The Portland daily press., 1895-06-17
Democratic Split Not Likely Until
After the Convention.
DISCUSSION AT WASHINGTON ON AN
IMPORTANT CAMPAIGN FEATURE.
Concessions for the White Metal-This VIII
be the Demand of the silverites-Popu-
lists Plea sed.


silver will be presented by both Demo-
Gratis and Republicans with view to
capturing the national convention of one
or both of these parties, and will not be
carried beyond party lines, if at all, until
after Presidential nominees have been
chosen.
1t is believed by Democrats in this city
that the failure of the silver convention
at Memphis to adopt resolution in fa-
vor of forming new party will settle
once for all the idea of extremists among
the free silver men that old parties
should be abandoned, and that silver
should be made the one issue Of new or
ganization. Ex-Representative Bryan of
Nebraska, during the latter days of Con-
gress, was careful to make it known that
he believed in carrying OH "a silver fight
within the Democratic party, and that
he thought the national convention could
be captured by the silverites
But Mr.. Bryans action at the Mem
ph1s convention has shown that he has
grown restive under the powerful influ
ence welded by the sound money men of
the administration and thinks it is about
time the party harness should be cast off.
Mr.. Sibley of Pennsylvania, so long men,
toned as a good leader of the silver par
ty and as a presidential possibility along
Populistic lines, came out boldly in favor
of severing party affiliations.
NO HEADWAY FOR A NEW PARTY.
But Senator Harris and other promi-
nent Democrats at the convention saw
the danger into which the party was
drifting and were as forcible in pro-
nouncing against any dissolution of the
party organization as they were in argu-
ing in favor of free coinage of silver.
The effort was being made by faction
of a resolution which would result in a
formation of new silver party. Word
was passed around among the speakers at
the convention, SO that in the addresses
| all those opposed to this line of action
took occasion to condemn it, and it was
not possible to make any headway on the
| part of the new party men.
| This action is regarded as 81 keynote
for silver men in both the Democratic
and Republican parties. Members, both
Republicans and Democrats, of silver
tendencies now expect to stand firmly
within their party lines until they go t6
their conventions. But they will have it
clearly understood that they will get i'm
portant concessions at these national
| gatherings or they will look outside the
old parties for man and a platform to
vote for in 1896.
| POPULISTS ARE PLEASED.
| This course of action is looked upor
with great favor by Populists. The Pop
ulists think that if silver men wait until
after the national convention in order tc
determine whether they will bolt OF
whether they will support the PARTY
nominee that there will be no time te
effect a satisfactory organization for the
nomination of a man to lead the silver
ties in a national fight. The Populists
are inclined to believe that by the time
the conventions are held their party will
have received important accessions froIr
both Democrats and Republicans and
| that their organization will have increased
SO in strength and Importance that silver
ties will not think it necessary to looE
elsewhere for party to carry out thei
ideas.
That so many Democrats at the Mem
phis silver convention were loud IL
talking down the movement to form
new party is regarded by very many sill
yer men as an evidence that these mem
bers of the party believe that they Cal
carry the national convention ant
adopt silver platform and nominate
man for the presidency who will favo
either the free coinage of silver or wht
will pledge himself not to veto any fre
silver legislation by Congress.
Whatever the outlook for silver may be
there is feeling of satisfaction anon,
strong party men of the Democracy tina
the sentiment shown in the Memphi
convention against split of the part
indicates that at least until after the ma
tional convention the sound money ant
the silver wings of the Democratic part,
will flap together.