The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-07
PInn of The sIIrerite..


There is no longer any good reason TO
doubt that there is an agreement among
the leaders Of the silveriies in the demo-
cratic party 10 use every means in their
power 10 send 10 the national democratic
convention. from every state in which
there is a strong free silver coinage senti-
ment. delegations instructed 10 insist upon
a free silver coinage plank in the platform.
We do not know that this agreement was
made in Washington. but there appears TO
be good reasons for thinking that it was.
In some OF the southern states steps to-
warls carrying out the agreement have
already been taken. The first step evil
IDENTIFY was to induce the state commit
tees TO cam only one convention instead
Of two as customary in presidential years.
The reasons for calling only one conven-
ton are apparent. It is believed that
having only one convention the silverites
would have a better chance for controll-
ing the convention than they would for
controlling a convention called for only
one purpose. namely. the choosing OF del
egates to the national convention. The
snverite leaders know that If only one
convention was held the county conven-
tons would pay more attention to nam
ing delegates TO the state convention who
would favor the nomination Of favorites
for state Offices than TO the selection of
delegates on account Of their views on
the silver question. That being the case.
many a free silver man could be sent as
delegate to the state convention by
shrewd management that would not be
sent to a convention called solely for the
purpose of choosing delegates to the ma
tional convention.
We assume that II is in the agreement,
or understanding. that in the states in
which the silverites secure control of the
state conventions the delegates to the
national convention shall be instructed
to vote for a free silver coinage plank in
the national platform, and for candidates
for President and Vice President who are
known to favor the free coinage of silver.
1t is worthy of notice that the one con-
vention plan is being urged in a number
of states. and in all of them by silverites
In some of the states they will likely sue
coed and in others they will not. 1t is
evident that they are satisfied that il they
should not insist upon the one convention
plan the silvertes would be in a very
small minority in the national conven-
ton.
Another reason the silverites are so
anxious to commit their respective states
to free silver coinage before the meeting
of the national convention is that free
silver men would stand very little chance
to be nominated for any state office, or
for congress or the Senate if the ma
tional platform should be made before
the state platform. If the national plat
form should declare for sound money.
and 1t certainly will, it would be the hight
of folly to put a free silver coinage plank
in the state platform. Free silver coinage
men would find It rather awkward to seek
nominations for Office if they were in OPP
position to their party on the silver ques-
ton.
1t can be readily seen from the fore
going that the silverites in the demo-
cratic party have the strongest kind of
personal reasons for trying to commit the
party in their respective states to the
free coinage Of silver before the meeting
of the national convention, and all the
reasons are selfish ones. They are look
ing out for their political future and not
for the good of the party or the country.