
voice in the councils of the democracy.
Now suppose Mr.. Bryan should speak as
Mr.. Vest has spoken. That Is to say, sup
pose he should advise that the democracy
keep it's record consistent as to bimetalism
and continue to declare for that as against
monometalism, leaving the Importance OF
the money issue to future campaigns to be
determined by the conditions Of the hour
Would that strengthen him in quarters
where his influence has recently been
waning? Has he lost ground because of the
popular belief that he Is Bourbon on the
money question; that he learns nothing
forgets nothing?
That would not satisfy Mr.. Vest because
he frankly declares that Mr.. Bryan is not
sound on other propositions. And yet on
the tariff question Mr.. Bryan is in accord
with his party's lifetime position. He favors
a tariff for revenue only. His views as to
expansion have been echoed by many of
the leading democrats Of the country. He
insists that United States senators should
be elected by a direct vote Of the people
His expressions on the subject Of govern
ment by injunction have not been more
pronounced than those Of the more emf
nent of his followers. AS matter Of fact.
therefore, would Mr.. Bryan have to do
more than make his views on silver square
with the opinions Of expectant but at pres
ent non-assertive bimetalists to recommend
himself afresh to many men who have
lately fallen away from him?