The morning news., 1894-09-10
DAILY. 80 A YEAR,
( - 5 CENTS A COPY
WEEKLY. 2 2-TIAIES-A-WKEK, q AYuAR. !
WY JONES IS A POPULIST.
Many SpeCulatiOnS Why HsIeltl
Republicans.

Looked for by Those Who Like Sem
sations.
Washington, Sept. 9.-The passing Of
Senator Jones is the event of the silly
season. 1t was the one thing which re-
lieved the monotony Of the past week in
Washington. No one had an inkling Of
it. 1t was well-timed to attract atten-
tion, and when any one in this hot, OPP
pressive, sticky weather finds energy
enough to talk, Senator Jones' desertion Of
the Republican party and enlistment in
the populist is the subject Of conversa-
tion. Opinions differ as 20 the reasons
for Senator Jones' action and as to the re-
suit of it. In this city, where so many
people do nothing, save to accomplish
some hidden end, it Is not surprising that
Senator Jones action is variously ac-
counted for.
One conjecture is that Senator Jones
has Joined the ranks of the Missionaries
with the determination to be their leader,
and ultimately their nominee for Prea-
dent. This rumor. however, is easily
punctured by the statement that Senator
Jones wps not born in this country, and
is, therefore, ineligible to tho office OF
chief executive. Another rumor has it
that the senator desires TO become a mem
Der of the Democratic party, and, seeing
that the populists are not for long life,
joins their ranks, so that when the popu-
lists die he can step more easily into the
ranks Of the democracy than he could at
present.
Still another rumor Is to the effect that
Senator Jones believed that the popullsts
will hold the balance Of power in the next
Senate. Should this be so, and he chose
to renounce the republican doctrine Alto
gether, he would undoubtedly be their
leader The leader of the balance of
power, IL there be such a balance in the
next Senate, would be very influential
man, indeed. He will be the dictator Of
that body 1t would be for him
10 say what measures would become
law. 10 would be for him to say what
measures would remain on the calendar.
Measures might pass the House by tre-
mendors majorities but they would not
pass the Senate without the appreciation Of
the populist leader. IL would matter not
whether the House were democratic or
republican. IL would matter not whether
the democrats or the republicans Of the
Senate were the greater in number; moth
ingicould be done requiring the sanction
of both houses without first obtaining the
sanction Of the populist chief.
People who have not followed the trend
Of national affairs, people who have never
been in Washington to see the devious ways
of legislation, cannot appreciate The i'm
mense influence which would be welded
by such person. Some may say to them
selves that his followers in the populist
ranks of the Senate might refuse to
power To those, the only reply is, that
in that event. he would not be their
leader Being their leader, they would
follow and indorse all that he did Being
their leader, the people as we'll as the
trusts, the poor as well as the rich, the
republican as well as the democrat,
the employe as well as the President,
would have to seek his favor to secure
such legislation as any one or all or them
might desire The contemplation of the
possibility OF such power being placed
in the hands OF one man is quite sufficient
10 turn the head, warp the Judgment. and
direct the action of any individual in this
country quite as prominent in the worlds
movements as Senator John p. Jones Of
Nevada.
That Senator Jones is an able man
there is no doubt, and, although his views
may not be the views of the great finan-
ciers of the country, it is a question If
there is anybody in the ranks Of the anti
free silver people capable of presenting a
stronger or ampler argument In favor of
their cause than Senator Jones has pre-
sented In favor of free silver. He is a
man of vast wealth and fine education.
He is man of force, a man who aims
high in the world, man who, despite
his espousal of the populist cause,
wears clothes of the correct cut. PETER
might rebel against the assumption of
leadership by Senator Jones, but that
would avail him naught. If there is one
thing in congress that goes to the 6ttest,
it is the leadership. The populists have
no leader now, although in the event OF
Senator Jones' renuuciation Of all repub-
licau doctrines, they would have one.
There are other rumors in connection
with Senator Jones change of political al
legiance. They have to do with its effect
upon his colleagues in both houses. The
republicans scof at the idea that there
will be other desertions from their ranks,
but right down deep in their boots they
are apprehensive that such may be the
case. Some Of the most intelligent OBJ
servers among them believe in the
existence of a decided unrest in the
republican ranks OF the far west This
unrest must find an outlet, and the popu-
listic channel offers Que Several senator's
whose names have been mentioned as
Jones's example have seen fit to proclaim
all such predictions absurd But 1t is TO
be noticed that such proclaimers havo not
yet returned to their homes in the far
west
OF course, all these rumors are purely
con- jectural. 10 is doubtful If Senator
Jones himself has fully made up his
mind what he intends TO do. He says
now that save on the silver question he
will be found voting with the republicans.
That is no guarantee that he will say the
same thing after or even just before, the
November elections. So far as his
own term in office is con-
cerned, 1t matters little what
he does this year. His term
will not expire until 1897, and the state Of
Nevada, which has lost over 20, 900 Of her
small population within the last few years,
is little better than n rotten borough at
the best. The next month or 50 may see
a complete change in the situation.
Should business revive, the hopes Of the
democracy viii 90 up correspohdingly
high. In that event IL would not be sur
prising II Senator Jones cut loose en-
tirely from republican alliances nor
would II be surprising If a large number
of republicans followed him. However,
should the situation, contrary to the pre-
dictions Of the ablest men in public life
Ha.t a. a.