The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1894-08-25
TIE REPUBLICAN, CLUB ROW..

TIE REPUBLICAN CLUB ROW.
Trouble Arising Between the East and
the West Over the Silver Question.
The dissatisfaction among the re-
pm blican clubs over the action of the
recent league convention at Denver, is
said to center in the attempt to dis
eliminate against southern republic
aus and the frauds in the selection Of
the next place of meeting, but it is
most probable that the real trouble
lies somewhat deeper.
The republican clubs are made up
largely of the ''hustlers' of the party.
In the midst Of n campaign their nctiv-
lty is highly appreciated. They help
to raise money, disburse it in bribing
voters, furnish men to perpetrate
frauds on the ballot. and. in short, dc
the rough work of the cam paign, in
Guiding some that is not to be dis
cussed in public. But the party does
not trust the clubs very far in the mat
ter of laying down principles, or con-
structing platforms. A league conven-
ton is looked forward to with appre-
hcnsion that some ungarded utterance
will do the party a disservice. With a
view of heading off any such action on
the part of the ''boys," a close watch
is kept over them by such of the party
leaders as can afford to attend the
gatherings, and the others generally
have representatives present with in
struc tions how to act. With all these
precautions it is never certain that
some indiscretion will not be COM
Knitted.
The meeting at Denver this year
had its peculiar perils. Besides their
desire to unload Waite and his popu-
list allies, the Colorado republicans
think of nothing but the free coinage
If all Mt 1,of hal tn, he he>
divinely-appointed ratio of sixteen to
one. Now, the republican party de-
sires to flirt with the extreme silver
men and to get their votes, but it has
no idea of committing itself to any
ratio. The leaders, therefore, looked
forward with apprehension to the in
huence which the Colorado republicans
might exert upon the unreasonable
young delegates in hours of social fes-
tivity.
The president of the league had
been coached with reference to this
matter. He was careful to warn the
invention in his address that they had
not come together to make a platform.
whatever statements may be made
here" he continued, ''are but the ex-
pressions of the individuals, and can
not in any way bind the future action
of the republican party" This utter
ance had a double purpose. 1t was in.
action, if possible, and to prepare the
way, should any such action he had,
for declaring that it was not binding.
The Colorado republicans had their
own ideas about the matter. They
desired a straight deliverance in favor
pointed ratio. The Colorado league,
which held its convention at Denver.
after declaring for the ratio of six
teen to one, made an appeal to the
national convention in these words:
I'VE appeal to our guests from without the
state to listen to the cry OF tho thousands OF
unemployed throughout the loud and to heed
the nurmurs OF business distress and diseon-
believe in the money OF the constitution, and
earnestly desire the coinage OF both gold and
under which the nation accomplished its great
est material achievements and reached its
highest prosperity"
The Denver Republican seconded
this appeal, though in more guarded
terms. 1t told the convention that the
way to help to redeem Colorado from
populism was to adopt strong resolu-
tions in favor of the restoration of sill
yer to it's historic place. and that it is
to the republican party that the people
must look for legislation fayora bio to
silver. In several paragraphs and ed
itorials the convention was asked to
pass such resolutions favorable to sill
yer as would help the party IN Colora-
do. What that should he was plainly
intimated by declaration that notll-
ing but free coinage is needed to in
sure a parity between the two metals.
Tho desire to get an expression in
favor of free coinage was at the bot
tom of the contest over the manner of
casting the vote, that is, whether the
delegates present should cast the en-
tire vote of their states, vote only
for themselves. The former plan gave
the east the majority and headed off
a free silver plank. How it operated
will appear from n single illustration.
New York was entitled to ono hundred
and sfxty-eight delegates, but only
forty were present. The determine
ton of the question, therefore,
decided whether New York should
cast one hundred and sixty
eight or forty votes. The western
numbers, would have an immense ad
vote" system. The delegates, however,
were permitted to cast the entire vote
of their states, and this prevented any
controversy over the platform. The
silver resolution was in favor of 1.-THE
use of both gold and silver maintained
on q perfect parity and interconvertibil
ity." From Colorado standpoint,
this is a ''gold-bug'' resolution, mas
much as it ignores the ratio fixed by
nature" upon which the Colorado con-
vention insisted. A Denver CORE
spondent says that the action of the
league has been the most majestic
method of committing political sui