Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-10
APREsIDENTIAL POSSIBILITY.
Friends Of Judge Caldwell THINK ne
Nny He the Frec-Silver Candf"ate'


Friends Of Judge Henry {. Caiu"e"
NJ the Eighth Judicial District, OF Ar
kansas. profess to consider 1t prooao'e
that he may be a candidate for the presi-
dency this year. He is
man who has attracted considerable
attention TO himself by his advocacy Oh
free coinage. In letter wnich ne "'o'e
a short time ago he expressed MS hiah-
cial views as follows
The country is about entering upon
another struggle for the protee'ioh vi
the rights and the promotion OF tle III
terests OF the laborer and the producer
which Is. I'm my judgment, OF even more
moment than the first L nave peeh
surprised that the issue has been so long
delayed. The fight for free silver ought
TO have been forced years ago on the
line OF absolute and unqualified tree-
coinage OF gold and silver at ratio OF
IL to /, without regard to England or
any other foreign power.
II we are not capable and able to es-
tablish and maintain our own financial
policy. we ought to haul down "Old
Glory" which you fought so CALAMITY
TO uphold, and turn the government over
to Queen Victoria, or ask Canada TO
annex US.
The President has thrown down the
gauge Of battle. | trust the silver men
i'm all parties and everywhere will take
it up. | am happy In the belief that
platforms which mean anything or no.
thing on the silver question will in the
future 30 for nothing with the members
Of all parties. The people have been
deluded and driven until their eyes are
open.
These words Of Judge Caldwell have
caused considerable speculation. 1t IS
predicted by some persons who have read
the Judges letter that he will be nomi-
mated by the Popuiists to be their presi-
dental candidate. His close friends scott
Mt this prediction. They say that the
Judge would not consent TO head the
Populists ticket. What they have In
prospect for him Is the nomination by a
free-silver party. which they believe Will
by an outcome OF the financial situations
in the two leading parties.
They consider IL possible that the sill
yer question may cause a split I'm the
Democratic convention in Chicago, and
agree that, i'm that event. the silver
Democrats would consider Judge Cald-
well an exceptionally strong man TO
head their presidential ticket
Judge Caldwell IS IN MS oltn year, ne
was born in Marshall. ". Va" but
spent most Of his youth in Iowa, whittier
his parents moved i'm 1896 He was ad-
mttcd 10 the bar IN 1852. and four years
later was elected Prosecuting Attorney
Of his county He served two terms
i'm the Iowa Legislature. He was COM
mssioned I'm 1851 major Of the Third Iowa
Cavalry. and was colonel OF the same
regiment. when, I'm 1854. ne was APP
pointed Judge OF the Federal Court for
the Eastern District of Arkansas. He
has held his place on the bench ever
since. and has earned good reputation
as a judge.
He is still n Republican. but he is
good deal more attached TO the free
coinage idea than he Is to any alleged
principle Of his party. and II the free
silver Democrats should bolt the Chic
cago convention and ask him TO be
their presidontirl candidate. he would
consent. If the understanding should be
that he would be the standard-bearer
OF n one-idea party His friends say
he would be a very strong candidate, in
asmuch as his candidacy would appeal
TO all Republicans, Populists. and Demo-
Gratis who believe. as he believes that
the silver question is the great ques-
ton of the day.