Evening star., 1895-04-11
He Goes to Illinois to Look After
the Convention.
WILL ADVISE MODERATE ACTION
Opposed to the AItgeId Free Silver
Movement.
SENATOR PALMER'S POSITION

The departure Of Mr.. William r. Morri-
sen for Illinois at this juncture is causing
some comment among politicians. Mr..
Morrison was scheduled for western trip
with the interstate commerce commission
in few days, but he anticipated their
departure by leaving Washington last night
for Illinois, where he will join the commits
scn later.
1t is said here that Mr.. Morrison is very
much opposed to the Altgeld movement for
free silver in his state, and that he thinks
1t is a mistake for the democrats to hold
their proposed silver convention. 1t is said
that some Of Mr.. Morrison's warmest
friends and supporters are interested in
the success of the silver movement, and
it is thought not impossible that he may
hold conferences with these people on his
present trip.
While it is too late to head off the con-
venticn, date having been fixed for It,
and the call issued, it is said that he may
accomplish some good by counseling mod
Grafton. There are those who regard VIII
liam r. Morrison as the most influential
democrat in Illinois politics, and these peo-
pie think that If he raises his voice strong
ly against the Endorsement of unlimited
free coinage 1t will have it's effect upon the
democracy of the state.
The belief is current in political circles
that the administration is inclined to look
urcn the Illinois movement as a serious
natter, politically, and as something in the
nature OF menace to party prospects If
this be true, 1t Is considered quite likely
that strong pressure will be brought to
bear upon the state party managers to
stem the free silver tide at the coming
convention, and compromise on a declara-
tlon for bimetallism. 1t is limited that Col
Morrfson's trip to Illinois is in this interest.
Senator Palmer VIII Fight Free
Silver.
SPRINGFIELD. ILL.,, April 1O.-From
present indications United States Senator
John M. Palmer proposes to fight the So
called free silver democrats of Illinois to
finish. The venerable Senator this evening
made such declaration. II am in this
fight to stay he said, land will not be
beaten either
Some members of the state committee
were in the secret and others were not
Some members of the committee, attaching
but little Importance to the meeting of the
state committee gave their proxies thought
lessly, and others who appeared in person
are reported to have asked some delay In
a measure which was intended by the man
ayers to separate the democracy of Illinois
from the democratic party of other states.
had not notice in any form or other
from the state committee nor do I under
stand that the democracy of the state was
better Informed than l was. When the
committee assembled, am told, call for
the convention to meet in June was pro-
posed Of which Mr.. Heinrichsen was the
putative author. In this call the democ-
racy Of the state were told by the state
committee that the only question before the
country Is that of the currency
There are other statements in the CALL
to which l only revert for a moment One
of them is that the federal election laws
are repealed, never to be re-enacted when
there are good reasons for believing that
upon a return of the republican party to
power they will enact laws of still more
vigorous character.
1T is futher declared in the call that
no general tariff legislation will be at
tempted for many years, while 1t is known
that upon return of the republican party
to power they will attempt to apply and
extend their doctrine of protection, with
all its socialistic features. I repeat that in
my opinion the call for a state convention
was issued as a means of entrapping the
democratic party into the silver movement
THE call Is without precedent, not only
In the history of the democratic party of
Illinois. but of any other political party
in any of the states.
my poor friend Mr.. Merritt is reported
to have said that the democracy has moth
ing to lose.' God tempers the wind to the
shorn lamb unless the lamb Is a fool.''