The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-05-02
TOWNE BOOMLET MAY
APPEAR ON HORIZON
Believed 1t Would Arouse Enthusiasm and Prevent
Bryan Bolt-Col Kboume in the Field.

A new Presidential boom Is ABOUT 10
appear upon the Democratic horizon IL
may burst and fade away like "a bubble,
or 1t may grow and become as conspicu-
Gus as any of the others upon which
attention has been directed for the past
two or three months.
The boom bears the colors of the
Hon. Charles Towne. erstwhile Repub-
lican, Populist, Democrat, Tammany
man, member of the House Of Represen-
tatives. momentarily a Senator of the
United States, citizen OF Minnesota, citi-
zen Of New York. cosmopolitan. orator,
lawyer, oil magnate. Wall Street broker,
and all-around genius.
Loyal Friend of Bryan.
The Towne boom is not without rea-
son. It is of the sort which ought to
arouse enthusiasm among both factions
Of the divided Democracy. Bryan had
no more loyal friend through his two
campaigns for the Presidency than the
Hon Charles A. Towne. but since 190J
his record and course have been such
that he ought not TO be antagonized by
those who refused TO support Bryan No
follower of ex-President Cleveland ought
to oppose the nomination of a Wall
Street broker, and particularly one pos
sessed OF the ability, integrity, and ex-
perience OF Mr.. TowTTes
The reason for a Towne boom Is found
in the fact that many believe Bryan
win bolt in case of the nomination OF
Judge Parker or any other Democrat
who is not acceptable to him, and In the
further fact that many Democrats be-
lieve the prominence which ex-senator
Hill occupies in the Parker movement
will be prejudicial TO the success of the
ticket, especially as Hill has seen mt TO
ride roughshod over Tammany. from
which organization the bulk of the
Democratic vote must come II the party
is to win, or have a chance OF winning
in the coming contest.
Therefore Democrats who entertain
fears over the attitude of Bryan and the
prominence of Hill are searching about
for some available compromise candi-
date, and some one of them has discoV-
cred Towne and purpose to start a
Towne boom ere it is too late.
Once a Republican.
Charley Towne began his career in
politics as a Republican in the House OF
Representatives. He was elected in 1884
by a large majority and served one
term In 1896 he was one of those who
walked out of the Republican national
convention at St Louis with Senator
Teller. Senator Dubois, and others, be-
cause that convention adopted gold
plank in its platform. Since that time
Teller and Dubois have been honored
with a continuance in office and are
recognized as straightout Democrats
inf IN the
party despite their long service as Re
publicans.
Why. then, the question is asked. is
not Mr.. Towne entitled to be regarded
as just as good a Democrat as they?
In fact there is no doubt about his
Democracy. although some may object
to him because he has not been longer
in the party.
Towne was nominated as a Democrat
and Populist in 1886 for Congress but
was defeated by Judge Morris Page by
a narrow margin. He supported Bryan
with all the energies at his command.
In 1900 the Populists and free silver Re
publicans named him as their Vice
Presidential candidate on the ticket with
Bryan. but Stevenson was chosen as
the nominee of the Democratic conven-
ton Towne withdrew and supported
I the Bryan-SteVenSon ticket. When Sen
ator Davis of Minnesota died Towne
was appointed by Governor (now Rep
resentative) Lind. Of that State. to sue
coed him. serving one monsh in the Sem
ate, and delivered during That time one
notable speech which added to the repu-
tation he previously had as an orator.
Moves to Empire State.
| Towne then removed to New York,
made moneyas an oil ma gnate, and isnow
broker. with an office in Wall Street.
| He is a fuIl-fiedged Tammanyite. and as
such is in line for a seat in the next
Congress from New York. provided ne
| is not chosen for a higher position.
| Towne's nomination would, of course.
be gratifying to Tammany for he stands
as close to Leader Murphy as any of the
older men in that organization. Besides
| his nomination would be yielding 10 New
York TO name the candidate.
| OF course New York has instructed
| for Parker. but i'm the convention Parker
may not have the necessary two-thirds.
and in that event Towne. who is as great
an orator as Bryan. and who is 10 be
| a Tammany delegate to ST. Louis, may
stampede the convention. Such thing
may be an improbability. but it would
not be an impossibility. At any rate.