Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-03-11
Mr.. Bryan on Mr.. Hill.

y
quite distinctly that he is not deeply
impressed with David b. Hills candi-
dacy for the democratic presidential
domination before the next national
convention. Under the caption of
The Candidacy of Mr.. HILL" Mr.
Bryan says in opening his article:
The speech delivered by eX-Sena-
tor David Il. Hill at the Manhattan
club banquet in New York Feb. %
may be accepted as a formal an
nouncement of his candidacy before
the next democratic national conven-
ton. He is certain that President
Roosevelt will be the republican nom
inee, and Roosevelt is a New York
man. He is also certain that New
York will be the battle ground, and
the Inference is natural Though not
necessary that the democratic nom
inee should come from New York
and is not Mr.. Hill New York man?
But in order that his candidacy
might be fairly started on its way he
outlines what he considers winning
platform. 1t is fortunate for the
party that the distinguished New
Yorker discloses his plans early, al
though those who read the platform
will observe that there is a familiar
ambiguity about the planks which
recalls the days when democratic
| platforms were made to conceal is
sues rather than to, present them.
First, as to the man. AS he has not
taken the public fully into his conf
dence we must rely on circumstances
to ascertain the exact hour when the
present attack of presidential fever
first made its appearance. If the mi
nority had secured control of the Chi
cago convention Mr.. Hill would doubt
I less have been the nominee, for he
was the spokesman of the minority
and was peculiarly fitted To- represent
the methods employed by the gold
men on that occasion. AS is well
known he refused 10 give a single
word of encouragement to the demo-
cratic ticket during the campaign
and as result whatever influence
he had WAS thrown against the party.
When the campaign was over he
wrote a carefully prepared magazine
article assailing the democratic plat
form and arguing in favor of re-
pudiating it,
Mr.. Bryan then goes on to present
proof of the apathy of Mr.. Hill in
the national campaign of 90 wherein
money was the dominant issue. but
adds: ''He is sound on Imperialism,
but the Kansas City platform j.
stronger, clearer and more explicit
than his. His advice TO press tariff
reform comes with bad grace from
one who as a democratic senator re-
fused to support the only tariff re-
form measure passed since the civil
war. As his silence in 1896 contribut-
ed TO the success of the most conspic-
uOus high tariff advocate in the ma
ton il is evident that his hostility to
a protective tariff is of recent and
sudden growth. As for reciprocity.
republicans favor IL where il will do
no good, and democrats favor tariff
reform that will largely remove the
necessity for reciprocity.
THE strict construction doctrine
is democratic. but il affords almost
as much latitude for individual ac-
ton rs n plank declaring that each
person should always do what he
thinks is right.
''It is to be hoped that the senate
will act favorably upon the resolution
proposing an amendment to the con-
stitution providing for the eviction
of United States senator's by direct
vote of the people. If it does this. the
only definite and specific plank in Mr..
Hills platform will present an issue
already settled. The Monroe doc
trine is not in dispute; it is accepted
by all parties, and Mr.. Roosevelt's
latest message removes the question
from the domain of partisan politics.
Opposition to dangerous corporate
combinations of capital is entirely
too vague and indefinite.
But the money plank of Mr.. Hills
proposed platform is the most unique
one. we believe in hard money!
How alluring such a platform would
look to an artful dodger. \ man
could stand on that platform and adj
vOcate gold, silver, nickel or copper.
and after election declare that hard
money simply meant money that was
hard to get. While Mr.. Hills money
plank may mean anything or nothing
so far as metallic money is concerned
he wants ii understood that he is
'unalterably opposed to irredeemabIe
paper money. AS the republican
party does not advocate 'irredeemabIe
paper money il is evident Mr.. Hill is
not striking at the republicans. He
is simply trying TO get even with the |
who supported the demo-
cratic ticket when he sullled and |
s<ulked. He can forgive the gold |
democrats who voted the republican
ticket and swallowed high tariff, inn
perialism and the trust in order to
keep the New York financiers in con-
troll of the federal treasury, but he is
not willing to forgive the populists
who were patriotic enough to come to
-