New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-28
SILVER SECONDARY NOW.
BRYAN'S PRESENT CREED.
Paramount Question Is ''Whether
Money Changers Shall Rule."

William J. Bryan, who leaves town to-day
for Burlington. n. j., where he will speak to-
night. replied last evening to the battering
which the gold Democratic newspapers Of this
city have been giving him.. and declared that
free silver now is a secondary issue.
The declaration by Mr.. Bryan was prompted
by the following question:
Mr.. Bryan. John Sharp williams the leader
Of the minority in the House OF Representa-
tives. says that free silver is dead In your
speech last night you said II was not. Who is
the leader Of the Democratic party?"
Joseph Pulitzer and ST. Clair McKelway are
the two leaders OF the organization. judging
from the space they use in their respective pa
pers to exploit their views" replied Mr.. Bryan.
Then you do not pretend to be the leader
Il only know of one man who implicitly fol-
lows William ]. Bryan" said the Nebraskan-
And he lives in Lincoln?" it wac suggested
And his name is William ]. Bryan" smiling
ly replied the ex-candidate.
You said last night that the trusts con-
tributed $2.O0OOOO TO the Democratic campaign
fund in 1892. for New-York State and Indiana
alone. and that one trust gave $4,000 What
trust it %
Il can name Il whenever II seems TO be proper
10 do So" said Mr.. Bryan.
How much did the Silver Trust. or the silver
mine owners. contribute 70 the Democratic cam
borhood OF S4O0O00'?
Il never heard of the Silver Trust before"
said Mr.. Bryan.
Isn't it a fact that the silver mine ov-ne-.
We're contributing literally TO the Democrats
campaign fund up till October OF that year.
and then suddenly stopped giving?"
Il do not know Of any suck financial trans
action" replied Mr.. Bryan.
What in your Judgment IS the paramount
issue of the coming campaign from the Demo
cratic point OF We've"
1t IS" said Mr.. Bryan. slowly and deliberate
". whether not the money changers shall
rule this country 1 have believed ever since
1900 that II is longer a question Of mere
gold e.lver. II Is the larger question Of
whether he money changers shall rule the
country. The silver question Is not OF para
mount Importance now, nor Is that OF labor or
trusts. II is the larger question that 1 have
named that includes them all. Whether
measure is proposed for the benefit of labor.
for the destruction of the trusts what not.
so II be for the benefit OF the people. it is op-
posed by Wall Street. What is the use OF
party fighting trusts when the bankers in Wall
Street sit with their vaults full of watered stock
and contribute to the campaign fund? Or what
is the use of espousing the cause of labor when
Its enemies sit high In the councils of the
party?"
Asked to comment on the declaration by John
Sharp williams. leader OF the Democratic
minority In the House Of Representatives, Mr..
Bryan said:
MIR. Williams has q right to express his opin-
ION. carDot comment all the remarks of all
who take issue with me-"
Mr.. Bryan took luncheon yesterday at the
Bread Trade Club with Melvin CT. Palliser.
Henry George. ex-senator Charles A. Towne,
Charles O'Conor Hennessey Dr. John II. Grid
ner. John W. Cox and others Last night he
dined with Henry George at the home of the
latter. in st. Nicholas-ave. He was invited TO
the Amen Corner dinner in honor of Mayor Nc
Clellan, but stayed away. Colonel McClellan's
friends felt little nettled about IL, inasmuch
as the Mayor called on Colonel Bryan on his re-
turn from Europe. Mr. Bryan is fully alive to
the fact that Charles +. Murphy is against him.
and he is not putting himself out to honor Mr..
Murphys particular friends. Mr. Bryan will go
to-day to Burlington. N j., where he will
lecture THE Value of an Ideal" Tomorrow
he will go York, Penn. where he will be the
feated for Governor on the Democratic ticket.
On Saturday he viii go to Washington to attend
the dinner Of the Grdron Club. at which he
may pay his respects to Congressman Williams.
He is expected in Florida at an early day to as
sist his cousin Governor Jennings who is fight
ing to control the primaries which will de-
termine who is to succeed United States SEN
ator Taliaferro. Governor Jennings is candi-
date against the Senator, and represents the
radicals Mr.. Bryan probably will make several
speeches in Florida.