Evening star., 1895-06-18
It Will Be Materially Influenced
During the Next Ten Days.
COMING CONVENTIONS OF BOTH PARTIES
Each viii Have Its Weight in
Fixing the Result
A BOOST OR A BACKSET

The show of hands within the next ten
days on the silver question will, it Is ad-
mitted, have very material influence on
the whole situation.
First comes the meeting of the League of
Republican Clubs at Cleveland which be-
gins tomorrow. Silver is certain to come
up in some form there, and receive either
a boost or a backset. The latest story in
circulation is that the western men have
changed their minds about forcing the fight
ing at this meeting. The story may be
true. And yet even that program will have
its significance. 1t is not denied that the
original program of entirely diff
ferent character. The fighting was to be
forced and that, too, from the very outset.
If 1t is not forced, that will be backset
for silver. And if it is forced and lost by
an overwhelming majority, that also will
be a backset for silver. So that, come
what may, the proceedings at Cleveland
will have bearing on silver, showing
publican party at this time, or that it is
too weak as yet to risk engagement of
any kind even on the slirmish line.
Kentucky Next Week.
From Cleveland interest will be trans
ferred to Louisville, where next week the
Kentucky democrats will hold their state
convention. The situation in Kentucky is
mixed. The primaries just held show
large uninstructed vote. The result there
fore may be characterized in well-known
Kentucky phrase as dog fall" That is
to say, neither side is on top. The fight
goes into the state convention, and must
be decided there. If silver makes big
demonstration at Cleveland the fact will
have Its weight for the cause at Louisville.
Mr.. Blackburn will use 1t an encourag
ing sign with which to rally his followers.
If the silver republicans funk at Cleveland
ff,x oct rr,fIv sol 1t-t n md
men at Louisville. 1t will be quoted to
prove that the strength of silver in the
west has been exaggerated.
The Ohio Campaign.
The fight in Kentucky being over, the
campaign in Ohio will be opened in dead
earnest. So far the democratic factions in
the buckeye state have only been sparring
for position. The day for the battle has
not yet been fixed. The sound money men,
led by Brice and Campbell want a late
Gay-some time in August-while the silver
men want the work over with as soon as
possible. After the Kentucky convention
this point will speedily be settled, and then
for business. The Kentucky result will, it
Is thought, have influence in Ohio The line
of battle is the same in both states. The
silver men are asking straightout in
dorsement of free coinage at 16 to 1. The
gold men are asking an Endorsement of
the financial plank of the Chicago platform
of 1892, together with an Endorsement of
the administration. The promise is of
warm times ahead. The administration is
behind the gold men, while the great name
of Thurman is invoked by the friends of
silver.
Leaning on One Another.
This then is the present aspect of the
situation. Things are standing in a row,
and apparently are leaning on one another.
If one prop falls there may be a general
tumbling all along the line. If silver goes
down at Cleveland II will probably go down
at Louisville; and If at Louisville it will
probably go down in Ohio and If in Ohio
its jig will be up in all the territory outside
of the south and west. Such, at least is
the basis of present calculations both
sides and this accounts for the activity and
ar xiety of the moment The silver men are
new slightly on the defensive, which is a
change wrought within the past fortnight.
The gold men, however, are far from safe,
and are making what hay they can during
the closing sun rays of an extremely hot
afternoon.