Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-20
PLEA FOR HARMONY
NORMAN E. MACK TO EDITOR
METCALFE.
Answer to Inquiry as to Democratic
Policy in the Next
Campaign.

Norman E Mack of Buffalo, N. Y,
member of the democratic national commit
Tee. in reply to an inquiry from Editor
Metcalfe of the Omaha World-Herald re-
garding democratic policy in the next
campaign, says: On the whole, 1t seems
to me that we are not very far apart in
The main, as you say:
I'VE must agree that it is not too much to
ask democrats to eliminate individual pref
erences,' If by this you refer to the candi-
date; and yet it will also be agreed that
the candidate should be a man whose rec
ord and character would justify popular
confidence that he would honestly endeavor
to fulfill the platform pledges"
1t goes without saying, 1 trust, that L
would counsel the nomination of no man
who could not command that confidence.
You ask If l would counsel democrats to
'become Indifferent to the character of
the PLATFORM, though doing me the justice
to add: Il am sure you would be the last
to give such advice" l would be the last
to give such advice A candidate must
represent his party. and he can do so only
by subscribing, honestly and sincerely, to
the tenets of that party as laid down in
Its national platform.
AS to that platform: You ask If l believe
that platform which made no reference
to the money question would avoid incur
ring the hostility of Mr.. Cleveland and his
followers. / do not view the matter in that
light Frankly, l think 1t would be very
unwise to construct platform without a
financial plank, for finance is the bone and
sinew of the government, domestic vir-
tue is that of the nation Monetary condi-
lions have changed vastly since the adop-
fon of the Chicago platform thanks to en-
drely natural causes, first and foremost
among which must be counted the remark
able increase in the supply of gold, by rea-
son of the Klondike discoveries and other
developments. This has brought about,
practically, the result which the
democratic party sought to achieve through
bimetallism thereby fully sustaining the
position of the platform of 80. How long
this condition will last, no man can say.
Should the natural supply of gold fall or
to its former dimensions, or should I'M
foreseen circumstances in the international
world of commerce and finance operate to
contract or monopoliZe the supply we
would be again confronted by the old prob
lem. While l am frank to say that do
not believe this will occur in the near
future. by reason of apparently inexhausti-
BILE supply of the yellow metal in Alaska
South Africa and elsewhere. yet 1t would;
IN my opinion, be unwise not to make pro-
vision against the possible contingencies OF
the future.
] am not prepared nor do I think any
man Is, to declare just what ratio should
be adopted in order to maintain at all
times the parity between gold and silver
This, OF course, Is the bone of contention
between the two wings of the democratic
party; while have been a firm believer
IN and upholder of the principles enunciat-
ed in the Chicago and Kansas City plat
forms and would again support those prin-
ciples If contained in the next national
platform. 1t seems to me that the adherents
OF those two platforms could meet the
others, who still subscribe to the declara-
ton of the indianapolis platform, on a
plank which should provide that Congress
exercise the function of determining from
time to time. the proper ratio to be eStab-
lished between the two metals as their re-
Spective values fiuctuate according to the
law of supply and demand
As for the trust question. of which you
Inquire. the democratic attitude must re-
main mistaken. The evils of trustism have
never been manifested more plainly the
people have never suffered greater hard
ship from the exactions of monopoly than
since the last presidential election. On this
point democracy must make plain, I'M
eQuivocal declaration. and the record of
our party will assure the people of its sin
Certify. This will give an important ad-
vantage over the republicans, who cannot
possibly be credited with any sincerity
of intention in the matter of trust control
Right in line with trust control because
absolutely inseparabe therefrom must
come proper tariff reform-not an imme-
diate abolition of all duties and a conse-
Quent upheaval of the commercial world:
but proper modification of existing sched-
ples so as to conform to the needs of the
people.
AS TO the income tax I am aware that
there are those In each of the two great
political parties who are opposed to such
an institution; yet l am frank to say that
the proposition has always seemed to me
to embody one of the fairest principles of
taxation
1t IL. of course too early as yet to say
just what the national platform of next
one constructed on such lines as / have
indicated should incur the hostility Of
neither the friends of Mr.. Bryan nor of
those OF Mr.. Cleveland any other ma
hOnaI leader