Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-21

the fact that the situation in Texas is q
very grave one, and 1t is practically GER
tain that no democratic nominee for the
presidency can carry the state on gold
standard platform. I feel sure that a: least
three-fourths and, perhaps, four-fifths of
the democratic party in Texas are earnestly
In favor of the free and unlimited coinage
OF silver, and large part Of them cannot
be driven or induced TO support a gold
standard policy, which they honestly believe
to be destructive of the best interests of
the country. I have no doubt that the
Texas delegation to the national convention
Will be unit in favor of the free COMA ge
Of both gold and silver at the ratio of Id
to l, and will insist to the bitter end upon
the formulation Of a platform and the
nomination Of candidate in harmony with
their view"
Tennessee.
Representative McMillin of Tennessee
said regarding his state: "Our state con-
vention will be for silver, and will send
delegates of that kind to the national con-
vention at Chicago. In my opinion Senator
Bate will head the delegation"
When asked if the democrats of his state
had any choice for President, he said that
the question of the man to head the ticket
was not talked Of
Senator Bates View.
In response to questions by a Star re-
porter, Senator Bate said:
1T Is too early to give any specific ex-
preston as to the individuals who may be
delegates to that convention, but as to the
great question of free coinage of silver
there is no room for doubt as to the posi-
ton which the delegation frcm Tennessee
VIII take in the deliberations at Chicago.
There have recently been held In Tennes-
sec some twenty or more democratic mass
meetings in as many counties, and, SO far
as l have seen. all have declared in favor
OF free silver This l believe to be the
conviction of at least so per cent of the
democrats of the state. With SO large a
majority Of the party in favor of that pol
Icy In our currency, it is to be expected
delegation to Chicago to vote for a free
silver platform and for free silver can
d:date. AS to who should be nominated by
that convention for the first or second
place, have seen no preference expressed,
nor do know that any exists, which would
voice the preference of the democrats OF
the state.
THE democratic party in Tennessee is
pre-eminently the party of the people, and
not of the classes; hence, 1t holds to the
real democratic principle that the voice OF
the majority, fairly expressed, shall be the
rule Of the party. Heretofore, under very
different conditions from any which exist al
present, two rules have obtained in demo
cratic national conventions. The majority
ruled in formulating the platform and the
minority governed in naming the candi.
dates. The two-thirds rule was conces-
sion to the southern states for their protec-
ton. but when the reason for that rule
ceased the rule itself ought to have been
abandoned, since its practical operation, as
Well as its real purpose. was to clOthe the
minority with d power to dictate its candi-
date upon the majority. There being no
reason for the continued operation of that
rule, it seems to me it would he a wise con-
ceSsion to harmony for the convention in
the very first stages of its organization to