New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-30
DISCORD IN SILVERS RANKS.
GREAT SIGNIFICANCE ATTACHED TO
SENATOR WOLCOTT'S LETTER.
1T IS REGARDED AS A STRIKING INDICATION OF
A CHANGE OF SENTIMENT IN THE FAR
WESTERN SILVER STATES
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIIuNE.1

WESTERN SILVER STATES.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrIuNEl
Washington. April 29-The letter OF Senator VOL
cot OF Colorado. declaring his intention 10 stand
by the Republican party whatever attitude the
party may take the silver question. and infer
entially condemning the course OF the five Republ-
can Senators who voted against the House Emer-
gency Revenue BILL and are suspected OF intending
away from the party If "silver Is not recog-
nized' is naturally received here by anti-siver Re
publicans with marked satisfaction. 1t is regarded
as an indication OF the breaking up OF the silver
forces In the so-called silver States.
There are other things besides this letter which
strongly indicate an unsettled condition
of opinion in these States. and show that the gold
sentiment is much stronger there than has been
thought by any one In the East. There are no
States In the Union where the silver sentiment Is
thought to be stronger than in Colorado and Idaho
Yet in addition to the letter from Mr.. Wolcott
there has been an utterance by the Republican
Governor OF Idaho. Mr.. Mcconnell much more en-
phat.cally declaring party loyalty. In a criticism
recently made In San Francisco Of the action or the
five silver Senators the Dngley bill. he takes the
ground that nothing be done now for silver
that the Republicans OF the silver States should
stand by their party and Protection. and that they
should not make fight In the ST. Louis Con-
vention for free silver plank In the platform he
takes a decided stand against the dog-in-the-nan-
ger policy OF Teller. Dubois, Carter Mantle ana
Cannon and condemns the sacrifice OF the Republic
can party In the West the altar Of silver. This.
coming from the Governor Of Idaho. Is regarded as
particularly significant. showing that the mission
airy work being done there by the Sound money
men Is not entirely wasted
A short time ago there seemed to be nothing but
silver enthusiasm in that section Of the country.
The newspapers Of Idaho, Montana. Colorado and
Utah have been prasing the boiling Senators;
some primaries have Endorsed their action and the
Utah State Convention eulogized Cannon and the
rest but these expressions from Senator Wolcott.
and particularly from Governor Mcconnell are re-
garded as indicating that the sentiment Is not all
sighted enough to prepare for speedy change IN
public sentiment In the far West
While Senator Wolcotts utterances are guarded
and leave opportunity for him to join an indie
pendent silver movement II II becomes desirable. II
is significant that one formerly so radical as he
should appear suddenly In conservative posi-
tion II IS said by his associates that while the
men who have now taken the extreme position In
favor of Silver or nothing were advising that
they make their fight within the party Woeott
insisting that the silver people could not de-
pend upon either of the old parties and should
strike out for themselves. One OF his colleagues,
commenting on the significance Of his present atti-
tude. said to-day that he thought he had done
more than any other man to encourage Populism.
and that for him to advocate sticking to the party
now showed that there must be something working
in the West
Another significant thing is a letter written by
Senator Shoup to his constituents. He does not 20
far either Senator Wocott or Governor Nc
Connell. bat he declares emphaticaly for Protec
ton and against Its being sacrificed, although he
show that there is split in the silver ranks and
that determined effort will be made TO turn down
the Republican Senators. who have placed them
Both Mr. Dubois and Mr.. Teller Will have to make
struggle II they wish to 20 to ST. Louis with the
II their demands for free silver coinage ignored
In the Republican National platform