Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-05
Western Republicans Fear Its Ef-
feet on Party Prospects.
MAY ALTER RESULT IN SILVER STATES
AWestem Senator Gives His Views
on the Subject.
THE SENATE COMMITTEES

In gton do not pretend to ignore the fact
that the retirement OF Senator Jones Of
Nevada from that party and his casting
his lot with the populists will have a great
deal Of influence on the campaign in the
western states. an influence which will
make success there very uncertain. There
are six states which will choose legislatures
this fall which elect United States Sen
atcrs. and 1t is feared that Senator Jones'
action will materially affect the elections
In these states and possibly result In send
ing populists to replace republicans In the
Senate. In California Senator Jones has
many warm friends. as that was his home
before he went to Nevada and was chosen
Senator. He has still large business in
terests in California. and his friends are as
numerous there as in the state which Is
now his home. The populists are already
very strong In California, and 1t is said in
some quarters that the accession Of Sen
ator jones to their ranks will give them a
great deal of strength in the golden state.
The legislature which is chosen this fall
will choose a successor to Senator Perkins.
II the legislature Is republican there is little
doubt that Mr.. Perkins will be his own sue
cessor, but there Is a possibility that, with
fusion or with the old political influence
" hich Senator Jones can exert in California,
q populist or mixed legislature can be chos-
en-. which will mean that no republican will
be elected.
Another state where 1t Is said the popu-
lists will take courage and renewed
strength frem the detection of Senator
Jones is Washington. but in this state, even
with the furore which the action of MIR.
Jones will create. 1t is thought to be scarce
" probable that the populists can defeat
the republicans.
The Effect I'm Idaho.
1t Is in Idaho. say these westerrers, the
new conversion will carry more weight
than in any other community. This is an
Intense silver state, second to none in the
west. The populists have had great success
there in carrying the legislature and small
offices, and the abandonment of the republi-
can party by Senator Jones in the interest
of silver may carry many leading and in
fuential republicans into the populfst
ranks. II will be taken in Idaho, in Colo
RADIO and in Montana as meaning that the
great silver leaders believe that success
for silver can only be brought about by
the intervention Of the third party. The
populist party has already made heavy
gains from the republican ranks. and when
the impression gets well grounded that
rolitical success can only be achieved in the
ranks Of a party which abandons any party
that will not be uncompromisingly for free
silver 1t Is claimed that the tide will set
very strongly toward the populists.
The other states which will elect Senators
this fall and which will be more or less at
fected by the fiop Of Senator Jones. are Col
orado. Montana and wyoming. 1t Is within
the range Of possibilities that all Of these
states may have legislatures controlled by
popuiists, and instead Of sending back re-
publicans will elect populist Senators. Col
orado has already been carried by the pop
ulists. The members Of the House belong
to that party. In Wyoming the legislature
chosen two years ago failed to elect a sue
cessor to Senator Warren because the pop
ulists held the balance of power and a COM
bination could not be formed between either
Of the parties, none having q majority of
the legislature. The same was true OF
Montana, and a successor to Senator San
ders could not be elected. In all Of these
states the populists have already drawn
largely from the democratic party, because
of the attitude of the democratic admins
tratlon and the democratic majority in
Congress refusing to do anything for sill
yer, and, In fact. repeating the only law
left which made anything Of market for
silver.
A Free silver Party.
It Is well known that late republican
action has been Influenced to a considerable
extent by the knowledge that. unless some
favorable action was taken by one of the
old parties in favor of free coinage. there
would be built up in all of these states a
free silver party, under whatever name 1t
might be. and which would certainly con-
troll every silser-producing state. This has
been asserted time after time by the silver
republicans in Congress. They have said
In the party councils that unless the party
did something for silver 1t would be i'm
possible for men calling themselves republi-
cans to represent those states, no matter
how friendly they might be toward silver.
or how much they might try to bring about
free coinage, or ever a move in that direc-
ton.
This seems to be the idea which has
dominated Senator Jones in leaving the re-
publcans. He seems. like Senator Stewart
before him, to have come to the conclusion
that personal success can only come to the
man who will abandon all other considera-
tions end devote himself to the one great
dominating interest in his own state and
section. The republicans who are left in
Washington frGm that section say that the
action Of Senator Jones will be viewed in
that light by most of the silver men in the
west, and though they may be too firmly
grounded In the principles of their own
party to part company, there will be enough
to follow Jones to make success in either
party almost hopeless.
A Western Senator'S View.
This gloomy view of the situation was
participated In by western Senator, who
would Eot allow his name to be used. He
is now In the east trying to secure funds to
be used In the western campaign for the
republicans. 1T will have a very bad effect
in every silver state" he said, speaking of
the flop of Senator Jones.
Jones is a mighty big man. Besides,
he Is a member of the republican mi
nGrity of the finance committee He
holds an important place in the councils of
the party. He is well liked, and has plenty
Of sense. He has always been a consistent
republican, and probably now holds views
In accord with the republicans on the tariff.
Once In the populist party he will, of
course. act with that party to bring about
such results he can for the success of
silver. He may or may not vote with the
republicans on a majority of party ques-
tons. He will. no doubt from this time
on devote himself to securing silver legisla-
ton by any method tnat he can use. His
resignation from the republican party at
this time, when We are struggling with the
populists for control of several legislatures,
cannot have anything but a very bad effect.
II will be hailed by the populists with great
delight and Ii Is detection that We cannot
well explain. 1t Is all very well to say that
Jones wanted to be returned to the Senate,
and he hopped for that reason. but his cleo
tion will not come off for two years, 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 to wait and
see If il was possible to win back Nevada
from the pOpulists before he Joined them.
and there will be only one satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION to the silver men Of the west.