Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-11-05

before he elected. AMI
.-7--'
traitor to order the preparation
of plates for the issuance OF
bonds to keep up treasury reserve BY the time
Cleveland naugurated "hard times" had arrived.
before the Wilson tariff bill written, they
were pressing down upon the nation But the Cleve-
land administration blamed for it, just as Van
Buren, blamed the panic of 1887, and just as
the Republicans made responsible for the panic
Of 1873.
With it's hopes for the immediate future ruined by
tariff situation the panic. Democracy turned
to silver in its bid for popularity and support
But here it found itself at cross purposes with its
chief in the White House Cleveland sought to make
the country a gold standard country Before this
happened he became involved in controversy with
England the Venezuelan boundary dispute, and
read the law the Monroe Doctrine to England with
such directness and determination that Britain de-
cided to accept his contentious. Some Of the Re-
publcans hailed this bid for third term Sen
ator Depew went far as to give out an interview
saying that it beyond all question the presidents
first move the political checkerboard looking to
denomination and reelection. But the country was
too absorbed its internal affairs to let outside
matters divert its mind.
The repeal of the Sherman silver purchasing law
and the Democratic split the money question
coupled with the panic the tariff and the bond is
sues led the Republicans to believe they e0aia, e
1896 and win the polls" The two real candidates
for the Republican nomination were William Mchln'
ley and Thomas B. Reed The opposition to Meklnisy
sought to break down the backbone of his strength
by bringing out favorite everywhere. Iowa
brought out Senator Allison. and they tried to Drins
out Senator Cullom in Illinois First the Mchlnley
managers sought to sidetrack the Cullom Doon ~
offering him a. good position under Mckinley Cul-
1om himself says he could have had anything ne
wanted in for promise of support ana Wheh
he declined to give that promise, the Mckinley mama
gers decided to carry the state for their cahooae
Cullom boom or no Culom boom. and they suceeeoeo-
The Mckinley managers-with Mark Hanna
their chief-decided to straddle" the money question
They held an early state convention Ohio the
purpose Of adopting platform which should serve as
"a guide in other states. The money plank was
complete example Of concealing thought with Ian
guage. Both silver and gold men read in it a fun
Endorsement Of their varying views Hanna managed
things with in the way Of lining up the
delegates to the convention preared to win
-.. ,E -,.sss.s -tst- t... ,s1t
The one problem now. confronting the Republicans
was the attitude they should take the money
question some say Hanna wanted sound money
plank but be held against it long enough TO carry
out several other objects he had in view An east
ern committee waited upon him at his hotel and told
him they would sacrifice Mckinley If he did not let
them have a sound money plank 1t is said that SEN
ator Plat the EASY Boss" of New York, announced
to Hanna that he had an hour in which to come TO
terms and that Hanna did so in half an hour.
the
plank declared for gold simply using international
bimetalism" as a ladder by which Silver Repub-
hcans might climb upon the platform, and to catch
voters who leaned toward Free Silver. Twenty two
Republican state conventions had declared for Free
Silver.
The Democrats were a badly split party when they
arrived Chicago. The silver wing violently
opposed to Mr.. Cleveland that they defeated
luton indorsng their own administration something
perhaps unexampled in party politics in the United
states They rode roughshod the Cleveland adj
herents. and when it to voting for party NOM
inee the Cleveland supporters were silent. In the
Republican the Silvertes who could not IA
vor the platform walked out of them with tears
streaming down their cheeks; but the antFree Silver
Democrats sat tight until after the convection pay
ans crown and of gold" speech swept
up the political ladder from contesting delegate
to the nominee of the convention. after OF the
most dramatic in the history of political gath
erings.
The silver Republicans ratified the action Of the
Democratic convention, the Populists put Bryan
and watson and the bulk of the Prohibition vote
went for Free silver. Later the Gold Democrats
met and gave the Cleveland administration the in
it had been denied by the regular Democratic
convention and nominated Palmer and Buckner on
Gold Democrat platform
After the conventions the Republicans
found that they had serious business on hand for
carried more voters away from the Republican party
than the Republican leaders could hope get n re-
cruts from the Democracy. Bryan went to New
York, and initiating Lincoln, read carefully
pared speech of acceptance. rather than take
chance sacrificing his thoughts for oratorica ef
forts. .,e.t..
When the canvass began in earnest Bryan found
himself handicapped by povertypersonal and politi-
CAL He often had to borrow money to get from
stopping place another the first part of his tour
he
him and it was a Hong while before-they him
private car ~ - go l.
Meanwhile the Republican, conjured with the
prosperity argument the threat of worse times IL
BRYAN came into power. Debtors informed that