Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-29
The Sound Money Men Ashamed of
the Silver Convention.
AN INFORMAL CONFERENCE SUGGESTED
Inexp'icable Silence of Messrs. Ste
venson and Morrison.
G EN-. P A L NJ E r ALONE

In the light of more recent events the
sound money democrats of Illinois are feel
ing little sneepish over the result of the
convention held in that state on the silver
question. The whole thing seems ineypli-
cable now. How did it happen? The sucker
democracy. which had scarcely given the
subject consideration before, declaring fran
tically for free coinage. while the Kentucky
democracy. which had been shouting free
coinage for years. declares against 1t! And
they had the President with them. too. 1t
was to the Illinois democrats Mr.. Cleve-
land addressed his latest letter urging the
policy of sound money on the party.
SuggcstiOn to Try 1t Over.
Why not try 1t over? This suggestion is
heard in Washington. The convention, it
Is true, was regular. 1t was called by the
proper authorities. and the Endorsement Of
free coinage was emphatic. But. as is
now urged, the sound money side of the
question was permitted to go almost un-
represented. A sort of paralysis seemed to
seize the friends of the administration.
They knocked under with little more than
half an effort. even in Cook county. where.
under the caves Of those mammoth busi-
ness enterprises sound finance was known
TO have host of friends. Nobody can now
explain precisely what the matter was.
But everybody is forced to admit the drub
bing the sound money men got. 1t was a
licking which for thoroughness and sever
ity comes but seldom in a lifetime.
An Informal Conference.
There is no hope, of course. Of securing
another convention through the agency of
the state committee. That would be ask
Ing the committee to discredit its former
work; to appear to countenance the charge
that the convention held was a snap affair
which did not register the sober conviction
of the party in the state on free coinage
But why not an informal convention? Why
not a conference of democrats called to-
gether something after the fashion of the
silver conference to meet in Washington in
August? 1t seems to be the day for in
formal conferences. Two have been held
In Memphis and third Is the cards
for this city. Why should not the sound
money democrats of Illinois issue invita-
tions and come together at Chicago or
Sprn gfield. and. fortified by latest develop
ments. show their real strength and go on
the record? The confession involved in
such a step might be little trying on
pride They might be accused of admitting
that they mad to be braced up by outside
influences before finding their courage or
their voice. But what of that? Would not
II be better to own up, II by so dong the
sound money cause would be benefited?
The real fact Will remain. whether publicly
confessed or not. The sound money demo-
Gratis of the state did dunk at the opening
of the battle.
Silence of Democratic Leaders.
With the exception Of General Palmer,
the democratic leaders In the state have
been absolutely silent on the subject of the
conventions work. Neither Mr.. Stevenson
nor Col. Morrison has uttered word either
in praise or blame of the vote recorded. A
lively curiosity has attached, and still at
tnches, to what their views may be, not
only as to the Illinois expression, but as
to the whole silver question, as we'll Both
men are the popular list of presidential
eIigibles Did they approve of the holding
OF the Springfield convention? Of it's action?
And Illinois democrats do they feel
themselves committed by it? Or, if not,
do they favor another, and a calmer con-
sideration of the subject by the democracy
of the state? And would they feel them
selves committed by that?
Coming Conference Here.
And another point: VIII those men at
tend or In any measure countenance the
August conference to be held here? The
invitation to that meeting is sweeping.
All democrats friendly to silver-that is to
say, all democrats who advocate free COIN
the encOura cement of their presence. 1t is
somewhat IN the form of auctoneer's
cry: The opportunity will positively be the
last one this year to help silver and those
who fail to speak up may never have
another chance. The issue will go to one
side or the other sure.