Evening star., 1895-06-04
The Springfield Convention Will
Leave the President Alone.
ALTGELD WILL NOT Be IHDORSED
Representative Hopkins on the Re-
publican Position.
FEW DELEGATES ON HAND
Special From a Staff Correspondent.

|
| SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, June 4.-The man.
ayers of the democratic free silver conven-
ton, which meets tomorrow, announce that
| there will not be any attack upon the ma
| ticnal administration by the meeting, and
| that the individual attempts to roast"
the President and the admins tration gold
bugs will be discouraged. 1t is also stated
that the convention Will not be asked to
| tEdorse Gov. Altgeld
This change of policy is partly the re-
| suit of the arrival upon the field of a num-
| Der of old-time democratic leaders from the
| interior, who have advised against such a
| line of action, and announced that they
| would not permit it. 1t is also partly due
| 10 the counsels of some crafty politicians
| These old-line fellows say that the dele
| gates from the country districts are coming
| 10 the convention in the honest and sim
cere belief that they are doing something
| IN behalf of silver. They not here for
| against the national adminstratio ton, nor to
| hold an Altgeld-Hinrichsen love feast
| We took that call in earnest said q
| horny handed old democrat from Cham.
| paign county to the writer. 1--WE took it
| to be movement in the interest of silver
coinage. If these Springfield politicians
| iitical side issues they will be mistaken,
We don't sgree with the Presidents finan-
ciai policy, but he is still the head of the
| democratic party; this is a regularly an
thorized democratic state convention. and
we do not believe in dshonoring the mead
, OF our political household in his own
| The friends of the national admin,stra.
| tion here would be delighted to have the
| convention managers introduce resolutions
| conoemnatory to the President and prais-
| ing Ailgeid- They say that would put q
tag on the convention at the outset and dis
| credit Its work among the rank and file
| OF the people. who would then be convinced
OF the truth of the charges that this con-
| Vention was set up job all the way
through, and not representative of the
| democracy.
It is thought the convention managers
realize this. and although some of them
yield reluctantly their cherished idea of
| having the Illinois democracy in conyen-
ton assembled uphold Gov. Altgeld and de-
| nounce his enemy, the President, they have
concluded that it will be the better part Of
| discretion to contain themselves for q
while.
| A Representative Gathering.
| There has been considerable discussion
of the question as to how far this conven-
ton will represent the feelings of the de-
| mocracy of Illinois upon the silver question
Interviews with leading delegates from
| each section of the state elicit the general
assertion that outside of Chicago and Cook
county, the delegation will represent the
| sentiment of an overwhelming majority Of
| the democrats. 1t is admitted that in many
| cases the primaries which selected the deli
egates We're slimly attended, but it is ex-
| out the vote; that it all one way.
They confidently assert that the people are
| in accord with the movement as announced
| in the call.
[ In Chicago of course, 1t is recognized
| that the affair was machine-made all the
| way through. The free silver men were in
| control of the machinery, they manipu-
| lated 1t to suit themselves and the dele
! cation from Cook county will take its place
in the convention as we'll reg ulated ma
| chine, answering the touch of the man.
| ayers.
Where the Republicans Stand.
Representative Hopkins, who wants to be
| the republican governor of Illinois. is in
| Springfield today. He has been over the
| state quite extensively since Congress ad-
| journed, and has been particularly study
| ing the attitude of the republicans Of
| Illinois toward silver.
There are not more than 8 per cent Of
| the republicans of Illinois who believe in
| the unlimited coinage of silver at I6 to l."
| he said in answer to a question, 'and
| doubt if there are that many. Our people
would like to see silver restored to coin.
age but not until an arrangement can be
made by which a silver dollar would be in
every way the equal of a gold dollar. These
democratic leaders at Springfield are maxi
| ing big mistake when they believe, or
profess to believe, that they will get any
| republican vote for their free silver ideas.
| Even the small per cent of our people who
favor unlimited, independent coinage of
silver will not leave their own party to go
with these fellows.
The populists will not go with them,
either. They are too wary TO De taken in
by this sudden outburst of zeal by the
democrats on behalf of silver, and are ex-
ceedinsly- suspicious of it. They see poll
| ties, not silver, in it,
To Represent AItScld.
Secretary of State Hinrichsen, as chair
man Of the democratic state central com.
mittee. will represent Gov. Altgeld in tho
convention. The governor has decided not
n "a ka ~
| of Nebraska will be here and give the con-
Vention some oratory.
Small Attendance Predicted.
By Associated Press.
SPRINGFIELD. IlA June 4-The pros
poets for large attendance at the demo-
cratic state convention tomorrow are not
as bright today originators of the con- :
] vention could wish. The vast crowds thas ,
have been expected all along have not
even begun to arrive, and the hotel regis
| ters show fewer names than on any Tues
day this session. This is accounted for by
| the fact that many legislators and lobby
| lists, fearing jam at the hotels, have re-
manned at home.
AS yet, no men of national reputation
| have arrived, and even the local leaders
from various districts are few. Men Who
have attended conventions, democratic and
| republican, in this city for the last twenty
five years. predict a small attendance to-
morrow.
Chairman Heinrichsen of the democratic
state central committee is still confident
that the convention will be glorious suo-
cess. The fact that few people are here
does not disturb him.
He says that there are no candidates to !
vote for. and it would be useless for dele |
gates to come a day or two in advance Of |
the convention. He does not expect the 4
large arrivals to begin before this even- |
ing: Farmers all over the state are busy
with crops, and they want to lose as little
time as possible. Then the weather N
Springfield is intensely hot, and delegates
do not wish to spend any more time IN
crowded hotels than thsy have to. Hotels
have all engaged in advance all the rooms
they have, and some of them have nothing
but cots, some in halls left. II
Among the arrivals today was H. e
Taubeneck chairman of the populist cen.
trail committee. He refused TO be intsfs
viewed, and would not even say what he u
doing here at this time. ~
Ex-Congressman Andrew Hunter OF
Paris is here, as also are ex-Judge Scales
of Chicago and Dennis Hogan of Geneva,
All are wearing blue ribbons the lapels !
OF their coats bearing the inscription Free I
coinage Of silver on basis of IL to Of
Rold