New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-03
TO OBSCURE THE ISSUES,
Plan OF THE DEMOCRATS.
Orders to Attack the Personality of
President ROOseTeH.
(FRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU

Washington Aug. 2-Word has gone out from
Democratic headquarters. inspired. it is under
stood, by instructions from Esopus, that Theo-
dore Roosevelt is TO he regarded as the great
issue of this campaign The personality of the
President his every peculiarity. his expressions,
isolated and unrelieved by accompanying texts
or attendant circumstances: his most trivial ac-
tiOns all are be magnified and exaggerated.
with a view to beCloudng the real issues and
dlstracting attention from the anomalous posi-
tion of the Democracy the money question.
and with the hope of moderatinS the nat
uraI apprehension regarding the position OF the
most influential Democrats on the tariff ques-
tion.
While Judge Parkers telegram is to be used
as an argument against the fears OF business
men that the Democracy is still unsound on the
money question. il is being pointed out to the
workers that the vote of the convention to lay
on the table a sound money resolution. its COM
mttee favoring such action thirty-five 10 fifteen
makes the money question that can he best
disposed of by silence. Attention is also called
the fact that there remain in the party so
many Bryanites whose votes will be counted
just the same those Of the Gold Democrats.
that it would be most unwise 10 say too much
in favor Of gold with the atterdent risk of
alternating the numerous adhererts OF 16 to l.
Ir absolute free silver communities, however.
the vote of the committee on resolutions viii be
used To demonstrate that irrespective OF the
Parker message. the Democratic party has kept
the faith" It will be further emphasized to such
audiences that Judge Parker himself kept the
faith" and voted for Bryan and free silver in
1896 and 1900.
Democratic workers are also being cautioned
agains- talking muck about the tariff. Repre-
sentative Bourke Cockrans speeches will not
be extensively circulated. except in radical free
nd f'bar1nI
Clark's frank declaration that he is for abso
lutte free trade. and would. were the oppor-
tunity afforded. destroy the protection system
from turret 20 foundation" will he generally
kept III the background and used almost exClu-
eively in Missouri and in non-nanufaeturing
States
While the Democrats are busy issuing in
structions from their headquarters at the ma
tional capital there is n marked lack Of instruC
tion for the Republican workers Leading Re-
publicans who have called at the White House
since the Presidents return say that he is not
taking particularly active interest in the cam
pasn lie listens quietly 70 their reports of con-
ditions In various parts of the country, suggests
that they consult Chairman Cortelyou with
gard to details and then asks their advice about
the innumerable departmental affairs which
were reserved for his considera ton throughout
the period ne at Oyster Bay
The Republican workers are assured. however.
that headquarters in both New-York and Chi
Cago will soon be in operation. and that Mr.. Cor
teIyou will issue all necessary Instructions. In
Cidentally il may be added that Chairman
Cortelyou has already intimated 10 some who
will take the stump this fall that the chief issues
of the campaign will he the money question and
the policy of protection. Regardless Of the
Parker telegram, ii Is believed that there is
legitimate issue between the two great parties
The question or the currency OF the country.
II is held that Mr.. Cleveland's experience fully
demonstrated that man even of his strength
and tenacity cannot successfully defeat the will
Of = ma jority of his party while man who had
twice demonstrated his conviction that free sill
Yer was an unmixed evil. as did Judge
Parker In the last two campaigns. would fnd
himself utterly unable TO cope with his party In
congress il TO attempt to alter the financial
status of the nation