Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-13
Members of the Administration to
Discuss Financial Matters.
Mr.. CLEVELAND MAY WRITE A LETTER
What Will Be Required Of Presi-
dental Candidates.
SILVER MEMS DEM AND

An official of the government who holds
high rank in the administration told Star
reporter today that it is quite probable
that members of the administration will
take part henceforth in the discussion of
tDacial matters in the politics of the sew
e1al states where campaigns may be under
way. He said it Is not to be understood
by this that the members Of the admin
istIation will go out of their way to take a
hand in political gatherings, but that where
opportunity is presented for speechmaking
or the delivering of addresses the financial
question will be handled.
This announcement, on account of its
source, may be considered as of Importance
at this time, and bears out an intimation
to the same effect published by The Star
several days ago that the administration
regards with seriousness the free silver
movement within the democratic party
What the President May Do.
In this connection, 1t is a matter of
political gossip that the President may
seize an opportunity on the earliest occa-
sion in responding to some invitation to
address a gathering to write letter upon
the general subject of the currency and sill
yer coinage. In this event 1t is supposed
he would advise all good democrats against
advocating the free coinage of silver indie
pendently by this country, and would en-
deavor to spike the guns of the men who
are attempting to work up free silver senti-
ment in democratic conventions. No con-
firmaton or denial of the Presidents inten-
tion in this regard can be obtained at this
time, howeveA
The Next Democratic Candidate.
1.-The democrats of the west will not be
satisfied with a presidential candidate who
is uncertain on the silver question is
merely favorable to silver" said a promi-
nent western Congressman to a Star re-
porter today. 1.-The mere act of choosing
western man for candidate will not sat
isfy them. / prophesy that the demo-
cratic national convention will adopt an
out and out free-silver plank and that the
man who is nominated for President by
that convention will have to be an openly
coinage of silver. l make this prophecy
as the result Of my observations of the in
crease of the silver sentiment in the west
within the last few months.
Il think it will be found that the demo-
Gratis who favor free coinage are not will
ing to risk another eQuivocal silver plank
and candidate, afraid that they will again
be crowded out by the excuse that silver
coinage Is ipeXpedient without an interna-
tional agreement. BY adopting this line of
action they may expect to retain in the
party many that might otherwise flock
/, the so-called new silver party, which, in
free silver platform and candidate or the
disruption Of the democratic party, and as
the free silver people will be in the major
ity in the convention it will not take them
long to decide the question"
The Republican Position.
rs there not a large silver sentiment
in your own party?" was the question then
asked this Congressman. who is a repub-
lican.
'Oh. yes. and suppose some of our peo-
pie, the most radical of them, will go with
the democrats on their free coinage basis -
he replied. but the number will not be
large. 1t is well known that free silver is
mere Of a democratic heresy than a
republican heresy, If the term is to be
used, and the rank and file of our people
will stick to the national platform, which
will be bimetallism or the recognition of
silver through an international agreement
I think western man will be the republi-
can candidate. some man whose record on
silver Is known and whose sincerity is un-
doubted. 1 believe that with such a selec-
tion the advocates of free silver among
our people can be placated and satisfied
and prevented from deserting the cause
in any considerable number"