The Portland daily press., 1895-06-04
FREE COINAGE IN MlssouI.
The Silver Democrats to Call Conven
tion.

The Silver Democrats TO Call Conven-
ton.
st. Louis, May 80 Missouri is also to
have convention of Democrats to voice
the party's sentiment on the currency
question. This much has been deter
mined upon by the country leaders, who
will act independently of the state COM
mittee, unless that committee rush to
cover by issuing a call at once. Jas is
well known, the anti-silver sentiment in
the state committee is very strong, if.
indeed, it does not predominate Chair
man Maffitt is certainly gold man, as
are all the members who hold their posi-
tions through the Francis influence. Left
to it's own inclination, this body would
have refused to comply with the demand
from every quarter of the state for a con-
vention. An ultimatum has been served
upon it, and if it does not issue call it
will be simply ignored.
''Silver Dick" Bland is the power be
hind the throne, and he no doubt inspired
the proclamation by Chairman Ferriss of
Lac1ede, his home county. This procla-
nation was addressed to county chair
man, and they were asked to communi-
cate with Ferriss and Indicate their views
The response was practically unanimous.
But three county leaders have up to date
refused to take part. Hence, delegate
convention is a certainty. 1t will proba-
bly, be called for midsummer.
That Fer9iss action was piece of
clever strategy is now conceded for if the
matter is taken out Of the hands of the
be the result. On the other hand, If the
committee had acted promptly it could
have set the date to Chairman Maffitt's
own theory, the "craZe'' W i'll have sub
sided. The action of the delegates would
then, perhaps, be conservative. A con-
vention called as this one has already
been called practically, although no date
has been set, will surely declare for the
16 to ratio and for unlimited free coin
age.
There are indications of recession
of the silver tide wave already in Mis-
souri,, noticeable mainly through the
inquiry for literature on the other side
of the question. If this reaction become
more manifest there is some probability
of the gold men hoisting their colors,
and, under the leadership of David r
Francis, making fight for the delegates
to the Ferriss Bland convention. Ex-
Gov. Francis has just returned from
IL.
with the President. He is adroit and
intrepid when it comes to facing a polit-
ilcal foe, and would go into such con-
test with at least chance of victory.
That Mr.. Cleveland would like to see
some western state declare in favor of
'ssound" money. through accredited repre-
sentatives of the people goes without
saying. sl%
A BLAND BOOM
Behind the Ferriss movement is un-
doubtedly a presidential boom for Bland,
and if the silver. men get together in a
convention which they can control the
apostle of silver will undoubtedly be in
dorsed by resolution. And herein lies
the weakness of the silver movement,
lot that any one out here considers the
Laclede county man weak, but because
the ardent ambition of Gov. VIM. J.
Stone to secure the nomination for Vice
President may create factions, divide the
strength of the free silver men, and in
the end discount any advantage gained
by the present unprecedented propa-
ganda.
Failing in his efforts to get on the ma
tional ticket. Stone would like to succeed
Vest in the United States Senate, and as
Mr.. Vest has already got on the very crest
of the silver tidal wave, as he usually
gets on the crest of any popular wave
that rolls over Missouri, it will be seen
that a three-cornered factional fight is
one of the possibilities if not the proba-
bilities of the future.
CARLISLE FOR PRESIDENT.
The pronounced gold men out here are
enthusiastic, though not yet numerous.
just now Mr. Carlisle's name is on every
tongue among them, and they glibly ad-
vocate his nomination for the presidency
1t is suggested by many that if Carlisle
should become President Cleveland
would be the logical Secretary of the
Treasury, under his administration, and
if it is further asserted that as Mr. Cleve-
land appealed to Carlisle's patriotism to
get him into the present cabinet, the next
administration could follow the pre-
cedent and secure Cleveland's S services
In the meantime the silver propangan-
da continues. Every man fin Missouri,
it seems, has become proound econo-
mist Lawyers, doctors, ministers, mer-
chants, clerks, contractors, mechanics
teamsters, laborers, high school boys and
barroom loafers alike talk learnedly of
ratios, PARTIES and the ''crime of '73'.