Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-21

The tone of Mr.. Mills reference to the free
coinage of silver in his speech at Mansfield,
Ohio. is generally regarded confrmatory of
the report that he and Mr.. Cleveland or Mr..
Cleveland's friends have come to an agreement
by which the Cleveland influence is to be ex-
erted in favor of Mr.. Mills candidacy for the
speakership.
There is no longer any difference of opinion
among the democrats on the tariff question,
and antagonsm to tariff reform does not enter
into the speakership contest. but Mr.. Cleve-
lands friends want not only to give promi-
nence to that issue, but to force the silver ques-
ton 30 far out of the way as not to have it ap-
pear as an issue in the national convention.
CLEvELASD's FRIENDS WILL SUPPORT MILLS.
1t is understood that the Cleveland folks will
support Mr.. Mills with the idea of having moth
ing but tariff talked Of Mr.. Mills has been re-
garded as free coinage man. but his claim to
tame Is through his tariff record, and il is as
important to him as to Mr.. Cleveland to have
that question kept to the front, though he
might not be hurt as Mr., Cleveland would by
haying silver under discussion. 1t is in his
power, however. to assist Mr.. cleveland bv
maintaining tariff reform as the only issue be-
fore the people and it is believed that that was
his purpose in disparaging the money question
In his speech.
1t is regarded as very bold thing for q
speakership candidate to do, for unless the
sentiment of the democrats in the next House
Is the very reverse of what it was in the last
more than two-thirds of the men who vote in
democratic caucus will be free coinage men.
FREE TRADE AND FREE SILVER.
They will all be free traders" as the term
is used, but most of them will be for free
trade and free silver
The other candidates will not be apt to make
any point against Mr.. Mills on account of his
aPlsrent purpose to keep silver in the back
ground, for the reason that the question is liza
BILE to prove perplexing to them all.
Every candidate who has any standing in the
contest has friends among the anti-free coinage
eastern democrats. whose votes he wants in
caucus. and therefore he would prefer not to
have the question raised. The members who are
not candidates and who are advocates of free
coinage will be very apt to assure themselves
as to the course the candidate is disposed
TO follow as to silver before casting
their votes for him for Speaker. As they all
agree on the tariff, there is a possibility that
the attitude of the candidates toward silver
VIII be leading question in the selection of
speakers.
WHAT MAY HAPPEN.
In spite Of the lodging of democratic plat
forms or party candidates in the states, with
view of securing harmony in '92 by agree
ing not to talk about those things they do
not all agree on, the silver question may
suddenly acquire more than ordinary promi-
nence through silver men exacting pledges from
speakership candidates. The power of Speaker
of the House to smother a question is very
great and the chances are that there will be a
demand on both sides of this question for an
explanation of each candidates s attitude
The anti-silyer men. being in a minority in
the House, will be helpless unless they can get
Speaker who will help them. and they will
probably devote themselves quietly to the task
Of getting such Speaker.
The democratic leaders who are interested
in the presidential matter only are anxious TO
have the silver question settled by a compro-
mise during the first session of the Fifty-sec-
ond Congress, and that considerationwill prob
ably enter into the selection OF the Speaker