Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-18


danger the success of the party. but ex-
pressing sorrow that men held In such
high esteem as are the leaders in the bolt
should feel compelled to leave their party.
The Mckinley m en- who have been fight
Ing against the gold standard show more
anxiety than do the party managers vino
are actually in control of the destinies of
this convention. They insist that a dan
gerous situation would have been avoided
IL more moderate course had been adopt
ed. They say that it would have been diff
ficult for Teller and Dubois to get any fol-
lowing in bolt II moderate plank had
been adopted, and add that 1t Is at per-
sonal sacrifice that some of the bimetallists
who will not bolt have decided to support
the gold platform.
The object OF the silver men now is to
secure the nomination of Teller for the
presidency by the democrats and his sup
port by all silver men, whether democratic,
republican or populist.
There is no intention on their part to
make an independent nomination and ask
Endorsement. The most they will do is to
issue an address. and, perhaps. meet and
pass resolutions, declaring that Teller is
the best man for the SILVER men to support,
because he car get more votes than could
any other. They profess to be willing to
support any thoroughly good silver man
the democrats nominate rat Chicago, but
Teller would be the easiest man to elect.
Representative Hartmanpresented very
complete argument on this point this morn
ing. which fully represents the views OF the
rest, except Teller, Of course.
I asked If 1t was the intention of the
silver men who have separated from the
republican party to work for the defeat OF
Mckinley.
Mr.. Hartman replied that 1t surely was
their intention, not because they did not
like the nominee of the party personally,
but because he was a gold man running on
a gold platform.
I'VE are fighting for silver" he said: I'VE
do not consider individuals. and are willing
to sacrifice ourselves, II necessary, 10
bring success to the cause" .-.....
1 asked If he thought it possible to beat
Mckinley.
His reply was prompt. eve shall beat
him.
In response to- an inquiry aS" 10 the
proposition of urging Teller for the demo-
cratic nomination he made careful and
elaborate analysis of the situation from
the point of the silver boilers, which he
had evidently prepared to meet just such
question when asked ..r~,- ~.-.-
Unity of interest ought to demand and
receive unity OF action. After many months
of careful attention to the varying phases
and degrees of sentiment in support OF the
reconciliation of silver" he said las
result Of Caily interviews with Leading
bimetallists In all political parties and
quite an extensive correspondence with
bimetallists in all parts OF the Cnlted
States, l have come to the conclusion that
there is a reasonable nope that all OF the
bimetallic strength Of the country could be
centered upon one ticket, and if so center
ed, and d jtrffcfols choice,,of q "uchst is
made. that the full bimetallic strength of
the nation would be held for it.
That conclusion necessarily led up to
the inquiry Who is the most available
man to head the ticket and who will
bring the greatest strength and greatest
credit to our cause?
From the correspondence and interviews
mentioned. -rortaiaiRg expressions Wing a.
regard for the character and service of MIR.
Teller l was led to make as best l could
an analysis of the relative strength which
could be brought to our ticket by the men
whose names have been suggested through
the public press as probable nominees. The
republican convention declares for the
straight gold standard and will nominate
a gold standard man upon that Platform
II shall support any good silver man the
democratic convention dominates. But 1t Is
not {" question of what will do or what
any other man will do who is thoroughly
impressed with the Importance Of this ques-'
ton and is ready to make 1t paramount to
all others. The question is, what man will
bring THAT ticket the greatest humber OF
electoral votes. My judgment is that Mr..
Teller above all others, is infinitely the
strongest man we can nominate.
And for these reasons:
"First-It has been conceded by large
majority of all the democratic bimetallists
both in and out of Congress with whom 1
have conversed (and l have talked to
very large number of them3 that Mr. Tel
Ter, by reason of his bold, COURAGEOUS ami
patriotic stand against the force BILL can
carry every southern state with the excep-
ton of Maryland and West Virginia, and
with that concession l am content. Any
enc of the many prominent and distinguish
ed democrats mentioned to head the ticket
could do the same; therefore, thus far
their strength is equal '---H0 ~ "'7'''
In the West.
Now take the states lying west of the
Missouri river. Any one of these democrat
ic bimetallists on bimetallic platform can
carry the states of Montana, Idaho, Utah,
Colorado and Nevada, possessing 16 cleo
toral votes, but he would lose California,
Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Kansas.
Nebraska, North and South Dakota, pos
sessing As electoral votes. Mr.. Teller would
carry all of the states west of the Missouri
river, and therefore would have forty-fve
more electoral votes at this stage of the
analysis than the democrats could possibly
hope to have.
Now let us take the belt of states lying
between the Missouri river and the Allie
gheny mountains The democratic bimetal-
list, with all forces centered upon him.
would certainly carry Missouri would car
ry Indiana, would stand fair show of
carrying Illinois, would stand no show of
carrying Minnesota and little show to carry
Michigan.
''Mr. Teller, on the contrary, would carry
Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and l
am advised by a number of prominent BIZ
metallic republicans in Minnesota that he
would stand more thar an equal show of
carrying that state. So that, figuring on
what are as near certainties as anything in
politics can be, Mr.. Teller would have Ii
electoral votes from Michigan, which the
democratic nomir ee could not get which