The Washington bee., 1895-08-24
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
THE TARIFF QUESTION IN Tnt
COMING FALL ELECTIONS.
1t will Cut Something of Figure ~
Maryland-The Silver Conference IL
Washington-Western Democrats Hede
ing on the Question.

Whether or not the tariff question will
| cut prominent figure in the next Presi-
Dental campaign is one of the problems
about which politicians are more or less
doubtful, and regarding which they
look to the coming fall elections to give
them a pointer" Many curious eyes
will be turned on the election results in
Maryland, owing to the peculiar rela-
tons of Senator German to the changes
made by the Senate in the Wilson tariff
bill. If there is any change in public
opinion regarding that bill. it will prob
ably be quite as pronounced in Mary
land as elsewhere. Senator German has
been bitterly antagonized, largely on
account of his tariff views, by a faction
OF Democrats in Maryland who at one
time showed a disposition to fight him
on the tariff issue. If such an intention
was ever entertained, it did not show
any marked strength at the late Mary
land Democratic convention.
But there is time enough yet. Senator
Gibson, who succeeded Senator Sails
bury was elected for a short term. and
the Legislature to be chosen this fall
must select his successor He is can
didate for reelection Senator Gibson
is known here as one of the most agree
able and popular of public men. and
personally it is doubtful if any opposi-
ton exists against him. But he was
elected to the Senate as a representa-
tive of the German interest in Mary
land politics, against the full force Of
the opposition in his own party, and he
Loyalty supported Senator German in
his fight against certain features of the
Wilson tariff bill. Senator Gibson may
therefore be said to stand for the SEN
ate side of the tariff issue. if such an
issue exists. My information. however
is that all parties and factions are q
little chary of the tariff question, pre-
ferring to await developments In the in
dustrial situation before taking a pro-
nounced position. Tariffs are always
apt to be one thing in theory and an
other in practice. The only test is that
of practical trial. The present tariff is
now having its trial, and there seems
to be little disposition on the part of
the friends of a still lower tariff to
attack it, The change in public senti-
ment, especially among reform Demo
Gratis, has been quite marked within a
few months past, but the opportunity is
afforded them to put public sentiment
to a test in Maryland.
The gathering here this week of free
silver men was interesting as indicating
a modification of extreme sentiment up
on that question. The Illinois delega
ton, Of which Congressman Fithian is
a member, started quite boom for
Hon. William r. Morrison for President.
w. H. Hinrichson, who headed the Hi
nois silver men, and who has the honor
of having called the first free silver con-
vention ever held, was active in adj
vancing Mr.. Morrison'S interests. Mr.
Morrison, however, is not known as a
very prominent free silver man: in fact,
has recently been quoted upon pretty
good authority as favoring sound mon
ey upon the basis of an international
agreement regulating the ratio Of gold
and silver. This is platform u,,CI
which many so-called gold men stand.
and upon which the politicians of both
parties seem anxious to be found. Ger
tainly. If the Western silver Democrats
are prepared to accept Mr.. Morrison It
indicates a pronounced change from the
radical sentiments held by them a few
months since.
Several pronounced silver men confess
that public sentiment has been under
going a change upon the question of
free and unlimited coinage of silver, and
that thEutfnost they can hope for is to
force compromise in favor of such