Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-01
Divided as to the Means to Forward
Their Theories.
TROUBLE IN REGARD TO THE POPULISTS
It Becomes a Serious Question in
the South.
THE COMING CONVENTION

Silver democrats are divided on the ques-
tion of the best means to pursue in for
warding their theories on the financial
question.
The point most in dispute is whether
the silver question should not be fought
out within the ranks of the democracy
rather than by joint conventions made up
of democrats and populists. Among con-
servative democrats, who favor free COIN
age, the Illinois convention was far from
receiving their approval, because in its
make up there was too much populistic
element
Don't Stay Within Party Lines.
When Representative Bryan of Nebraska
circulated his petition for signatures of
Representatives and Senators during the
last hours of Congress he endeavored to
impress upon every one the idea that he
was carrying on the fight strictly within
partisan lines, desiring signatures of demo-
Gratis only, with view to carrying the ma
tional democratic convention when 1t should
meet for the nomination of a national
ticket. Strong party men have favored
this idea, believing that If there is to be
any combine on the silver question it
should not take place in advance of the
campaign of 1896. But the silver demo-
Gratis have shown little inclination to stay
within party lines. and they have welcomed
IN their meetings for the advancement of
the cause of silver. Representative Sibley
of Pennsylvania, at the Memphis conven-
tion, went to the extreme of declaring for
independent action on the silver question,
and showed as little favor for the demo-
cratic party as he did for the republicans
Notwithstanding the efforts now and then
made by democrats to carry on fight
within their own party, it daily becomes
more apparent that silver democrats care
very little about the party affilation of the
people who join them.
The Coming Convention Here.
It has now become a question whether
. the silver convention to meet In this city
on August IA will be a democratic or nom
partisan affair. Democrats who believe In
sticking to their party at all odds and in
conceding their preferences for silver If
the national convention should declare
otherwise, greatly disapprove of affiliating
with men of all parties, especially the pop
ulsts, in these advance conventions which
are being held to strengthen and make ap-
parent the resources of the silver people.
They argue that the weight of these con-
ventions the national convention will
be lost, because their declara tionS cannot
be said to have been purely those of demo-
Gratis, and it Is not likely that demo-
cratic -popullstic convention can be regard
ed as an expression of democratic senti-
ment when the national convention meets.
In the west this joining of forces by demo-
Gratis and popuists on the silver question
does not greatly matter, but In the south
1t becomes serious question. In most of
the southern states where the populists
have gained great strength they have been
In opposition to the democrats and have
frequently been Joined by republicans in
their contests. Southern free silver demo-
Gratis do not like the idea of coming to
Washington to attend convention in
which they may fird their old enemies OF
the populist party, who also favor free coin
age.
POpulists on Hand.
Mr.. Taubeneck, chairman of the national
executive committee of the populist party.
was on hand at Springfield when the Alt
geld Henrichson silver convention met on
June 6, and on that occasion claimed that
the democrats were stealing populstic
thunder. 1t is quite likely that he will be
present at Washington on August A. ready
to repeat his claim.
Democrats who oppose affiliations with
the popuists on the silver question do SO
because the latter have a variety of theo-
ries which they regard as impracticable. and
they fear that the mere association with
these men will result in sending forth a
general idea among the people that free sill
Yer men are populists in spirit. They fear
che result of such an impression among
the conservative element of the democracy.
and favor turning a cold shoulder toward
the populists until the near approach of
election day. when, If they succeed in domi-
mating the national convention of their
PARTY ana IN adopting free. silver plat
torm,swhich is not likely. they will be able
70 invite populists to vote for silver by
voting fer a democrat. This plan they
think would obviate the troublesome COM
plications which might grow out of too
great intimacy between themselves and the
populiStS at this time.
What Some Democrats Think.
On the 14th of August the friends of sill
yer will assemble in Washington. and 1t is
likely that among them there will be a
goodly sprnkling of populists. 1t might
create hard feeling If any attempt were
made to treat the populists with GOODNESS
on this occasion, but there is a considerable
faction of the silver men of the demo-
cratic party who think that such action
would be wise, and who favor it.