Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-04-19

IN CONFERENCE.
President Cleveland, Secretary Carlisle and
Hon. Zen T. Cable Discus. Silver.
A Washington dispatch to the st.
Louis Republic contains the follow
ing interesting gossip:
Ex-Congressman Ben 7. Cable. of
Rock Island, the member of the dem
ocratic committee from Illinois, ar
rived here Tuesday, and was in con-
ference with the president for a cou-
pie of hours Mr.. Cable is a MEM
Der of the Illinois state committee,
but was not present at the now fa-
NOUS meeting that issued the call
for the convention. Mr.. Cable saws
that ne had no idea that such a
movement was in contemplation
when the meeting Of the state COM
mittee was called. While Mr.. Cable
was at the White house a message
was sent To the treasury department
to Secretary Carlisle. who imme-
diately joined the president and Mr..
Cable, and the three conferred until
we'll into the evening. 1t is
the general opinion. of course.
that the ways and means of
the Illinois campaign were dis
cussed, although all three of
the participants in the conference
decline to talk about the business
trans acted.
1t is understood that the president
advocates meeting the question fairly
and squarely and fighting it out on
the hastings. He does not think that
much dependence should be placed
upon fine work in the convention, or
in the attempt to reason with dele
gates after being elected. The pres
ideRt is one of the Americans who
believe that ma iority of the people
are always right; that majority of
the people are intelligent, AID that.
il a majority of the people become
convinced that the free coinage OF
silver at this time at n ratio Of IS to
would endanger the prosperity of
the country. upset values and in
volve commercial chaos. they will
not consent to it. The president
thinks that the fight ought to begin
in the precinct and the ward: that
the voters ought to be appealed to
directly and the question thoroughly
explained to them. He believes that
organization is necessary, the dis
semination of literature important
and appeals to the people by the
trusted leaders of vast Importance.
There is reason to believe that the
presidents views will be carried out
and that the sound money forces of
Illinois will be thoroughly organized.
The contest will begin at the pri-
maries and will be carried to the
convention.
1t is well known to people here
that the radical silver men have
plenty of the sinews of war at their
disposal. Silver mine owners will
put up literally to defray the ex-
penses of an aggressive campaign.
Radical silver orators from all parts
of the country will be drafted to ILL
nois and the passions and prejudices
of the people appealed to. The
sound men believe that the only way
to beat the radicals is to begin on
them at once and keep on fighting to
the end. 1t is well understood that,
il the radical silver men capture a
majority of the Illinois convention
and declare for free coinage at a
ratio of 16 to 1, Indiana, Iowa,
Missouri, Kansas and all the states
of the south and southwest will be
appealed to to do likewise. The sound
money men recognize that the radi-
cal silver men have the start of them
in organization and in the dissemina-
ton of literature. The conserva-
tives, however. now intend to begin
fighting aggressively-
Although as yet. nothing has been
definitely decided, it seems to be
understood here that Secretary
Gresham, Secretary Carlisle. Secre-
tary Morton and Postmaster General
Wilson will make speeches in Illinois
during the campaign. Assistant
Secretary Wike, Comptroller Eckels,
Assistant Postmaster General Jones
anu 1iliuOlS oCbIOSf dts
office under the administration will
also participate earnestly in the con-
test. 1t is now considered certain
that between the conservative advo-
Gates of bimetallism and the silver
monometallists, Illinois will be q
pivotal state.
National Committeeman Cable will
be apt to arrange the preliminaries
of the sound-monev campaign before
returning to the west. 1t is under
stood that he has urged upon the
members of the administration the
necessity of earnest participation in
the contest, and has given as his
opinion that while majority of the
people of Illinois and especially the
democrats of Illinois are in favor OF
bimetallism, majority is not in favor
of a policy of free coinage at a ratio
OF 16 to :, which would inevitably
mean silver monometallIsm.
4 Gen. John G. Rack who WAS re.