The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-05-08
MAKING HISTORY.
VERY IMPORTANT ACTION IN
ILLINOIS,
Unite On Free Silver-Democrats
and Populists Fuse.
c. s. Darr0w, Lyman Trumbull
and Other Peoples Party Lead.
ers May Sit In the State
Convention.
JOHN MAYO PALMER DEFINES
SITUATION.


SITUATION.
(From the Ohio ago Times -Herald.)
is the silver wing of the Democratic
party in Illinois preparing to go over
into the Populist camp, boots,
breeches and baggage? 1t begins to
look very much that way. It will be
surprise to the sound money faction
to learn that the free silver Demo-
cratic leaders in Chicago have extend.
ed an invitation to the Populists to
participate in the selection of dele
gates to the state convention, and
that number of Populist leaders will
be chosen as delegates. The Populists
polled about 10000 votes in Chicago
last November, while the Democrats
polled about $4,000. The silver lead
ers claim that $1,000 Democrats and
$4,000 Populists are united on the sill.
yer question and they will work to-
gether.
The first evidence of the consolida-
tion Of the silver wing Democrats and
the Populists is the announcement
that Clarence S. Darrow, the ac-
knowledged leader locally Of the,
Populist party. will be placed ON the
thirty-second ward delegation to the
silver Democratic state convention.
Mr.. Darrow's return to the Democrat
ic ranks is hailed with delight by the
silver crowd. Mr.. Darrow, it is true,
inCiCt0 fhof tho mi 80
the party is coming over to his views,
but that makes no difference so long
as they are together, and it was an
nounced yesterday that Mr.. Darrow
would lead the thirty-second ward
delegation in the Springfield conven-
tion.
It was also matter Of general g0o.
sip about Democratic headquarters
and wherever the silver-wings were
congregated, that Lyman Trumbull
would be placed on the Cook County
delegation. DR.. H. S. Taylor. Popn-
list candidate for Congress In the
First district last fall, will also Hk1lR
nan, who an for the Lnn1n1ofneos
the Populist ticket in the Fifth air
trict. 1t is in fact claimed that t11o
fusion between the silver-Wfng Demo-
Gratis and Populists in Chicago is com
plete and that at least fifty PopulistS
will be chosen as delegates to the
state convention. A similar condi-
tiOn Is also said to exist throughout
the state wherever strong Populist
sentiment exists.
FREE SILVER Is RAMPANT.
John Mayo Palmer returned yester-
day from Springfield. He is inclined
to the belief that the Democrats OF
the state have nearly all flocked into
the 16 to free silver Populist camp.
| Speaking of the silver sentiment
throughout Illinois. Mr.. Palmer said:
''The sentiment in favor Of the free
| and unlimited coinage at the ratio Of
16 to l, without international confer
ence or agreement, seems to have TAX
en- complete possession of the Democ.
| racy Of Illinois outside of Cook COun-
ty. conferred with men of all
with Republicans as well as Demo-
Gratis. l talked with Repub ublicans, be-
| cause sometimes the lookers-on see
more Of the game than the players. I
met old friends with whom / could
talk confidentially, and got the i'm
preston that while there is very
| strong and respectable sentiment
! throughout the state in opposition to
| this currency theory. yet the oppOn-
| ents of 16 to l are without organiza-
tion, apparently without any ambition
| to succeed, and are singularly silent,
while the silver men are vigorous, ac-
tive and aggressive.
1T seems to me utterly impossible
| that the opponents OF l6 to / silver,
| should they take part in the June
convention, could make any serious
| impression. The convention will un-
questionably declare in favor of 16 to
| l, without conference with any ma
tiOn. We who oppose that view, al
! though there are some differences Of
| opinion among us, will as rule take
no part In the convention, although
in some counties delegations will be
sent composed of leading men repre-
| senting both views, wholly irreSpec-
tive OF the sentiment in the parttcu-
| lar locality.
s'There has been great deal of un-
necessary personal irritation and con-
troversy over this subject, which is
| very much to be deplored. There will
be good deal Of talk about reading
men out Of the party The immedi-
| ate effect Of the expected declaration
will be to disorganize the Democratic
parry In LnlS SIdUe, IL suCH tHiHS ~
| possible. The ultimate effect. should
the currency question be the promi-
nent one of 1896, will be the reorgan-
ization Of both parties on new lines.
Those, who, like myself, may be called
conservatives, have faint hope that
we may be able to induce the June
| convention to declare that it is mex
pedient to draw party lines upon the
silver question by state convention;
but | confess l have no very great
confidence that we will be able to Sc
cure this. Unless the refusal OF the
Democrats who agree with me to take
part in the convention shall lead the
party elsewhere to believe that Demo-.
! cratic sentiment is not thoroughly
represented by the convention. this
declaration will have a very strouY
and powerful influence upon the par
ties in the Western and Southern
states, but will not, l think, aflecA
| anything east of Ohio"
Among the Democratic editors Of Kan
sas notice that those who failed to get
the postofices are studying economic
questions good deal more closely than