Evening star., 1895-06-10
Western Silver Leaders Working to
Effect That at Cleveland.
REPUBLICAN, MANAGERS CONCERNED
Object Expected to Be Accom-
pIished by This Move.
A BIG CROWD EXPECTED

The western silver leaders are deter
mined to make demonstration at the com
ing meeting of the National League of Re
publican Clubs at Cleveland, and, If posi-
Bile, force a show of hands on some phase
of the free coinage question. This move
ment was promptly noted in The Star upon
it's Inauguration in Oregon, and since then
it has stea 1ily grown, until the WHOLE re-
publican west now is aiding. Large delega-
tions are preparing to move on cleveland
from all of the silver-producing states, In
aIl the pomp of special trains and elab-
crate decorations, and to demand from the
league assurances cf support in next years
fight for the white metal. This program
is announced from Oregon, Colorado, Mon
tana, Wyoming and Idaho, and mission
aries are abroad in other localities urging
the taking of the same line of action.
Managers Greatly Concerned.
The republican managers, as distinguish
ed from the republican club leaders, are
greatly concerned about the situation, and
ieplore the maneuver. AT one time they
set about trying to check the movement,
upon the simple proposition tnat the silver
question was not in the line of the leagues
legitimate discussion, and therefore ought
not to he brought up at all at Cleveland.
some OIL the silver leaders were dppIOdCI-
ed in this way. and urged to use their in
iuence against any premature prec1plta-
ton of the conflict. But the very uneasi-
ness betrayed by the request acted as an
incentive to increased activity on the part
of the silver men, and their humor now is
most aggressive. If they can in any way
manipulate the league meeting in favor of
silver they intend to do so, regardless of
the consequences threatened to the party
east of the Mississippi.
Cannot Commit the Party.
The league, of course, cannot commit the
party On such a question. 1t is organized
for a specific purpose, and outside of that
purpose it will travel at any time on its
own responsibility. But, at the same time
as the republican maEagers see, the league
is a part of the party machine. is intrusted
with a most important phase of the party S
work, and any impression made upon it
strong enough to induce 1t tc give indorSe-
ment to a policy would, in measure, af-
feet the party in public estimation.
The silver leaders do rot, however eX-
pect the league to indorse free coinage at
l6 to l. They are well aware that the great
ajority of the republicans, both in the
league and out of It, are opposed to free
silver Their object is to show how numer-
GUS the western free silver mon are. how
much il earnest, and how necessary it will
be to take them into account in all caicu-
lations looking to republican success at the
want show of hands on some definite sill
yer proposition. and having thus demon
strated their strength will proceed else
where with the remaining features of their
program.
Object of the Demonstration.
Nor is this demonstration expected to
influence the republican managers alone.
1t is intended to act as a spur to the demo-
cratic silver leaders as well, and to help
along the cause of free coinage in that
party. The hope particularly is to forward
the movement for national democratic
convention this fall to consider the money
question. Chairman Harrity has Just eX-
pressed himself as opposed to this. and
there are other evidences of warm diSap-
proval of the proposition in leading demo-
cratic circles. Still the democratic silver
leaders are insisting on a convention, and
if the republican silver leaders can put
themselves sufficiently in evidence ut Cleve-
land, and in that way secure a kind of
national expression on Their side, the demo-
Gratis will be expected to continue their
fight with redoubled ardor.
All of this, 1t is thought, tends to in
suring a very large crowd at Cleveland
Prominent men are likely now to he on
hand who in other Circums tances would
hardly have thought of making the trip.
But level heads will be in demand, and as
many of them from the east as possible
will be requested to present themselves
and help fathom and circumvent the west
ern schemes for silver-plating the club
league.