The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-05-21
ALL GUESSING.
Now That McKinIey's NOmina-
tiOn is Assured.
Politicians Want to KnOWW here
He Stands
ON MONEY MATTERS.
Chairman of Banking and Cur
rency Committee
COmmends McKinley's Policy of
Not Speaking.

Washington, May 2L-The campaign
of claims has ended as far as the St
Louis convention is concerned. The del
egates having been all elected and Nc
KinIey apparently having a large mai
Ority there is nothing left for the anti
Mckinley people, if they are to keep up
their fight but to endeaVOr by sharp
politics to lead Mckinley into an am
bush and to rob him of the strength
which it is conceded he now possesses.
Platt is quoted as having said during
his visit here that he did not intend to
do any more talking, but that he would
play politics from now on. This means,
if it means anything, that the talking
that has been INDUCED in was in the
hope of influencing primaries and state
conventions, and that these being over
the delegates alone remain to be dealt
with. What sort of politics Mr.. Platt is
going to play is not fully disclosed.
From what his friends say it appears
that he has great faith in his method of
attack on McKinley's financial attitude
and the men in congress- even those
who are ready to oppose the Ohio man
to the last, 90 not express much conf
dence in this method of attack.
Representative Walker, chairman of
the banking and currency committee of
the house, says he sees no need of Nc
Kinley speaking on the financial ques-
t1on now a man." he says, ''nOmi-
mated for Ofhce can say nothing that
viii not be tortured out of its true mean
ing, and anything that Mckinley might
now say would be so treated. Were he
70 speak out Tor sound money it would
pc SalQ that ne was begging for office.
The moment man is practically nomi-
mated he should stand on his record. .
representative Hill of Connecticut,
speaking on the same subject. said:
The public has now no right to call
on Mckinley FOR an expression of his
financial views. It is the business of the
convention to make the platform and
then, if they think he is not a Dr0Der
man to stand on that platform let them
nominate some one else 1t is hard
work for man to make a record after
ne mas become a candidate He should
rather be taken on his previous record
/ or dropped altogether. and if called up
on to advise Maj. Mckinley, L would
tell him to say nothing
Representative Taft of Ohio saws. mo
city should be stronger for sound mon
ey than is Cincinnati, and the voters
there were fully assured of NTcKfnlelJ's
position They have no doubt of his en-
tire devotion to sound money
Here and there a different view is
expressed. Representative Brown Of
Tennessee, who is instructed as a dele
gate for Mckinley, said in an interview
today;
This is no time for a straddIe. Anv
man VINO seeks a nomination should
lead ana not follow McKinley's closest
friends do not seem to know where he
stands, and unless he regards the aver
age voter as a fool. he should clearly
state his position on the financial ques-
/ ton"
Gen. Michenel, who is q close .polsti-
cal friend of Gen. Harrison. said this
morning on the same subject that the
extracts from NcKinley's speeches on
nnance now being published in the news
/ papers were of a general nature ana
/ that there is now a demand for a sDe-
cifc statement from him. for the rea-
son mat that viii be the absorbing
question Of the coming campaign.
AS Mr.. Mckinley has not heretofore
put himself definitely on record on this
| question, 1t seems to me that his party
and the public have the right to know
| his views before they accord him the
presidential nomination see no good
reason why he should conceal his
views.