Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-13
Free Coinage Democrats Coming to
Tomorrow's Conference.
HOPING 10 CONTROL THE PARTY
Importance Given the Movement
by Three Senators.
PROGRAM TO BE FOLLOWED

Representative Cox OF Tennessee arrived
in the city this morning and registered at
the Metropolitan Hotel, being the first man
to arrive to attend the democratic silver
conference to be held tomorrow. Judge
Cox is a free coinage man Of the most ap-
proved stamp and believes in 1T heart and
soul.
Il do not know yet what scope the con-
ference will take" said Judge Cox to
Star reporter today, beyond the general
proposition that it is to be held for the
purpose of keeping the movement in behalf
of free coinage within the democratic party.
We do not want democrats to have to go
into the third party in order to show their
allegiance to free silver. and We think the
democracy Is the proper and legitimate
sponsor of the free silver coinage.
Down in Tennessee we are for free COIN
age, literally 16 to 1, for there are about
sixteen free silver men to one gold man,
although different impression as to the
condition in our state seems to have gone
abroad from anti-silver sources. If vote
were taken in Tennessee today l do not
know but that We might run the ratio up to
twenty silver men to one gold man."
A Number Expected Tonight.
1t is expected that a number of dele
gates tc the conference will arrive this
evening and that by tomorrow full at
tendance will be on hand. Gen. Casey
Young of Memphis, who has had charge Of
the details of the conference, was expected
today, but was unavoidably delayed and
will probably not get here until early to-
morrow morning. 1t Is not known VINO VIII
preside over the meeting, but 1t is probable
that Senator Harris will call the confer
ence to order and Senator Jones of Arkan-
sas be named permanent chairman.
Politicians are awaiting the result of the
conference with considerable interest, for if
the affair Is a success in point OF attend
ance and in its personnel it Is thought the
action of the meeting may be 1raught with
importance to the democratic party. AS
explained heretofore, the object of the con-
ference is to form an organization within
the democratic party favorable to free sill
yer and with the ultimate Intention OF hav-
ing the free silver organization absorb the
regular. While it is not believed by some
that this can be accomplished, it is con-
ceded by them that under favorable con-
ditions the new deal could make a great
deal of trouble for the established order of
things in the party.
Looking to the National Convention.
If Senator Harris and his colleagues sue
ceed in forming a national committee. COM
posed of democrats of Importance one
from each state, the object of the commit
tee being to attempt 10 control the next
national convention in the interest of free
coinage, it is admitted that a very serious
state of affairs will be presented to the
sound money democrats, and the admins
tration leaders. OF course. the caliber of
the men who attend tomorrows conference
and the figure which they cut in the poll
tics of their respective states will be the
guide to the Importance OF the AFFAIR and
It's bearing on the politics of the party.
Assuming that the leaders of the new
movement succeed in gathering about them
the kind of material they desire and es-
tablish their committee upon sound basis
it is claimed that the movement will have
this significance; it will mean that the free
silver democrats of the United States who
have heretofore existed in an unorganiZed
way, forming a number of communities
without any central head or controlling
spirit, will now find themselves formed in
to a national working faction, with some
semblance of party organization. The
fourth section of the call for tomorrow S
conference declared THAT thorough or
ganizaton of the democrats of the United
States, who favor the free and unlimited
coinage CT both silver and gold on terms
of equality at ratio of 16 to l, is a neces-
sary and proper means of controlling the
action of the national democratic conven-
ton of 1896 upon this vitality important
question"
The Men at the Head of 1t.
The men who are at the head of this
movement are prominent in the councils of
the democratic party, Senators Harris,
Jones and Turpie, and are recognized as
men of ability as well as influence. This
fact has given to the conference far greater
| Importance than it would otherwise have in
| the eyes of politicians. Republicans are
| watching events with keen interest. hop
| ing the result will be the amalgamation of
| the free silver elements of the democracy
| into a well-defined faction, presenting a
vigorous split from the regular party organ
iZatiol.
1t is claimed by some, however, that this
movement will result in ultimate benefit to
| the democracy. 1t is said the first effect OF
| the official formation of a free silver wing
| Of the democratic party will be to bring
back into the folds of democracy those
democrats who have seeded and gone to
| the populists, lured by their advocacy Of the
| cause Of free coinage of silver. 1t is said
| these dissenting brethren will now come
| trooping back, and that when the fight for
| free silver is made in the rext national con-
ventfon, IL they are beaten fairly, they will
| stand by the party nominees at least
rather than to again desert to the populists
Arrived or En- Route.
A telegram was received from Senator
Jones of Arkansas this morning saying he
would reach Washington this afternoon
Representative Neill of Arkansas came II
during the day and registered at the
| Metropolitan, and it is understood tha
| Senator Berry will also be present at the
meeting tomorrow Representative-eles
| Carolina district is also at the Metropolitan
| Mr. Webb NJ. Rubey of Macon, Mo-, ar
| rived this afternoon and reported that the
| Missouri delegation is on the way and will
| get in tonight. Representative Fithfan Of
| Illinois is also en- route for the conference
| Pensions Allowed