Evening star., 1896-02-07
FOR FREE SILVER
The Democrats Will Make Stub
born Fight at Chicago.
THE DELEGATES FROM TIE SOUTH
Old Lines Probably to Be Drawn
in the End.
AN INTERESTING BODY

The free silver democrats in their old
stronghoI1s are mastering for a stubborn
battle at Chicago. This is apparent on
every hand, and it explains the reporting
of two free coinage bills to the Senate
within a few weeks Of each other. Infiu-
ence On national topics radiates from here,
and much silver as possible is to be in
jected into the congressional debates with
in the next few months for use at a dis
tance.
The Southern States.
In Arkansas the canvass for delegates to
the rational convention will be enlivened
and intensified by the canvass for the seat
in the Ser ate row occpied by Mr.. Jones.
Mr.. Jones aspires to succeed himself, and
is opposed by Gov. Clark. Both are free
coinage men, and the fact that SO high an
honor is being bid for by pledges to the
cause of silver in itself shows how Arkan-
will vote at Chicago on the financial
question
Mississippi will go to the convention solid
ly for silver, Mr.. Moneys election to the
Senate is accepted as insuring that. Mr..
Catcffngs, the only sound money democrat
of prominer ce in the state, and one of the
abieSt men in the state, did not receive a
single vote in the senatorial contest. Silver
was supreme at Jackson.
Il A state campaign is in progress in Louis
lana, and the legislature TO be chosen in
April will elect successor to Mr.. Bianch-
ard in the Senate Mr.. Blanchard will
stand for reelection, and he voted last Sat
urday for free cottage. He virtually, there
fore, rests his case on silver. His col
league, Mr.. Caffery, is for sound money,
but Mr.. Blanchard represents the great
farming sections in the northern part of
the state, where democratic control is un-
disputed, and where the majorities that
a I nt,-
isiana at Chicago, therefore, will have
something to say for silver.
Mr.. Pueh aspires to another term in the
Senate from Alabama, and will run on a
silver platform. The canvass is this year
and will soon begin. Connected with this
necessarily will be the canvass for dele
gates to Chicago, and the chances are
thought to be two to one that silver will
win.
+ Tennessee elects a state ticket this year,
and only free silver democrats are Offering
for places on it. The platform, it is prom
ised, will undoubtedly declare for silver
This OF itself will fix the status of that
state at Chicago.
Bitter Fight in Kentucky.
In Kentucky another contest is coming
on. The free silver democrats will en-
deavor to secure instructions by the state
convention for free coinage and to place
Gen. P. Wat. Hardin at the head of the
delegation to Chicago. They will be bit
terly opposed in this by Mr.. Carlisle's
friends, but THAI they will be strong in
the fight is evidenced by the balloting now
III progress for Senator at Frankfort where
Mr.. Blackburn, the party's caucus nomi-
nee, Is shy only about half dozen demo-
cratic votes.
The two Carolinas and Virginia are Ger
tain to send solid silver delegations to Chi
cago.
The veering around to silver again of
Mr.. voorhees, shows the situation in In
diana. The hoosier democrats are for free
silver and not improbably will send Mr.
voorhees, again at the head of their dele
CATION to their national convention This
is distinct detection from the ranks of the
sound money democrats as organized by
Mr.. Cleveland.
The silver democrats are in control of the
illinois state committee, and the gamble in
sucker delegation votes with the friends
Of silver.
Old Lines Will BE Drawn.
What does all this show? If anything
clearly, it is thought that the old lines will
again be drawn. Democrats from the east
with no electoral votes at their command
will insist on writing the platform and
nominating the ticket, while the democrats
from the states which must be depended
upon to elect the ticket will be asked to
pocket their disappointment and try and
look pleasant
That the Chicago convention will he an
interesting body is considered quite as GER
tain as are death and taxes.