Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-24
The Fight in the Kentucky Con-
ventions
SOUND MONEY MEN CLAIM CONTROL
Silver Men Want to Nominate,
Then Adopt Platform.
HARDIN Is IN THE LEAD


clans say that the fight at the state con-
vention tomorrow promises to be one Of the
hottest and most vigorous political contests
in the annals of the democratic party in
Kentucky. The advance guard Of the sew
eral factions is already on hand and is lay
ing out the lines of battle
The coming convention is the regular
state convention for the nomination of gov
ernor and a state ticket. Aside from the
interest attaching to this event, an interest
largely local. there is national significance
In the movement brought about by the in
lection Of the financial question into the
convention. This was DONE as has been
heretofore explained in these dispatches,
by certain candidates for the United States
senatorship, who, although their contest for
office has no Immediate connection with the
state nominating convention. have chosen
the silver question as their standard of bat
tie, and hope to obtain prestige for them
selves by having the state convention
adopt free silver platform, thus giving
Endorsement to their line of action.
There will be double fight all through
the convention. an effort to make the DEM
ocracy OF Kentucky free silver party, op-
posed by the advocates for sound money
and the friends of the national administra-
tion, and contest between the several
Candidates for the governorship.
There are already indications that the
contest over the silver question and over
the governorship nomination Is likely to be
much entangled.
That is. each candidate Is likely to gather
strength from both financial factions.
While one candidate is avowedly Tor free
silver. he has following of men who will
support his candidacy for nomination, but
will not vote for free. silver platform.
The other man, who is believed to be for
sound money, has following of free Sill
yer advocates
Possibly n Dark Horse.
A possible outcome Of this somewhat
anomalous situation is the final division OF
the convention on strictly financial lines,
with dark horse for the governorship.
1t is said to be the policy of some of the
sound money men to bring about such a
division If events Seem to warrant it prac-
ticable.
The first struggle in the convention, after
the selection of chairman, viii he on the
question of the platform. The platform
will be adopted and the financial policy Of
the democratic party of Kentucky outlined.
after which the candidates who are to
stand for that policy will be selected.
1t is not believed at this time that there
will be a straddle on the financial ques-
tlon. The sound money men are eager for
a s;raightout declaration against free sill
yer. They do not think IT advisable to have
any misunderstanding on this point, while
the free silver men are equally as anxious
for sn unequivocal stand for the white
metal
Will There BE a Bolt.
Another question which bears upon the
situation at this point is what will become
of the defeated faction Of the party II the
convention makes a clear-cut issue upon
silver and this Is a question Of great i'm
portance to the republicans. 1t is thought
that the possibility of a fatal split in the
democracy will depend largely upon the
spirit manifested by the factions in the
convention, and, of course, no prophecy
upon the outcome can be made at this
time 1t is evident that the sound money
men do not feel certain of their ability to
prevent the adoption of free silver plank.
They say that the free silver movement has
materially subsided. and claim that If they
had another months time they could stamp
1t out altogether, but admit that they will
not have a walk over now.
The element of uncertainty arises from
the fact that a considerable proportion OF
the delegates are coming without inStruc-
tions on the financial question. They may
be handled by the sound money people or
may be swept away in the tidal wave OF
enthusiasm which will be set in motion by
the free silver men. They are what might
be termed a floating vote and are strong
enough to turn the scale one way or anS
other.
The talk of n possible dark horse in the
convention comes about in this way. If II
should develop in the contest over the plat
form that there is predominance of sound
money opinion, and subsequently it should
be found that the two leading candidates
for the gpvernorship nomination are about
equally divided in strength of personal
following, with The chances of a tie, 1t Is
possible that third man may be put up
on strictly sound money basis and be Of
fered as a compromise between the person
al factions.
The Financial Issue First.
To the readers Of The Star, however, It is
probable that the question of who is to he
nominated for governor is secondary In in
terest to the contest over financial Plat
FORM foT Eerein will lie the probable fate
of the democratic party Of Kentucky and
the possibilities Of the republicans profiting
by divided democratic household next
November to carry the state.
The senatorial candidates will be en- hand,
and Senator Blackburn is expected to lead
the free silver mau il the contest over the
platform.
Plan of the Silver Men.
The plan of the silver men is to force tho
nomination of Hardin and then to urge the
| adoption of a currency plank consistent
with Hardin's views. They declare that
they will see to it that the committee on
resolutions is tied up until nomination
for governor has been made. The bal
loting once begun, they believe that 1t will
take only short time to nominate Har-
din, and that when this is done the news
will be carried to the committee still
wrestling with the platform.
This afternoon free silver leader said
that in such event they did not think
that the sound money men would hold out,
that they would be brought face to face
with heir own argument that to nominate
Hardin ON a sound money platform would
| mean defeat in November. and that under
these circumstances and to save the party
from disaster at the polls the sound
money men would consent to the drafting
OF a platform upon which Mr.. Hardin
could consistently stand and fight
Anomalous as 1t may seem, there is an
element among the delegates to the state
convention which, while willing 10 reit-
crate the financial resolution of the ma
tional platform of 1892, object to indorsing
the administra ton of President Cleveland
and Secretary Carlisle. In fact. this 10
understood to be the position Of Senator
Blackburn himself The sound money men
term this position the extreme OF ao-
surdity."
Upon this point Henry Watterson says
today: appreciation of the financial plank
Of that platform without appreciation Of
the administrations Interpretation of 1t
would not only be meaningless. but 1t