Evening star., 1895-06-06
.ELK|NS' Am BITlON
he Wants to Be on the National Re-
publican Ticket.
LAYING His PLANS TO THAT END
Harrison and EIkins He Thinks a
Good Combination.
HIS SILVER SPEEC E S

Complications among the aspirants for
honors in the next national republican con-
vention are growing. 1t now appears that
Mr. Elkins, Serator-elect from West Nir-
glnia, still cherjshes an ambition of his
own in his advocacy of Mr.. Harrison for
the presidency.
Republicans are commenting on the thor
oughness with which Mr.. Elllins has laid
his plans to dictate a presidential nomina-
ton in the convention. During Mr.. Eikins'
recent trip through the western states he
not only met great numbers of leaders of
his party in the various sections, but he
took occasion to deliver a great many
speeches in favor Of silver 1t is not known
that he has advocated the free and unlim-
tied coinage of silver at 16 to 1, independ-
ent Of any other nation, but his speeches
have been so worded that they sounded
exceedingly pleasing to advocates of the
white metal, and the general impression
was left among the republicans of the west
that Mr. Elkins was their friend in their
fight against the gold standard.
Mr.. Richard c. Kerens, member Of the
national republican executive committee
from the state of Missouri, is an ardent
friend of Mr.. Ellkins. Mr.. Kerens has also
gained great favor among republicans of
the west by his friendiness to the white
metal When the next meeting of the eX-
ecutive committee is held it is believed that
Mr.. Kerens will do valuable service for
Mr.. Elkins. 1t will be remembered that at
the republican convention at Minneapolis a
resolution was adopted which authorized
the executive committee to reduce the
representation of the southern states in
the convention to meet in 1896 This reso-
luton was introduced and supported by
men from the northern states, who argued
that, while the south was given about 2I0
OF the electoral votes in a total of BOG, that
section did nothing toward the election Of
President
were so powerful in determining.
Wants to BE Vice President.
Mr.. Elkins has long been spoken Of as a
desirable presidential candidate of the re-
publican party from the southern states.
1t was thought that the solid south might
be broken by having a southern man at
the head of the ticket, while the north and
west could be kept in lire if this man were
of sufficient strength to inspire their con-
Mr.. Harrison for the presidency there is
now place to which It is said he aspires
and for which Mr.. Harrison would gladly
have him selected. 1t is the wee presi-
dency. II is argued that with Harrison and
Eikins the republican party would have
an exceedingly well-rou1ded ticket Mr..
Harrison would satisfy his party SO far
as their sound money sentiments would
figure in the nomination. ard being west
ern man, IT is argued that he would not
be SO readily accused of representing Wall
street, would an eastern man. But
Mir. Elkins' choice FOR the second place on
the ticket would be to satisfy that great
silver faction of the party throughout the
west and south. He would be called a
southern man, and whether he would favor
free coli age of silver at 16 to l or not he
at least would concede enough to the silver
men to effect 4 compromise among con-
siderable portion of that faction of his
party.
Against Reducing the Representation
If Mr.. Elk.ns wishes this nomination it
seems exceedingly desirable that the south
ern representation in the next convention
should not be reduced. Now it IS just this
service that 1t is expected Mr.. kereus will
render to his friend. Notwithstanding the
resolution adopted at the last convent t. Oh
Mr.. herenS VIII make a stout fight against
any reduction of southern represent a tion,
and as the southern states have so Arge
a number of members of the executive com
m.ttee II is thought quite possible that
Mr.. kerens may carry his fight. One CT
the arguments that he viii make will be
that if the republican party wishes to
break the solid south 1t should not begin
by lessening> it's influence in the national
cor venton and as a result Diminishing us
interest in the work of that convention
If he succeeds in preventing this change
Of representation Mr.. Elkins confidently
locks forward to having the 24o southern
votes for himself as Vice President and
enough more to make up 454 votes, the
requisite number for a choice.
Mr.. Etkins has shown himself to be an
exceedingly shrewd and farsighted politi al
manager, and it is confidently believed
among republicans that if his present plans
are realized the republican ticket TO be
voted fer in 1896 will be Harrison and
Eikins."