Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-04
CHAIRMAN CARTEK'S PLACE
Comment on the Reported War Upon Him
by General Harrison's Friends.
The Move Considered to Be Bad
Politics, as 1t Would ALLEVIATE
the Silver Men.

The information that comes from Indian
anols to the effect that ex-Attorney Gen
eral Michener, Gen. Harrison's old and con-
fdential friend, had declared war against
Chairman Tom Carter of the national re-
publican committee because of the latter's
supposed antagonism to Gen. Harrison's
candidacy for another term in the White
House and also because of his views on the
silver question, caused considerable discus
sion among politicians in this city today.
a good many friends of Nj. Carter do not
credit this information with being altogether
accurate. Within the last week, it is stated
on good authority, Mr.. Carter remarked to
an intimate friend here that he would favor
the nomination of Mr.. Harrison, whom he
believed to be very safe man to head the
republican ticket. 1t will be remembered
that when Mr.. Carter came east last sum-
mer and made special visit to Gen. Har-
rison that he was quoted as saying that he
would favor Mr.. Harriscn's candidacy if the
latter would merely promise not to veto any
silver legislation that Congress might enact
1t was generally understood that Mr.. Carter
failed to get such a promise, and that, while
he was disappointed, he proposed merely to
walt for future developments.
What Silver Men Say.
The prominent silver men argue that IL
republican managers and friends of Gen.
not in accord with them on the money
question they will tend to drive the silver
men out of the party. They say that Mr..
Carter is a republican. with a strong at
tachment for his party organization. and
many believe that IL he finds himself un-
able to secure the nomination of a silver
man at the national convention he will
bow to the win of the majority and do the
rext best thrg. He has been looked upon
@
to the eX-President IS the latter's views On
the silver question. If he is driven from
the cha,rmanship of the national commit
tee by Harr!sons friends this act may not
cause him to leave mis- party, but it is
thought very likely it will weaken him as
a friend of Harrison, SO that If he makes
up his mind that no silver man can be
chosen, and that sound money republic
can must be nominated, he will be more
apt to cast his influence for some one else.
For these reasons it is thought that it
would be very bad politics for Harrison's
friends to open war on Chairman Carter.
Mr.. Carter comes from a strong silver
state. and his hold on :he senatorship
could hardly be possible II he were any
thing hut free silver man. He has talked
free silver literally, and has declared time
and again that the free silver men meant
to be recognized. But no one could reason
ably expect him to take any other position.
Mr.. Harrison Has Enemies.
1t is thought, toe, that Mr.. Harrison's
friends will not fail to recognize the fact
that their favorite has enemies. EX-Sena-
tor Warner Miller became indignant last
summer over what he regarded on the part
of General Harrison's friends as an at
tempt TO secure a snap Judgment on the
republican nomination, and he then said
that no such action would be tolerated in
the republican party and that the nomna-
tional would have to be made at the ma
tional convention and not before. Thomas
c. Platt of New York is generally credited
with being anxious to keep Harrison in the
background. and Matthew Stanley Quay of
Pennsylvania, Sam Fessenden of Connecti-
cut, General James S. Clarkson of Iowa
are also ranged in supposed unending hos
tility to the ex-Presidents denomination.
This is no small array of opposition, and If
fight is opened on Mr.. Carter it will
doubtless tend to excite a more hostile
feeling on the part of the silver men. and
this feeling, it is thought will do greater
harm than could possibly result from al
lowing a silver man to remain at the head
of the national committee.
But General Harrison's friends are deeply
in earnest and in Senator Stephen B. Ell
kins of West Virginia they have leader
who is generally acknowledged to be one of
the most sagacious politicians of the coun-
try. and it is likely that If Mr.. Elkins
wants Mr.. Carters place the effort to de-
pose him will be made.