Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-10
Mr.. SMITHS CRITICS
They Think He Has More Candor
Than Diplomacy.
STATEMENTS MAY HURT THE PARTY
The Money Question a Delicate
One in the South.
"POPS' AND UBLlCANS

Secretary Hoke Smiths explanation OF
the result in Georgia meets with some criti-
cism in democratic circles in Washington
through the fer felt in several quarters
that injury may proceed from it bctweel.
row ami the November election day in
North Carolina, Virginia ara West kr-
Sinia. 1t is not expected TO have any ef-
feet in Georgia. The situation there A. not
likely to change materially, except as the
reviving influence everywhere attending the
nomination Of Senator Hill for governor Cf
New York may show itself. Mr. Hin t.
Popular with the democrats Of Georgia, an
now that his presidential fortunes are in
volred in the November results, his friends
there, as elsewhere Viii be likely TO bestir
themselves. But Secretary Smiths IDEAS
and attitude were fully and frankly So
forth on the stump in the canvass for The
state ticket at home. ana hence his home
people Will read with no surprise. AMI prob
ably with no effect On their action next
month. what his ccHclu&nnS a." with re
gard TO their recent Verict. Eut what oi
the probable effect in those southern states
where the democratic ma gurilIvs are con
Sidtiabiy smaller than Ihe majority in
GeorsIa, and where the Getcctiuns 10 the
populs's were already sufficiently discour-
aging?
Nr. smiths ts.erIions
Mr. smith asserts that the returns from
Georgia snow that the fullest democrats.
vote was p1lled in thJsr localities where
the local democratic leaders stood up The.
most manfu!ly for tn. policy OF sound
money as Illustrated by the record OF the
Cleveland admins lration. He himself cham
pioned tnat cause from every stump and
he notes Results that satisfy him that no
other position should hc taken on the
money question 10y the democracy but the
one illustrated by the Cleveland policy.
This. OF course, is tantamount to sayin.:
that the President has no thought of max
Ing even any modIicatIors OF his money
pollcy, and coming from member of his
cabinet, and the representative southern
member at that, the declaration in the
southern states is certain 10 attract atten-
ton.
Where Democrats Are Embarra.scd
The democracy is contesslJly in great
straits in North Carolina, Virginia an
West Virginia. Desert.ons To- the Fopulists
have been numerous. and apathy among
those still adhering 10 the old Cclois through
force of old affiliations is apparent on every
hand. The democratic laanaAeTs are haV-
ing all that they can do TO arouse ANY in
terest at all IN their people. The money
question is virtually the only question IA
those states. The tariff cuts bat a small
figure ami while the income lax il ap-
proved, IL is OF little consequence IN Itself.
But the people, through the local leaders,
have been clamorins for free silver coinage.
and assurances had been given them tnat
the administration. despite the repeal of
the purchasing clause of the Sherman act.
and the Presidents known p>IsDaal views,
in sympathy with The demand for the
reha abiitatlon of silver.
POpuiists Making Use of Ii.
But now comes secretary Smith with
deliverance which is accepted putting a
new face on things, ana which the populist
managers are sowing broadcast over the
south as evidence that the administration
has no friendly intentions toward silver
and that the only way for the free coinage
men of that section to secure anything is
to vote the populist ticket and help place
that party in power.
Some new reports are already coming up
from North Carolina. Two weeks ago one
of the most prominent republicans in the
tar-heel state, while on visit 10 Washing
ton. gave 1t as his opinion that the popu-
hStic-repuhlican combination down there
would make but a poor show at the polls
He had opposed the fusion, and asCribed
the sorry situation to the bunder which. as
he thought, his party had made. Yesterday
a letter was received here from this gentle
man, in which he states that the conlhi-
nation is beginning to exhibit surprising life
and viSor. and gives il rs his opinion that
the fusion ticket will win in five of the
congressional districts The popuIsts he
says. are drawing heavily from the ranks
of the democracy. and ON the one issue of
flee silver coinage.
Nirainin and West virginia.
In Virginia there is apathy from the
mountain tops to tide water. confessed
openly by Senator DanIel and imperilins
several districts. The pnpulistic-repuhlic
opposition is not especially strong in itself
but the democratic rank and Tile are indir-
ferent Silver is the cause
In West Virginia the rSpubljeans ara
claiming three out of the four districts
including Mr.. Wilson's. The tariff is a
factor in that state because coal is threat
ened, but silver Is alsC disturbing guam
tity. The democrats there are not pleased
with Secretary Smiths interview, which,
as they fear. Is anything but assuring TO
the cause of free coinage.
There are, of course two sides to this
question. There are democratic leaders
who are glad Secretary Sriith has spoken
and spoken so frankly. They declare that
the fight ought not to be won by shufilinc
or evasion on any proposition. Fruits 50
won would turn to ashes on the rarty's
lips. 1t was his duty, they believe. when
he decided to speak for the administr;a-
ton to make his meaning altogether plain
and direct. The President is not a free
coinage man in the sense that the average
North Carolina or Virginia or West Nir-
gfnia democrat is, and IL would be useless
not to say false, to pretend that he is.
What Mr.. Smiths Critics Say.
The critics of Mr.. Smith put it in this
way: He ought not. in the first place. to
have taken the stump; and In the second
place. he ought not, In interpreting the re-
suit at he me, to have emphasized the par
tvs differences on so tender a topic as the
money question. Diplomacy, they urge was
the thing. and 1t was the administrations
duty particularly TO "diplome' at such a
time. This is politics. 1t is bad enough,
they admit, for one view of the party faith
to be presented in Maine and another in
Colorado, but for two views, diametrically
opposed to be presented to the people from
the stump in the same state is to say the
least of 1T, pretty dangerous management.
But these critics admit that Secretary
Smith is pretty frank sort of man.
Personal Mention.
Secretary and Mrs. Gresham, who have