Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-05
SILVER MEN UNDlSMAYED
Say Brioe Cannot Control the Rank and
File.
Allen Thurman Declares That the Ohio
Democrats Are Largely for
Free Coinage.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

silver democrats do not seem to be
dismayed by their complete overthrow
In the meeting of the state central COM
mittee last week. Allen w. Thurman says
Senator Brice cannot control the rank and
file Of the party, which, he claims is over
whelmingly in favor Of the free coinage of
silver. The state convention, he insists,
Will adopt free silver plank. He points
out the fact that out of about 145 delegates
that have already been selected over a
hundred We're pledged to vote in the con-
vention for free silver.
Very few of the other flee silver men,
hers of the party, however. are SO confident.
They are generally inclined to regard the
action of the committee as an earnest of
what the party will do when it meets in
convention. Mr.. Thurman does not seem
to be very logical about the matter. He
opposed a late convention on the ground
that if Senator Brice were given the op-
portunity, he would use his influence to
change the sentiment of the party against
free silver. Now he claims the Senator
will not be able to do anything of the kind.
Choosing Delegates.
Most of the delegates that are now Sc
lected were chosen before the call of the
convention was issued and, Of course, be-
fore there had been any discussion of the
silver question in the councils of the party
They will probably not regard their pledges
as absolutely binding in the light of de-
velopments since they were given. Unless
the leaders of the free silver faction of the
party get into the convention, Tree silver
will have no chance at all.
The gold standard democrats are seeing
to it that these silver leaders are not
chosen as delegates. Such a movement
kept Allen w. Thurman off the ticket IN
the primaries here two weeks ago.
A Brice democrat tells me that Gen. E. b.
Finley of Bucyrus and Gen. A. j. Narnet
of Marietta two of the ablest advocates OF
free silver in the party, are not to be al
lowed to be delegates in the state conVeh-
ton. With these men out, the oniy thlIE
the free silver men who do manage 10 get
into the convention can do will be to otler
minority reports on constitution, Wmch
will in that case, be promptly voted doWh
Why Brice is Supported.
No onnosit;on to Senator Brice is ex-
nected from the source and on the grounds
of the proposed resolutions of censure that
caused such a sensation in the democratic
convention last year. That opposition was
based upon the failure Of the Senator to
support the administration in the fight for
the tariff bill. Whatever democrats may
have thought about that and still think,
the fact is that it is all over now. The
tariff Is settled until this administration
ends.
Another issue now is the chief one. Such
seems to be the view of that matter by
the party generally. Even John ]. Clarke
of Youngstown, who offered the resolu-
tions of censure last year, is now sup
porter of Senator Brice. The reason is
that, like the Senator. Mr.. Clarke is
strong advocate of the gold standard. He
accepts the doctrine of President Cleve-
land on the subject as the gospel of
finance, and. as the Senator Is supporting
the administration perfectly now, he Is
willing to let bygones be bygones, and.
for the sake of the party, lay aside per-
sonal feeling, and strengthen the Presi-
dents arm by returning Senator BPice. He
is moved to do this also, his friends say,
by the fact that Foraker, who will go to
the Senate If Brice does not, is inclined to
the free silver side of the question, though
not definitely pronounced.
Chairman Kurtz's Position.
1t will probably hurt the republican party
in it's campaign in Ohio this year that the
chairman Of the executive committee is
known as an out-and-out free silver man.
This is Charles L. Kurtz, who was the
private secretary Of Mr.. Foraker when
he was in the governors chair His close
relation with Foraker for long time will
also tend to give the movements Of the
republicans In this state this year the
appearance of free silver agitation and
can hardly fail to lose the party a con-
siderable number of votes.
There is some dissatisfaction on the part
of the more radical advocates of the single
gold standard in the republican party
with the money plank of the GAINESVILLE
platform. While it is admitted to be q
gold plank, they say it seems to he drawn
to tickle the free silver republicans as
much as it was policy to do. These men
do not believe in temporizing with the sill
Yer people at all.
Sorg Likely to Take 1t.
It now seems likely that Congressman
Paul J. Sorg will be prevailed upon by his
democratic friends to stand as candidate
for the nomination for governor. He seems
to be the choice Of both the factions and
all the prominent men in the party.
Ex-Gov. Campbell has had almost daily
conferences with Sorg during the past
week.
Campbell himself does not seem to care
for any office just now. 1t IS suggested that
means by which all the party troubles are
settled, SO that he many stand before the
party as the peacemaker and friend Of
all factions when the proper time comes
round for him to come cut as a candidate
for the nomination for the presidency.
Mci&inIey's Popularity.
Judging by the Invitations he receives
to attend banQuets, dinners and meetings
of all kinds in all the states one must con-
clude that Governor Mckinley is a very
popular man the nation over. His mail
daily brings him scores of such urgent in
vitations Although he does not accept
any considerable proportion of them he is
out of the state on such visits much more
than half of the time 1t is evident that he
is looked upon by the public generally
one of the lkeliest OF the presidential pos
sihilities.
Judge Allen C. Thurman is very feeble,
and 1t is doubtful whether he Will see an
other birthday. He suffers from COM
plication of bodily ailments common to old
his mind is affected. He is becoming child
ish, and is for the most of the time not
able to care for himself and needs constant
attention. He will be eghty-one years old
If he lives to next November.
NOT AN APPLICANT