Evening star., 1896-06-26
7 HE SILVER STRENGTH
A Probability of Six Hundred Votes on the
Platform at Chicago
What the Threatened Bolt of WIS.,
cOnsfn Delegates Might Eject
If Carried Out.

stand at Chicago, since all the democratic
conventions have acted, the silver strength
was placed at 5S3 votes and the gold stan
GARD strength at 345. This is absolutely ac-
cUrate, taking the action of the various
state conventions on the election of dele
gates-at-lt rye as a basis, but the probabil-
ity is that the total of the silver forces will
be considerably larger than the one given,
and that the white metal men will control
close TO 600 votes when the platform is up
to be voted on. In Minnesota and Maryland,
Tor Instance, the entire vote of each state
is placed in the gold column because the
dclegates-at-large from each We're elected
as gold men. In Minnesota at least three
conventions elected silver delegates to Chi
caSo. The unit rule was not adopted there
1t is probably safe estimate that seven
votes from Minnesota will act with the sill
ver men in everything; in fact, the gold
men of that state acknowledge that there
is a division of the delegation. 1t is prob
able that four men from Maryland will
vote the silver ticket, as no instructions for
a unit rule were adopted there. The addi-
ton Of eleven practically sure silver votes
to the white metal column will make the
silver strength at Chicago 5y4, and reduce
the gold standard vote to 334, majority Of
2GD. In addition to the stray silver votes
n entoned the silver men claim that two
Of the four districts of Maine will vote
with the silver men instead of one, as is
credited in the summary of states.
To Bolt the init Rule.
The threat of the Wisconsin silver dele
gates to bolt the unit rule imposed upon
them by the state convention may or may
rot amount to anything. 1t has long been
a custom of the democratic conventions
to recognize the power of state demo-
cratic convention to impose the unit rule,
and change from the custom is not like
ly at this time. 1t IS hard to estimate
which side would get the best of the deal
if the bars are let down on the rule. Ohio
would cast six more gold votes than she
has unGer the rule; Indiana would cast
from four to six more; Kentucky would
put in two to four more; Virginia would
deposit from two to four more; ana there
might be a dangerous breaking away on
every hand. On the other side the silver
men would get eight votes out of Michigan;
eighteen (ailegedD out of Pennsylvania; a
large slice out of Wisconsin. Thus it will
be seen that the failure to recognize the
rule would make changes, and probably
important ones.
It's Silver Weapon.
In all probability the silver men will see
that the unit rule is enforced. 1t may
be the weapon which will prevent the gold
men from making any headway in the
convention. Should scme three or four
silver men in each silver delegation come
10 the conclusion that they liked the propo-
sit.ons OF the goid men they would be pow
erleSS to voice their sentiments. The like
lihood, Of course, is that in every deiega-
ton the majority Will remain stubbornly
for silver, and no compromise. This is
one OF the features which has all along
made MIR. Whitneys task more hopeless.
The unit rule in every silver state stares
rim in the face. 1t is interesting that the
gold men set the example of the unit rule
in the first state conventions held, and
later failed to enforce it. Their example
was followed by the silver states in the
first instances, bat not later. Delaware
Maine Minnesota md h..r yall
states did not adopt the unit rule.
A Contest From Mfchigan
In all the tables which have been made
up so far the twenty-eight votes of Mich
igan have been put in the gold standard
column because the state convention passed
gold resolutions and instructed the dele
cation to vote as a unit This calculation
may be disturbed. 1t is said that George
p. Hummer, the silver leader of Michigan,
has written a letter to q friend hsre say
ing that the silver men will contest the
seats of the Michigan delegation. He
claims that twelve Of the twenty-eieht del
egates from the state are avowed silver
men.
Mr. Hummer does not say in his letter
what the plan OF the contest will be, but
it is intimated from other sources that Mr..
Hummer and the other Michigan silver
leaders have unique scheme, and believe
that it will grove successful They will
contest before the national convention the
seats of about four of the congressional
delegates elected TO Chicago. They will
show that these men were elected on proX-
les which did not represent the wishes Of
the delegates Of the respective congress
sional districts. They will take to Chicago
several hundred of the delegates who al
lowed themselves to be represented, or
"misrepresented,'' as they claim, by other
delegates The unseating of about four of
the delegates would make the delegation
from Michigan stand sixteen for silver and
twelve for gold. The silver majority would
then apply the unit rule, the state con-
vention instructed, and the solid twenty
eight votes of the state would be added to
the already large majority Of the silver
men. The total silver vote would he :n-
creased to 622 while the gold standard vote
would go back to 1906 less than one-third
of the convention.
The Importance of This.
TIL Importance of this plan, if it should
be carried out at Chicago. can readily be
seen. The gold men would he put in an
absolutely helpless position in every way.
They would not and could not stand In the
way Of platform or a candidate. The an
cient and historic two-thirds rule would
get in its work. as usual, and there would
be no necessity to repeal ii to nominate
candidate over the OK position of the gold
men.
The national convention will undoubtedly
be called upon to consider contest of some
kind from Michigan. and the plan, as now
outlined may be the one.