The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1903-10-22
Looks Like Silver Wing is in Con-
troll of Democracy.

Des Moines, Iowa, Oct. l9.--Are the
Iowa democrats trying to work the
confidence game upon the people Of
the state? Are the silver men who
were defeated in the last two state
conventions again in the ascendency,
and are their policies debating the
course Of the campaign this year?
These are questions that the voters
of the state would do well to consider.
1t will be remembered that the gold
men only won out in the last two
democratic conventions by narrow
majorities. In the convention two
years ago they refused to reaffirn
the Kansas City platform by major
ity Of aboNt forty votes, and this year
their majority was only about one
hundred. This indicates that the two
factions are almost equally divided in
Iowa. The silver men are not salts
fed with the platform adopted this
year. William Jennings Bryan, whom
they revere as a lender, has repeated
ly denounced it. Several democratic
conventions have refused 20 follow
the example of the state convention
and have re-affirmed the Kansas City
platform in the strongest terms.
There are other indications that the
silver men have practical control. ALI
OF the candidates of the democratic
state ticket have been supporters of
the Kansas City platform. J. B. Sui
livan, their candidate FOR governor,
has always adhered to the principles
OF the Kansas City platform, and his
district (the Sth) went strongly in
favor of re-afffrmation at the last
state convention. He has always sup
ported Mr.. Bryan and there Is no
question but that he stIll believes in
all Of the principles enunciated in the
last national platform of the party.
Under these circumstances it is not
unfair 10 say that vote for Mr.. Sui
Ivan is vote for the Kansas City
platform.
Rul there are still other indications
that this is true. W. r. Hearst, of
the Chicago American, has always
supported the Kansas City platform
and MIR. Bryan through his papers.
In fact, his paper IN Chicago was
started in 1900 for the purpose of as
sisting Mr.. Bryan in his campaign.
In spite of this fact we now see the
democratic state committee arranged
with Mr.. Hearst to flood the state
with copies of his paper during the
next two weeks. The gold democrats
are supposed to control the state COM
mittee and yet they do not hesitate to
enter into an arrangement with Mr..
Hearst, whose papers have always
been outspoken for the platform
which they refused TO re-affirm at
their last two state. conventions.
In view of these facts, is it not reas-
enable to believe that the silver men
are sti1l controlling the policy Of the
democratic party in Iowa. They have
the state candidates, they absolutely
control several of the congressional
districts, and in several counties they
have refused to adopt the course fol-
lowed by the democratic state con-
vention. The democratic state COM
mittee has entered into arrangements
with Mr.. Hearst which places them
under obligations to him. If he is a
candidate for president next year he
will call upon the Iowa democrats to
repay him for his assistance this year.
The voters of the state should consid-
er these matters carefully. There is
still reason to believe that a vote for
the democratic ticket it endorsement
of the Kansas City platform, including
free silver.