Evening star., 1895-07-12
The Convention to Be Held Here
Next Month.
UNDER DEMOCRATIC AUSPICES
Complications That Embanass Free
Coinage Folks.
THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE

The free silver convention which has
been called to meet in this city August lS
is attracting attention among politicians
and is the subject Of considerable gossip.
1t Is thought that the convention will fore
IDLY accentuate the already obvious split in
the ranks Of the silver people and call at
tention to the dissensions existing among
the friends Of free coinage in the several
political parties.
The coming convention was called soon
after the adjournment Of the recent BIZ
metallic convention at Memphis. The sum-
mons was issued by Senator James K
Jones Of Arkansas, Senator Harris of Ten
nessee and Senator Turpte of Indiana. It
has been asserted that the meeting was
called because these prominent democrats
were afraid that the non-partisan national
committee appointed by the Memphis con-
vention would take the silver question out
Of the democratic party, where these Sem
ators desire to have it made an ISSUE It is
said 1t has been claimed that the free silver
democrats Of the south were very Jealous
lest they should not be permitted the credit
of Identifying the silver movement with
the democratic party of the south.
by Way of the Democracy.
Color was lent to this assertion by che
language Of the call, the opening para
Of securing the free and unlimited coinage
Of silver at 16 to 1 is through the action
Of the democratic party" The further
declaration was made that thorough or
ganization of the democrats of the United
States VINO favor free coinage is a neces-
sary and proper means of controlling the
national democratic convention of 1896 up-
on this question. To arrive at this end,
therefore, and ito take such steps as may
be necessary to thorough national organ
ization of the silver democrats," an fnyf-
tation was issued to democratic leaders to
meet in this city August 1S, as the call said,
in order that we may confer and co-ope-
rate in establishing such organization, and
you are requested to bring with you such
democrats as are in full sympathy with this
purpose. 1t is important that democrat
acceptable to the democracy Of your state
and willing to represent it on a national
executive committee should attend shis
conference"
The Non-Pnrtisnn Committee.
In the meantime, however, national
committee has already been. formed by
the non-partisan silver people. who were
at the Memphis convention. meeting call
ed and the movement well under way be-
fore the Jones-Harris-rurpie combination
have cleared for action. The committee
men have been named from all but six Of
the forty-four states, and from New Mexi-
donal Committee of Bimetallists," and they
train with the American Bimetallic
Party" of which Senator Stewart is a
leading member. The national committee
will hold a meeting in Chicago about the
middle of August to consider the general
interests of silver. The committeeman are
members of all political parties. and for
the purpose of advancing silver promise
to relegate politics to secondary position.
With these two rival organisations, grow
ing out of the same meeting. the Memphis
convention IN session about the same time,
and each exhorting the friends of free
coinage to a different course, 1t is thought
that striking picture Of discord will be
presented. The bimetallist committee
claims to be the legitimate offspring Of the
Memphis convention, and as a non-par-
tisan body, the rightful representative Of
Its aims and purposes. In proof of this
assertion 1t is claimed that the convention
was once on the point of declaring war on
all political parties that would not. sup
port silver. 1t has been stated as part Of
the secret history of that meeting that
the committee on resolutions, by a vote Of
16 to II, passed a resolution declaring lack
of confidence In the old parties, but that
in spirit Of compromise to certain ele-
ments the resolution was not reported to
the convention.
Republican Silver Men.
1t must be remembered that there is an
other branch of tho silnerites, who do Tot
affiliate with either of the factions before
mentioned. These are the republican sill
yer men. under the leadership of Senators
Dubois. Teller and Carter, the men who
want the republican party to crown itself
with glory by espousing the cause of free
coinage. They are operating along lines
Of their own laying down.
1t Is claimed, however, by all the fac
tions that before the election of 1896 oc-
ours there will be a proper understanding
between these dissenters and ticket pre-
sented. to which the popuhsts, the demo-
Gratis. the republicans and the bimetallio
party can give allegiance, and with which
to make combined battle for a common
cause, that of free coinage This, of
course, is In the event that neither of the
old parties can he induced to den1are for