Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-22
Senator Roach Tells What Will Be
Its Effect.
WILL NOT CHANGE A SINGLE Vote
But It Will Dissipate Harsh Feel
ings Between Democratic Factions.
TEL LER AND CHICAGO

Senator William N Roach of North Da-
kota has returned to the city from attend
ance upon the democratic convention in his
state He will remain in Washington few
days and then start for the west to take an
active part in the political developments
of the next three weeks. To a Star reporter
Senator Roach talked in an interesting
manner upon current political topics.
Il was very much pleased with the letter
of eN-Secretary Whitney, said Mr.. Roac h..
while, of course, 1 disagree with his
premises. advocating as i do the free COIN
age of silver, the general tone of his letter
gave me great satisfaction. 1t was the
conciliatory spirit of his address to the
democrats of the land that attracted my at
tention. 1t is the first evidence 1 have seen
of anything like consideration shown by the
gold men of the east for their free silver COL
leagues of the south and west. We have
felt very keenly the harsh and uncompro-
missing attitude of the radical anti-silver
men of the east.
Effect of Whftney's Letter.
This attitude has evidenced itself to all
OF u.s. In my own case have a great many
warm personal friends among the eastern
democrats, and yet the fact has been con-
stantly forced upon me that they We're alb
solutely without sympathy for the condi-
tons in the west. or for the needs and senti-
ments of the people. They do not know
anything about them. and l am frequently
bound to conclude that they do not care
very much. Mr. Whitneys letter will not
change a vote in the west. but it will do
much to diSSipate the harsh feelings exist
ing between the wings of the party, and to
produce a better feeling among the dele
gates at Chicago. 1t is just such letter as
i would expect from him.
Every man of an observant turn of mind
must he impressed a this time with the
serious condition of affairs confronting the
country. The most apparent fact is that
the country is thoroughly aroused upon the
money question The masses of the people
are awake to the fact that great battle is
to be fought upon the financial ground, and
that the lines of conflict being sharply
drawn There is great similarity between
the conditions of today and those of 1861
in the definiteness of the issue and the ac-
quaintaEce of the people with it. They
are thoroughly cogniZant of the Importance
of the money question, and are aware of the
power they possess to deal with 1t and set
tie it according to their own minds.
Il think there is no question as to the
success of free silver at the Chicago con-
ventiol- We Will have a magnificent ma
jority of votes for the insertion of
straightout free silver plank in the plat
form. OF course at this stage of the pro-
ceediEgs it is not definitely assured that
there would be tWo-thirds majority of
silver Ten, insuring the nomination of
free silver candidate for President. This
difficulty, however, can be ooviated by the
convention We will have a majority in
the organza ton and the convention will
make its own rules. The rule requiring
twc-thiris to nominate could be changed
SO as to provide that majority should
nominate
DO you think Senator Teller will be in
dorsed for the presidency by the demo-
cratic convention?' Senator Reach was
asked.
Il hardly think So In the first place, If
/ know the man Alright, / do not believe
Senator Teller would desire the nomination
at the hands of the democracy. Such ac-
ticn would give color to charges made by
the republicans that he had deserted his
own party in order to further aspirations
for the presidency by affiliation with the
silver democracy. No man who knows
Senator Teller believes that such an idea
ever entered his head. His advocacy Of
the cause of free silver is one entirely of
principle. and his bolt from the republican
convention at ST. Louis was an act of
conscientious devotion to his principles
He would be sensitive. however, to the
Criticisms of his former collea gues and /
do not believe that he will give them a
club TO pound him with by associatng
himself with the democrats as their candi-
date for President"
Money Sentiment in the Northwest,
What is the sentiment upon the money
question in the northwest%' the Senator
was asked.
In my own state. of course" he replied,
sit is for free silver. We will send solid
silver delegation to Chicago. In Mime
sCta it is true that the democratic state
convention went against silver, but my in
formation is that the action did not repre-
sent the sentiment of a majority of the
party in Minnesota. 1 think the whole
credit for the action of the state con-
vention lies with Michael Doran the demo-
cratic leader in Minnesota 1t was his
management that carried the day He has
thorough control of the party machinery
and the men who made UP the convention
were men whose first allexiance vas to
Doran and what he wanted