The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-09-07
The Senator Says He Has Not
Changed.
BUT He HAS NO HOPE
Of Either of the Established
Parties.
Parties Have Their Periods Of
Usefulness and Senility.


ment that Senator Jones of Nevada, had
written a letter to the chairman of the
Populist committee of his state, in
forming him that he had left the Re-
publican party and cast his fortunes
with the PopuIists. has created a real
sensation
Mr.. Jones quite agrees with Senator
Stewart ia the belief that it is useless
longer to pin faith to either of the old
parties on this question, even If one or
both should pronounce absolutely in
favor OF free silver.
IT is believed by many old party men
here that the action of Senator Jones
may have very important influence
upon tho coming congressional elections
in the west and south Jones Is man Of
extraordinary force, though keeping
himself always within practical
aud sensible bounds 1t has been admit
ted for years that no member of the
senate is 50 generally and thoroughly
popular with his fellow senators. 1t is
said that his arguments in the cloak
rooms have had much to do with the
action Of other Republicans who have
almost placed themselves outside their
party lines by subscribing to free silver
Jones' speech in connection with the re-
peal Of the purchasing clause of the Sher-
man act, made day after day by Install
lnents, "a reproduction in large part of his
essay read before the International Mon
etary commission, is declared by all who
have read it TO be the most remarkable and
fascinating paper ever written the
question Of 4 monetary system. 1t was
not a free silver coinage harangue, but
profound, philosophical analysis of the
meaning Of money. ia which he asserted
that money has no intrinsic value as
money, and that piece of paper with
the government stamp is just as valuable
as a piece Of silver of the same denomina-
tion.
1t was by no means merely the plea
Of owner of silver mines for the pur-
chase Of his product, and his advocacy
Of free coinage is but one Of the steps
toward what he thinks is the ideal sys-
lem.
There are rumors of other defec-
tious in the ranks of the Western Repub-
licans to follow that OF Senator Jones'
1t is asserted that FraUcis 6. Newlands.
the one representative from Nevada,
viii announce his "hop" within a few
days, and that several of the western
senators win soon leap over the party
fence into the PopuIist fold. There are
even rumorE that Cameron contemplates
amovement similar TO that of Jones, and
that he Will stand for the POpulist nomi-
nation for president This is very i'm
prOba BILE, however, as il is Il fOreQOne
conclusion that Senator Jones, with his
great popularity among the silverites,
viii hardly De able to escape the Popu-
list nomination for the presidency.
1t is in Idaho and Colorado, however,
that the influence Of Jones' flop will be
most seriously felt by the Republicans.
Both Of these states choose senators next
winter; both are intense silver states: in
both states the POpulists have had great
success heretofore, and the abandonment
Of the Republican party by Jones in the
interest of silver may carry many lead
ing and influential Republicans into the
Populists' ranks
1t will be taken in Idaho, in Colorado
and in Montana, as meaning that the
great silver leaders believe that success
Tor SILVER can only be brought about by
the Intervention Of the third party The
Populist party has already made heavy
gains from the Republican runks
The Republicans here would not be
surprised if Senator Shoup Of Idaho who
cott OF ColoradO,fOllOw the example of
Jones
Senator Dubois Of Idaho, speaking of
the hop Of Senator Jones, says:
1T VIII have "a very bad effect in everv
silver state. Jones is a mighty big man.
Besides. he is membe of the Republi-
can minority Of the finance committee
lie holds an important place in the coun-
ellis Of the party. He is well liked and
has plenty of sense He has always been
consistent Republican and probably
now holds views in accord with the Re-
puDlcans on the tariff Once in the
Populist party he will, of course. act
with that party TO bring about such re-
suits az he can for the success of silver.
re may or may not voto with the Repub-
ilcans on . majority of party questions.
he will, no doubt, from this time
on devote himself t. securing
silver legislation BY any meth
COS that lie can use. His resignation
from the Republican party at this time.
when we are struggling with the PoDu-
hsts for control Of several legislatures.
cannot have anything but bad effect.
1t will be hailed BY the PopuIists with
great delight, and it is detection which
we cannot well explain.
~At ls All very well to say that Jones
wanted 70 be returned to the senate and
he Hoped for that reason. but his alac-
tion viii not come off for two vears- and
he had plenty Of time to get into line
with the Populists after the result of
this election is known. He had time
enough 20 wait and see if it was possi-
pie to win back Nevada from the Ponn
lists before he joined them, and there
Will bs only one satisfactory explanation
20 the silver men of the west. and
tnat Is that the two old parties in
the judgment Of some of the best Re
punilcana, viii do nothing for silver and
tAe only way to make themselves felt Is