Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-04
OPPOSES A GOLD PLANK
BRYAN DECLARES THAT he
"WILL NOT STAND FOR IT,"
Gives His Objection to Parker-Cleve-
land at Buzzard's Bay-Populist
National Hcket-Notes.

ferSOn Hotel shortly before noon tOOdy, anu
from the moment that he set foot in the
hotel he was an exceedingly busy man. his
callers being so many that he found 1t
difficult to obtain time for meals.
AS soon as he entered the door OF his
apartments the visitors were upon him. and
from that time on he was given no rest. He
declined to express an opinion regarding
the outcome Of the convention.
II see," he said, that 1t has been report
ed that am to be a member of the COM
mlttee on credentials. would like to be,
but will not. I am to be member OF
the committee on resolutions, and could
hardly serve on them both. The committee
on credentials will have an important mat
ter to settle at this convention II must de-
termtne whether or not the party - 10 pe
run by gavel rule
Yet Firm as to a Gold Plank.
On the subject of platform Mr.. Bryan was
non-committal.
81 have heard talk" he said. "of a gold
plank in the platform OF course. it goes
without saying that l am opposed to such
a thing, and will not stand for 1t.
Does that mean that if a gold plank Is
inserted In the platform you will leave the
conventon?'
Mr.. Bryan laughed heartily as he re-
Piled
II do not think that l Will Dc calleu "
answer that question in the conVention,
any more than 1 am compelled to answer
it now. Really, though, l could not us
cuss such a question as that
When asked if he had any particular
financial plank that he proposed to father
before the committee on resolutions, MT.
Bryan declined to say, merely remarklns:
Il cannot talk of that matter before the
meeting of the committee ON resoiutlonS.
Neither would Mr.. Bryan say II ne would
accept a financial plank compromising De-
tween affirmation of the Kansas lily anu
Chicago platforms and gold plank.
Mr.. Bryan said he hoped 10 see pa la
form satisfactory to the democrats who
had borne the burden of the fight IN re-
cent campaigns On the subject or can
didetes he maintains the attitude that ne
has maintained all along, saying that ne
is not urging the nomination OF any Pai
ticular person. and will be satisfied with
any one whose democracy is unquestioned
and who can be trusted to faithfully carry
out democratic policies after electlon. -,
Later in the day Mr.. Bryan gave OUT tiie
following formal statement:
Statement Of Objections to Parker.
After conferences with a number Of dele
gates from various sections 1 am satisfied
that the opposition to Judge Parker Is SUM-
Gent to make his nomination highly I'M
probable, if not impossible. There has been
no concentration upon any anti-Parker can
weight With the delegates. Among the radi-
cal demo Gratis is the feeling that the party
must not be surrendered into the hands Of
Wall street The influences back of the
Parker candidacy are so intimately aSSo-
ciated with the trusts and great corpora
lions that the democratic party could not
appeal to the masses. The party cannot
afford to intrust it's future to the men who
were responsible for the party's defeat In
1896 and 1900
IF Mr.. Parker had record of his own
he might be judged upon that record But
as he las refused to speak, he must be
judged by the record of his political man
ager, ex-senator Hill, and his financial
agent, August Belmont, and their RECORDS.
A man who is weak enough to put his can
6idacy In their hands before the convention
would not be strong enough to resist their
influence after the election If he were by
any possibility successful.
The second objection is the one that car
red weight with the conservative delegates
viz, that he cannot win. 1t Is becoming
more and more apparent that ne Woul1
prove a weak candidate, and this Is rob-
bling aim of whatever strength he had
among the men whose first desire Is to win
With such candidate the battle would be-
gin with foot race and end with rout.
These two arguments seem quite certain 10
prove his undoing."
Cleveland Keeping Them Guessing.
A dispatch from Buzzard's Bay. Mass,
last night says: Ex-President Grover Cleve-
land kept everybody down this way guess
ing today as to his movements. He spent
the entire day on board E. c. Benedict's
steam yacht Oneida, but whether he tished
or merely cruised could not be learned here
tonight
Mr.. Cleveland, on the Oneida, arrived off
Gray Gables. his old summer home, early
Friday as the guest of Commodore Bene-
dict.
1t is not known here where the party
spent today, but it Is surmised that the ex-
President may have visited the waters off
Cuttyhunk, Gay Head or No Mans Land,
where he has often found fishing of the
best.
From all that can be learned through his
friends it appears that Mr.. Cleveland is not
bothering himself over the outcome of the
| democratic national convention.
A dispatch from st. Louis last night says:
| All the possibility of the formal presenta-
| ton of the name of Mr.. Cleveland to the
convention appeared to vanish when the
New Jersey delegation arrived today and
| announced that in all probability that dele
CATION would not make an aggressive cam
| paign in the interest of the ex-President.
| This decision was reached at a meeting
held today on the train as it approached st.
| Louis.
| Seven of the New Jersey delegates are for
Parker, but no effort has been made to
| reach decision as to candidate In case
| d QeQnite conclusion not to present Mr.
| Cleveland's name is reached.
| Watson and Allen.
| dispatch from Springfield. ILL.,, last night
says: A movement was started tonight to
make the standard-bearers Of the populist
party Of 1904 Thomas E. Watson Of Geor-
gia and former Senator William v. Allen
OF Nebraska. AS to which one shall head
! the ticket there seems to be little prefer
ence among those who are behind the move
ment ]. A. Edmiston, vice chairman OF
| the fusion wing of the populist party, is
| leading the fight for Allen.
| 1t is understood that Mr.. Watson will
not attend the convention and the friends
| Of Allen believe that after he makes his
Fourth Of July speech tomorrow at the
state arsenal there will be a stampede
among the delegates to the Nebraskan for
| President. Allen is taking no part in the
| movement to make himself the nominee and
refuses to discuss the question
| Croker Says No to Van Wyck.
A cablegram from London last night
| says: Ex-Mayor Van Wyck's mission to
Vantage did not prove an unqualified sue
| cess. Mr.. Van Wyck returned to London
| Qinfn fro~ ATu