Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-19
POLITICAL. GOSSIP
Populists May Turn to Roose-
velt.
RUMOR DISCREDITED
EFFORTS TO HARMoNIZE FAC
TEoNs OF THE DEMOCRACY.
Editor Metcalf's Open Letter. to Nor.
man E. Mack Seems to Be Mr..
Bryan's Ultimatum.

what are these weird political stories
that are coming out of the west as the
warm weather and the dull days approach,
| which, notwithstanding their dubious ring,
| seem to pass current in the east Is somc-
| body on the sirocco-blown prairies of Me-
| braska working the easterners as political
| tenderfeet? Have the situations changed,
| with the east posing as the guileless come
| on and the west the bold, bad confidence
| mani"
These are questions which politicians
| hereabout are asking these days. They are
! occasioned by the reports iterated and re-
! iterated IL, the last few days that the pop
| ulists and ultra democrats of the west will
| turn to Mr.. Roosevelt as candidate more
| to their liking If the reorganization faction
| of the democrats secures control and nomi-
mates Cleveland or any other suspected con-
servative.
| The report is received with JUNCTION and
repeated with gusto by Mr.. Roosevelt's
opponents in the east, who say: ''There.
now; we told you So, That man is the
worst ever as popuiist. Why, every pOpu-
| list in Kansas recognizes in him brother"
| The politicians are prepared to believe any
| thing about the populists. They are just
| as likely to vote for one man or another
and to change their political allegiance
over Sunday as they do their shirts
Rumor Received With skepticism.
But the rumor that any considerable fac
ton of democrats are in the same mood is
received with skeptirisIn. The politicians
cannot figure it out that way, even by max
ing the widest margin of allowance for the
idiosyncrasies of the democracy. Many
democrats may lean favorably toward Mr..
Roosevelt. it is admitted by the politicians.
who go on to say that the President is an
attractive character and especially so to
the westerners. Undoubtedly, as against
the phlegmatic Cleveland, and taking into
account the latter's. rejection by his party,
Mr.. Roosevelts political personality would
be accountable.
But it is pointed ont by those who dis
cuss this latest feature of political gossip,
there will be hing besides personality
of candidates to take into account. There
is little matter of platform and policy to
be considered when 1t comes to election of
candidate tes. So in handling the latest story
blown in from the west the politicians ask
these things: Will the democrats accept the
single gold standard, forever rejesting Satan
and all his works in the shape Of financial
heresy? VIII the democrats discard i'm
perialism, Philippines independence and all
that and swallow the Philippines policy of
the nation? Will the democrats abandon
their cherished ideas of tariff reform and
go shoulder to shoulder with the stand
patters?" Will the democrats accept the
declaration that there has been sufficient
legislation against the trusts and all that
for the privilege of throwing their hats in
the air and huZZahing for Roosevelt while
rebuking the conservatives of their own
party?
Must Accept Republican Principles.
Every politician figures out the answer
to these questions according to his own lik-
ing. The proposition. from whichever view
y,,x
ance of republican principles with the
ceptance of Mr.. Roosevelt's candidacy.
They may call him popuiist, or what they
will, but he stands on the republican plat
form, which will be supported by the con-
servative republican sentiment of this coun-
try. and there isn't any popslism in that.
The politicians go on to sag that when
Mr.. Roosevelt is elected he will soon dis
abuse the minds of his popuistic friends of
the plains as to his having any hayseed in
his locks The Hannas, the Aldriches, the
Lodges, the Platts the AIlisons and the
Spooners will continue to be his advisers
and counselors and the conservative
element will be in bfsiEas= at the old
stand All these things the politicians
point out and elaborate as they wisely set
tie the affairs Of the nation eighteen months /
in advance of the election.
Renewed impetus has been given the gos-
sip about reconciliation between the demo-
cratic factions by an article In tn. Omaha
calf, who is said to be sthe closest political
friend of William Jennings Bryan"
Whether undue significance is by that fact
given the article or not. it remains that
Mr.. Metcalf has asked some very Ie e-tinent
questions about the basis of the proposed
reconciliation in the opinion of the poll
ticians.
Mr.. Metcalf's Open Letter.
Mr. Metcalf addressed an open letter to
Mr.. Norman E. Mack, Cleveland sup
porter and editor of the Buffalo Times.
You say" quotes Mr.. Metcalf, "shat
Tor the democratic party to incur the hos
tiEty of either Mr.. Cleveland or Mr.. Bryan
and their many followers would be The
heignt or folly, and you add that friends Of
eliminate their individual preferences and
to JOIN their interests for the good of the
party"
I'VE must agree" continnes Mr. MetcaJf
In reply, that it is not too much to ask
democrats to eliminate individual prefer.
ences, If by this you refer to the candidate
ana yet 1t will also be agreed that the can
d1date should be a man whose record and
character would justify popular confidence
that he would honestly sendeavor to fulfill
the platform pledges. But while very prop
erly advising democrats to yield their pref
erence, SO far as the candidate is concerned
would you counsel them to become indiffer-
ent as to the character of the platform? l
am sure you would be- the last to give such
advice. !.
Asks for Fore Light
And this prompts zIne te ask that you
present through the columns Of the Times
a program by the adoption Of which the
democratic party woatld not incur the hea-
uhty or MIR. Cleveland and his followers
In the first place. could fhese gentlemen
pc persuaded to support the ticket In 1904
II the nominee for President were man
who had faithfully supported the demo-
cratic ticket and platform in. 1896 and in
1900? Would you advise that. in order not
to incur the hostility of Mr.. Cleveland and
his followers, democrats generally agree to
the proposition that no man who heartily
subscribed to the national platforms of 1896
and of 1900 be considered eligible to the
nomination? ~
What would you have democrats do in
the construction of their platform in order |
to avoid incurring the hostility of Mr..
Cleveland and his followers? :.
How many of the principles and the pol
icies in which we believe must we surrender I
in order to avoid incurring this hostility?
Then About the Party Principles.