The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-21
lands PICKS GROVER
INDIANA CONGRESSMAN THINKS MIR.
CLEVELAND WILL BE NOMINEE.
Former President Has No Chance to
Win-DemOcracy HOpelessly Dis
rupted Owing to Bryanism.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
DELPHI, Ind, Sept. 20.-Congressman
Charles B. Lands. of the Ninth district.
said in interview to-day with reference
to the next presidential nominee of De-
mOcracy:
1T now looks if nothing could be done
10 defeat the nomination of Grover Cleve-
land for President by the Democrats when
they meet in national convention next year.
The trend is certainly in that direction.
The serious, sober-minded Democrats OF
the country are coming to the front and
securing control of the party machinery,
while the men who attained prominence
during the time that Organism ran wild
are dropping out OF sight. There has been
much discussion relative to standard
bearer, and after discussing the relative
merits and dement's of the various favoriteS
nine Democrats out of ten come to the
stubborn conclusion that there is but one
man that will afford nucleus around
which the shattered fra gmentS of the old
party can gather and that man is Grover
Cleveland. Of course, there would be thou
sands and tens OF thousands of men who
voted for Bryan who would not vote for
Mr.. Cleveland His election would be hope
less, but his candidacy would impart an
element of responsibility to the party nomi-
nation that would promise much for the
party's future.
MIR. Cleveland has played even unique
part in American politics. 1t must be adj
mitted, too, that he has played an honor
able part He has always been outspoken
and courageous, and the country owes him
a great debt for the part he played when
Mr.. Bryan's candidacy threatened TO be
successful in 1896. Although twice elected
President of the United States by the party
| that nominated Mr.. Bryan, Grover Cieve-
| land had the courage TO face the situation.
| He shook his fist in the face of the sixteen
to-one champions and plainly told them
| that they could not, with his consent, lay
their reckless hands upon the glory and
honor of the Republic. His entire Cabinet
| followed his leadership, and the result was
| the triumphant election of William Nc
| kinley. have always commended and still
maintain, that but for the aid given by
Grover Cleveland and the gold Democrats
Mr.. Bryan would have been elected Presi-
| dent of the United States The people have
| been so busy since the first election of
| William Mckinley that they have given
/ little time to contemplation of the awful
| calamity that would have been visited upon
| the country had Mr.. Bryan been successful.
| But that there would have been calamity
without precedent in American history no
| man given to calm, deliberate thought now
| questions for moment.
| "Mr. Bryan not elected President.
| He was not only not elected President, but
he fixed things so that no other Democrat
| could be elected President, at least for
| many a day. Take Indiana, for instance,
where is there party that. from the stand
| point of State organization, has been so
doubtful State az TO lndna
party expected. But Bryan made Indiana
a reliably Republican State. When an
election is on well-informed people figure
on Indiana going all the way from $4,000
to $1,000 Republican. The party is almost
| without leaders. When it comes to work on
| the stump the Democratic party of In
diana, which was once celebrated through
| out the Union for the eloQuence and power
of its political orators, is compelled to draw
on adjoining States for gifted sons to
| preach the gospel. And to-day, in hope
less minority, the party is split in twain
On the one side are those misguided indi-
viduals who still cling to the fanaticism
lnff rnn f1xvnr I'm fhn 9TH sid he
level-headed Democrats who regretted
Bryan's advent originally. and who have
ever since persistently labored to bring the
party ship back to its original moorings
! These men, however, labor as those with
out hope. In two national campaigns the
free silver seed was sown and 1t will sprout
| and blossom and sow the seed of trouble
| for many, many campaigns to come.
80 far as 1904 is concerned the cause Of
Democracy is hopeless, from a national
standpoint.
ION the other hand, the Republican party
is stronger than ever before. Indeed if it
be in any danger at all that danger rests
in its strength. Immediately upon taking
the oath of office William Mckinley called
a special session of Congress. The Wilson
tariff law was repealed and the Dingley
law was enacted. What followed is fresh
in the minds of everybody who has been
able to think quickly and remember ac-
curately. This country has never seen such
made by the Republican party has not
been fulfilled; not a single pledge
has not been redeemed. Capital has found
new avenues for investment and labor was
never remuneratively employed Seven
years ago the American people were in the
depths of dependency. To-day they are on
the top wave of prosperity. The Repub-
lican party has during this period
done nothing for which it has been
called upon to apologize. The
record has been one of grandeur and
glory. When William Mckinley passed
away the whole world mourned, because ii
knew the work he had performed for the
Nation he loved. Theodore Roosevelt sue
ceeded him, was given the confidence of the
| country and admirably has he discharged
the duties and responsibilities that fol-
lowed. 1t was said that he would prove a
failure, that he would be hasty and reck-
less of serious results. On the contrary. he
has been the embodiment of conservatism
| and to-day is easily the most popular man
| in the Union. Thousands of Democrats will
vote for him for president. His nomination
is assured, and if he lives he will be elect
ed. His majority will be larger than any
| candidate for the presidency ever received
| and the splendid inaugurated by Will
| liam Mckinley will be continued through
the entire administration of Theodore
| Roosevelt.
To-day, at the beginning of the TWEEN
tieth century, 1T is proud boast for q
r.