Evening star., 1895-06-06
Senator Mitchell on the Position of
Wisconsin Democrats.
| Villas A PRESIDENTIAL POSSIBILITY
The State Delegation Would Sup
port Him Unanimously.
HIS PUBLIC EXPERIENCE

Amid the claims of the silverites that the
national conventions of both great political
parties will have majority in favor of the
free coinage of silver at ratio of 10 to
comes the declaration of Senator Mitchell
of Wisconsin that lis state will undoubted-
ly not favor such a proposition.
Mr.. Mitchell is among the few Senators
who have fingered in Washington after the
adjournment of Congress. Next week Mr.
Mitchell expects to leave for Brgantine
Beach, N. j., where he owns a cottage
alongside of the summer home of Repre-
sentative Harmer of Pennsylvania, who is
now entertaining eX-Representative Hatch
Of Missouri Five years ago Mr.. Harmer
invited his friend, Senator Mitchell, to de-
liver Fourth of July speech to the in
habitants of Brigantine Beach, and, though
the inhabitants there were scarce Oh that
occasion, the visit resulted in the purchase
by the Wisconsin Senator of a beautiful
seaside home which he has continued to
occupy ever since during the hot months of
the year.
Mr. Mitchell, after seeing his family
located for the summer and after a short
vacation with his congressional friends,
will visit his home in Wisconsin. His state
will be an important factor in the western
fight for free coinage of silver, and, al
though he has been within it's borders but
very little of late, because of the pro-
tracted sessions of the Senate, he has kept
approached by Star reporter today and
asked what the position of that state would
be on the silver question, the Senator re-
piled:
Unfavornble TO Silver.
Il know that there has been much agita-
iicn on the subject OF silver in Wisconsin,
but If vote were taken in that state to-
day on the free coinage of silver at the
ratio of 16 to 1. I feel sure the result
hn 70 hi 7 laI;a
Wisconsin would pronounce in favor Of
status quo on the money question. The
idea of making silver the main issue in
politics seems to me to be absurd, for it
is merely a detail of cur monetary sys-
TEN, and In no serse great national ques-
ticn or sufficient Importance to dominate
the party.
Il see that Mr.. Hill has declared himself
In favor of free coinage through an inter-
national agreement. / think Mr.. Hill will
have to abandon that position, for an inter-
national agreement cannct be reached with
out the assistance of England, and Eng
land will not favor free coinage at any
ratio that is not based on the commercial
values of gold and silver today. For my
SELF l cannot see why We should legislate
than we should legisate to double the
value of wheat or any other commodity. 1
am in favor of statu quo on the money
question, continuing the use of the two
metals es We do now. To be sure, l be-
lieve It youil be well TO legislate on the
question of the greenbacks, which now
give the government trouble"
"Wlll the silver men of the democratic
party coatroi the national convention?"
The Stgr reporter asked.
Il would greatly regret entertaining such
a thought. If they were to control the
party there would he no hope in the ma
tional cor .est. We could not win on
platform OF fre. coinage at 10 to L.
.''N no seems to be the presidential
choice cf the people of Wisconsin,
Villas q ere sifentinI Possibility.
I'VE have some good presidential timber
within our own state. l know no man who
yvn"ld be better fitted for the leadership of
i tbs democratic party than Senator Villas
AIR Villas IS n man of wide knowledge, of
he grcatcst Industry, and who is most
uethodicai In his habits of work. He is
| n prrfect health and vigor, and is about
fifty. .trea years oe age, being, 1 believe,
six months Older than myself. 1 cannot
soc WI ere ihs democratic party would do
! ovtue: than IN the selection of Mr.. Villas to
| Rad IS ticket"
NJ m,tchelPs preference for his colleague
| in the Senate is important, as very many
democrats think their party will have to
| lnok to the west for man to take the
| leadership of democracy-that is, many
sound money democrats think that west
| ern man to reflect the ideas of the east on
the money question would be most likely
! to gain the greatest success that can be
attained for the party. Mr.. Villas has al
ways been looked upon as an advocate or
| sound money" and his close relations
with tie Presiden. emphasize his views on
| that importSnt subject. He has had wide
| experience il the affairs of the govern
ment as a cabinet officer and as Senator,
| and he is generally regarded as man of