Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-22
Missouri Anti-Silver Men Will Not
Oppose a Convention.
WILL ENDEAVOR TO CONTROL IT
How They Propose to Checkmate
Free Coinage.
CLEV VELAND AFTER ATH
Secial Dispatch to The Evening Star.


ST. LOUIS June 22.-Inuicati ations point to
an entire change Of tactics on the part of
the antl-silver wing of the democratic
party in Missouri. Chairman Farris of La
clede has drummed up a majority Of
county chairmer and persuaded them to
sign his call for Independent action as a
rebuke to the state committee At first it
was the disposition of the commi tee and
the sound money men generally tUignore
him. But there is such palpable reaction
in favor of the honest dollar" or at least
against arbitrary ratio of 16 to 1, that
those who were dead set against a conven-
ton month ago now seem to think it
would be good thing. Even so staunch a
gold man as Chairman Maffitt himself has
said that a convention will probably be
called.
There is but one explanation to this-the
anti-silver men think they may be able to
control it. 1t is a good thing for their
side that they didn't call the convention
when the demand was first made on them,
for by refusing to do SO they gained valu-
able time. 1t is not likely now that a date
would be set earlier than September, which
would throw the election of delegates to
the last week of August.
Capt. Tom Connor. lead and zinc mag
nate from Jasper county, although unalter-
ably opposed to the free coinage of silver
at any ratio, will vote in the state COM
mittee, of which he IS a member, for a
convention. He said to The Star corre-
spondent today:
Il not only favor a convention under the
circumstanc but I favor a fight for it's
control. The people are not fools, and If
the issue Is properly presented to them
they will oppose free silver. l know that
from the wonderful change that has taken
place in public sentiment even within the
last sixty days where both sides have been
presented I firmly believe that if the work
were to do over again in Illinois, and the
sound money men should make fight,
they would win and control the conven ton
The moral effect which the control of the
inevitable forthcoming convention in this
state by the honest money men would have
cannot be estimated. 1t would give the
sound money element throughout the coun-
try fresh courage and do a world Of good
in other ways"
Capt. Connor is understood to voice the
sentiment of many prominent sound money
democrats both in and out Of the commit
tee.
A Gold Democrats View.
Another gold democrat, speaking Of the
reaction in sentiment. said to the corre-
spondent few days ago:
zone positive. proof that the people of
Missouri are no longer daft on silver is the
subsidence of Senator George G. Vest. Vest
can always be relied upon to get in line
with what he believes to be the predomi-
nant sentiment among democrats Of Mis-
souri, Two months ago he was satisfied
that nine-tenths Of the party were in favor
of free silver, and he was not far sfronl
right then. He hastened, as usual, to write
q letter in harmony with the: prevailing
view, and for a time he was very glib in
his denunciation of gold bugs and the
crime of '73." But for a month he has
kept his mouth shut. He would not only
Like to burn the letter, but the memory of
it, If he could"
The State Association of Bankers, which
has just held It's annual session at Jeffer-
son City, handled the subject of standards
Of value very gingerly. One reason is found
in the fact that majority of the members
are country bankers, representing little
capital and the state treasurer Lon v.
Stephens, q very rich banker, is a IL to
apostle. His influence is very great in the
association.
Thinks 1t Would Cause n Split.
By Associated Press.
ST. LOUIS, June 22.-Ex-Gov. Francis,
asked what he thought about a silver con-
vention being called by the democratic COM
mittee, said: Il sincerely hope the commit
tee will not call a convention. There is no
necessity for it. and, in my judgment. 1t
would be grievous political mistake; 1t
would create a schism in the party which
would not be healed before the election
Of 96."