Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1895-04-25
WASHINGTON Letter

WASHINGTON Letter
FROM OUR REGULAR CoRPEsroNDENT
WASHINGTON. D. c., April 22nd, 1895.
Among politicians in Washington
nothing else is talked Of except the prob
ability of a general smash up of party
lines in the coming national campaign,
if as now seems certain, that campaign
is to be fought on the single issue of fl
nance-gold against silver. Mr.. Cleve-
land made a bold bid for the nomination
of the gold party, and the prediction
has been made that he will get it.largely
through the assistance Of republicans,
notwithstanding the abuse they heaped
upon him for his acts in connection with
the tariff and other matters.
But after all, the main question does
not turn upon the personality Of the
candidates who may represent the gold
and silver parties in the contest, should
it be narrowed dow to that single issue
but upon the issue itself. Would ma.
jority Of the electoral votes be cast Tor
the silver or for the gold candidate !
That is what the politicians are figuring
on. There are various causes which op-
crate to make it somewhat difficult to
predict with even a reasonable degree
of certainty, but allowing that party
lines are entirely obliterated and that
the voters are called upon to decide for
or against the single gold standard, it
is put down by the politicians as prob
able that the following states would cast
their electoral votes for silver Alabama,
Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida,
Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi.
Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Car.
DINA, North Dakota, Oregon, South Car.
DINA, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia,
Washington, West Virginia and Wyo-
mlng-a total Of 1853, and that the fol-
lowing would vote against silver: Con-
necticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New
Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Islaud and Vermont-a total of
l52; which would leave the contest to
be decided by the following which are
claimed by both silver and gold men,
and are therefore put down as doubtful:
Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky Mich.
igan Miunescta5 Nebraska, Tennessee
and Wisconsin, total of l29 electoral
votes. These figures are not put for
ward az a prophecy, but merely to show
that the result as figured by the politi-
clans, half of whom care for nothing as
much as they do to be on the winning
side, is very uncertain; much more SO
than would be campaign fought by
the old parties Gil the CID issues. 40
A number of those who are inter V|
in the big iron plants of the country are
trying to persuade Secretary Herbert
to make contracts for the armor Of the
two battle ships III advance of the con-
tracts for their hulls. The argument
of these gentlemen is that if this is not
done the plants of several firms now
making armor under contracts nearly
completed will have to shut down for
lack of work. The matter has not been
decided.
No ole was surprised to hear that the
receipts from the income tax, based upon
returns already made, will be less than
one-half of the $3O,O0O,OOO estimated
previous to the e1emp ion of rents and
interest on municipal and State bonds
it was exactly the effect those exemp- +
tions were expected to have.
Prominent republicans are talking up !
Senator Dubois, Of Idaho, as the candi. !
date for Vice President Oh the republi.
Can ticket next year. Of course the
object is plain. Senator Dubois is one
of the most active friends of silver in
the Senate, besides being a man Of great
personal popularity. It is said by those !