Bryan's Candidate

The announcement that William Jennings Bryan's candidate for the democratic presidential nomination next year is Hon. Charles A. Towne is an astonisher to many democrats. Since Towne's political wanderings some years ago he has become, it is alleged, a Wall street plutocrat, and has turned his back upon populistic notions. He announced some time ago that in his opinion David B. Hill would be the next democratic candidate, and that the platform would be a very reactionary one. He said farther:

"The free silver question is absolutely dead in the west. It will not only not be an issue in 1904, but I do not believe it will be mentioned in the democratic platform or campaign. Our position on free silver in 1896 and 1900 was misunderstood. We were not demanding more market and profit for the silver mines, but more money for the country to keep up prices. God in his wise providence has provided a vast increase in the supply of gold, and today there is more money in the country than there would have boon if he gold supply had remained stationary and the mints had been opened to the free coinage of silver. So long as the present condition continues or the supply of gold continues to increase there can be no successful or serious demand for the free coinage of silver."

How can Bryan indorse such sentiment as that and be consistent?