Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-21
New York and Silver.

The following Is taken from column Of
local New York gossip which the Sun OF
that city printed yesterday;
1.-THE demand of Mr.. Bryan in his speech
ON Monday night that the Kansas City
platform be reaffirmed at st. Louis this
year recalls that Mr.. Bryan controlled the
democratic national committee at Kansas
City for his specific declaration for free
silver at ratio of sixteen to one by only
one vote, and that vote was cast by Prince
David. the delegate from Hawaii, terri
tory. which has no vote in the electoral
college.
eat one time at Kansas City there was q
majority Of the democratic national COM
mittee opposed to granting Mr.. Bryan's re-
quest for this specific declaration, and even
when Mr.. Bryan sent word from Lincoln
that he would not accept a denomination
except on that platform most of the demo-
cratic committeeman were inclined to take
him at his word: but then, after counseling
together. it was decided to put the matter
to a vote. and If Mr.. Bryan won all well
and good, as the argument was made that
he would be surely beaten second time
on such a platform. and that would end
Mr.. Bryan forever"
1t Is true that Prince David Of Hawaii
cast the deciding vote at Kansas City in
favor of free silver. but the influence re-
sponsible for that situation was Tammany
Hall. acting under the iron direction Of
Richard Croker.
David B. Hill had visited Mr. Bryan at
Lincoln and vainly endeavored to induce
him to omit or modify the silver deliverance
Of the democracy. He was now on the
scene at Kansas City, not discouraged by
reason of his failure at Lincoln. but re-
solved to keep up the fight against silver.
In order that he might be able to fight the
most effectively he desired a place on the
platform committee of the convention, and
New York's interests demanded that he be
chosen so to serve. His acquaintance
among public men was large, his debating
ability brilliant. and there was good reason
to believe that. under a strong leadership
silver could be defeated In committee, and
then. with that advantage gained. defeated
also In the open convention.
But Mr.. Croker was powerful and unre-
lenting. He hated Mr.. Hill them as he
hates him now. He was adamant against
the proposition to assign Mr.. Hill where
the latter could achieve so much distinc-
tion-could render such signal service to
the party. So the Tammany boss named
as the New York member Of the platform
committee Judge Van Wyck of Brooklyn.
colorless gentleman. without political expe-
rience or acquaintance. who probably did
not know three of the forty-odd men with
whom he was to labor in the construction
Of the instrument with which the party was
to appeal to the country. New Yorks in
fiuence on the most important committee
of the convention was thus practically
thrown away, when. had Mr.. Hill been
chosen. it might have been exerted to
powerful purpose and with most beneficial
results.
Mr.. Hill seems to be entirely out Of the
running; and yet when Mr.. Cleveland, Mr..
Olney. Mr.. German, Judge Parker and
Judge Gray held aloof and let things wag
as they would. he was in the thick Of the
fray both at Chicago and at Kansas City,
doing his level best to secure a straightout
democratic platform and candidate. Par
ties, like republics, are often ungrateful.