Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-09
AFTER THE LABOR VOTE
Plans Adopted by the Silver Men in the
East.
Pushing n Campaign for Free Coinage
Spreading Literature Among
the Masses.

Since the conference Of the leaders Of the
new silver party was held in this city last
week, as related in The Star at the time.
consider able information has been obtained
of the plans Of the promoters Of the new
party for the silver propaganda.
The fact that the new party people have
resolved upon an aggressive campaign in
the east has aroused the attention Of prom
inent men in both parties, but the methods
to be adopted are the. features of the situa-
tion causing the feeling of concern, II not
alarm. Heretofore the movement for the
free coinage of silver has been confined to
the west, and in a less degree to the south,
and was regarded as q western eccentricity
which could do no particular harm, as the
advocates of it would be outvoted by the
east. When the movement crossed the
Mississippi river and affected a portion of
the states bordering thereon politicians
were little surprised, but merely shrug-
ged their shoulders and said it would soon
die out. Now that tho germs of the free
silver idea are being scattered throughout
the east and in soil which is recognized
as being exceedingly favorable to their
growth and development, the matter is said
to be assuming more businesslike proper
tions.
Working Among Labor Men.
1t is said to be the purpose Of the leaders
Of the new movement to attempt to con-
vert the labor elements of the east to the
free silver doctrine. They believe that the
existing unrest and dissatisfaction among
the laboring class can be utilized to excel
lent advantage in furthering their plans
They will charge that much of the trouble
of the laboring classes is due to what they
term a contracted currency, and to the
monopoly of the gold bugs. as they say.
The socialistic classes will be arrayed
against the gold standard, being synon-
ymous with capital and monopoly. Wall
street and the Rothschilds will be set UP as
the bugbear of the workingmen, responsible
for all their ills, and the free coinage of
silver and an enlarged circulating medium
suggested as the only cure for existing
troubles.
portunity in this plan of action for making
political capital and say that times were
never more auspicious for the establish
ment of a new political cult. 1t is claimed
that the idea of the financial policy being
responsible for troubles heretofore charged
to other causes will take well with the
restless and dissatisfied ones.
Disseminating Literature.
The first move in the direction of elicit
ing the attention of the people upon whom
the new party is working is dissemination
of vast amounts of free silver literature.
Hundreds of books and pamphlets. present
ing the silver question IN a popular way
and in a manner calculated to appeal to
the prejudice and ignorance of the people,
are being circulated throughout the coun-
try.
Every time an eastern man, usually a
theorist, makes a declaration in favor of
free coinage the promoters of the new
party seize upon 1t eagerly and give it
the widest circulation. A case in point is
the recent statement of President Andrews
of Brown University, who declared that
national free coinage would result in "a
tremendous revival of business money
turned loose. factories going full capacity
and trade of every silver country coming
our way" The fact that Prof Andrews is
an eastern man and a warm friend and
admirer Of President Cleveland is utilized
to its full advantage by the silver men in
circulating his statements.
On the other hand, the assertion of Sena-
tor Sherman, a financier Of worldwide
reputation, a practical fnancier and not
theorist, to the effect that free coinage
would result in the most tremendous
financial panic this country has ever known
and that it would paralyze business and
trade beyond anything ever known in the
history of any nation in the world" is
hooted at as being merely the raving Of a
gold bug.