Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-18
DEBATABLE LAND
Voters Who Will Decide the Gov
ernment's Policy.
TIE PUBLIC EYE FOCUSED ON ILLINOIS
Current Gossip Regarding the
Coming Convention.
FRAUD IN CHICAGO

Special From Staf Correspondent.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, May 1S.-That belt of
country from Lake Michigan to the gulf
and lying between the Mississippi and the
Alleghenies, Is the debatable ground for
which the silver coinage and anti-free sill
yer forces are contending. 1t is in this Sec
ton that the votes of the people will tip
the balance in the settlement of the gov
ernment's financial policy. 1t is upon Illi-
nois that the public attention is now To-
cused. The best information indicates that
the coming state convention of democrats
at the Illinois capital will make an un-
equivocal and vigorous declaration in ia
vor of the free coinage of silver at ra-
ito of 16 to 1 by this government, ire
spective Of international agreement or the
position of other governments. The effect
of that declaration will depend somewhat
upon the weight and standing of the con-
vention. 1t is a hotly debated question
whether the delegates already named are
the chosen representatives of a majority of
the democrats of Illinois. This doubt has
arisen. it is claimed, as result OF the
methods adopted at the primaries. This
controversy is probably more acute in Chi
cago than elsewhere.
Why the Convention Was Called.
"Why did the democratic leaders consider
it necessary to call a convention in favor
Of free silver?" asked the writer of one of
the leading free silver men in Chicago.
The person addressed was Judge S. P. Nc
Connell He is well known in state politics.
having recently thrown of the judicial
ermine. and is prominent In Chicago demo-
cratic affairs.
TT was called to meet an exigency," re-
piled Judge Mcconnell. land to put the
democratic party of this state sauarely on
required courage and honesty. 1t was
made necessary largely by the action of
our President who had done nothing to
further the party's advocacy Of bimetal-
oughly endeavored to fasten the gold stand
ard on the country. 1: became necessary
that democrats should take a stand"
The Free Coinage Sentiment.
1t is likely as terse and accurate an ex-
PLANTATION as will be given, and contains
more than may appear at first reading.
Circumstances multiply to show that the
movement is for the purpose Of meeting a
political exigency. This will not qualify
the effect. however, or mitigate the con-
sequences, whether they ultimately prove
to be for good or harm.
1t is doubtless true that the free coinage
sentiment was latent among great many
Illinois democrats. The fire was there,
but Smoldering 1t required this political
exigency" to fan it into flames, and scatter
the embers. AS a consequence the fire will
spread, and has spread already, affecting
an overwhelming territory. The serious
ness of the matter, as regarded by men OF
anti-silver sentiment, 1t is that the furore
which has been raised for free silver by
the precipitation of the question at this
time and the calling of the convention,
will extend to classes that In the absence
of any great general flame of public feeling
would act more deliberately upon a ques-
ton Of this kind. Now, however, there is
probability of their being carried away in
the rush of what seems to be popular senti-
ment.
Attitude of the Leaders.
There is a well-grounded suspicion in
many quarters that the rank and file of the
silver democrats of Illinois are far more in
earnest about this free silver movement
than scme Of the leaders who are figuring
me st conspicuously in it. 1t is thought that
in the country districts great deal of the
sentiment for an enlarged silver coinage
Is sincere, the outcome of sober conviction
on the part of those who entertain il. This
class of people have been brought to be-
lieve that the abridgment of the use of sill
yer in the national fiscal policy is response
BILE for the hard times and low prices.
1t is said that some of the democratic
leaders have taken advantage of the prev
alence of this sentiment to launch the
present movement, and to encourage and
Increase the existing feeling until they
make it representative of the democracy
of the state. They have tuned the silver
harp, and while the leaders thrum the air
of more silver coinage, they are singing a
song Of their own make, and the burden of
it is opposition to President Cleveland with
Gov. Altgeld leading the chorus. This is
putting it somewhat delicately, but there
will be many who grasp the implication.
There are many democrats of prominence
in Illinois who are not In sympathy with
the opposition to the national administra-
ton, but who welcome the free silver move
rient as diversion from the fatal conten-
plation of the existing condition of democ-
racy in the state. series of heart-break
to accept almost anything that will give
the democrats common ground for an
other rally.
Chances of Disruption.
This brings up the question whether
there is common ground for coming to-
gether again or whether this movement is
not more likely to further disrupt the
party: Subsequent events alone can give
an accurate answer to the question, but
it is a fact that the free silver leaders
believe that the result will be beneficial
to the party rather than detrimental One
of the men who is managing the free silver
movement In Chic ago said today he be-
lieved 95 per cent of the Illinois democrats
are for the free coinage of silver and that
if any votes are lost they will be more
than compensated by the gains from re-
publican ranks of those republicans who
stand on silver.
Ugly Charges Afoat.
Some unpleasant things are being said
about the way the delegates to the state
convention We're selected in Chicago The
opposition claims that out of thirty-four
wards only nine held primaries, and that
these were CONT oiled entirely by the ma
chine in favor of free silver delegates. It
is asserted that in these nine wards the del
toe ~, tod rnAt a1A tod
instance, one case is cited where the judges
certified that 406 voted for free silver and
400 against it, while the agent of the Hon.
est Money League, who was present, makes
oath that only five men voted. 1t is claimed
that only 4I1 votes were cast out of a vot-
ing population of $4,000 democrats. 1t is
asserted that a similar state of things ex-
listed in other counties.
The free silver managers, when cues
toned upon these statements today, denied
them as calumnies They admitted that
the vote at the primaries was not large
but claimed that it was not necessary to
put forth much strength as the opposition