The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-07-04
Large Number of Chicago Dele
gates for Silver Dick"
AND BOlES COMES SECOND
But Blackburn, Matthews and
Mclean Have Support.
NoMINATtoNoN SECOND BALLOT
Talk of Cal ing Caucus of the Silver
Forces Before the Convention
for Purpose of Fixing
Slate.

a
Chicago. july 3.-There is still talk
among the free silver leaders of calling
a caucus of their forces before the con
yention for the purpose of fixing a
slate. Should this be done, Governor
Altgeld's idea of ''one day conven-
tion may be carried into effect, w. H..
Hinrichsen, chairman of THE Illinois
State Central committee, and a dele
gate-at-large, says that tdhere is a
strong sentiment among the free sir
xer delegates now in THE city in favor
of such a caucus.
"But even should there be no eau
Gus, he continued, Il have an idea
that the work of the convention can
be wound up in single day. As | fig
lire 1t out, the silver candidates for the
nomination for President will be
Bland, Boies, Blackburn, Matthews
and Mclean. OF these, | rather in
cline to the belief that Boies and Bland
will get the bulk of the votes, and that
whoever mas he greatest number OF
votes on the first ballot, will be nomi-
mated on the second.
s.As to the gold men, don't
think we have anything to fear of
them As soon as they get here and
circulate enough 10 see they are in a
hopeless minority, and that to make
a fight would Zoe butting their heads
against brick wall, with an idea of
battering it down. The majority of the
Democrats of the country are for free
silver, and it has always been the poll
icy of the Democrats to allow the ma
jority to rule.
In the cold critical discussion of the
conference room of the silyerites,
Bland is dissected and analyzed and
found to be anything but an ideal can
sdidate. He talked on the floor OF the
House in a speech, which is now being
resurrected, about trowing dyna-
mite bombs and his rabid anti-pension
talk would be fatal to him in the sol
| dier-loving State of Indiana. There
Dare other bad breaks in his record
which chill the enthusiasm which
might otherwise be manifested for
him.
Mention Boies, and Immediately Gov
Altgeld and Buck" Hinrichsen throw
up their hands in holy horror and say
that the Iowa Democrat could not get
the vote of laboring man in Chicago.
Gov. Matthews seems to have been a
little lukewarln in his devotion to sill
yer until the band wagon was pretty
well loaded. Then he jumped OH in
great haste, but the moment of his
climb is accurately recorded, and is
not ancient enough to be thoroughly
satisfactory. Stevenson has kept his
mouth shut too long, and Morrison,
whose name would have headed the
ticket if he had not expressed his
doubts as TO bi-metallism by the Uni
ted States alone, is as much out of it
as if he were on the banks of the Red
Sea. The Campbell plaid has not
enough silver in it to please the men
who are now the Mark Hannas of the
situation, and Blackburn and Mclean
are not seriously considered for first
place.
There is talk of Teller, of course, and
this morning Senator Dubois visited
the silver men at the Sherman House
to pour into their ears long tales of
the availability of the Colorado Sena-
tor. Many of the United Safes Sena-
tors, who have good deal more than
a sneaking admiration for Teller,
would like to see him nominated. They
love him for his honesty, ability and
untiring energy.
Outside of this little coterie of SEN
ators there is not the least desire to see
Teller named, and even these Senators
are subordinating their wishes to the
1oudly-expressed opposition of the
great mass of the rank and file of the
party. Mr. Hinrichsen has also been
circulating the story most asslduousiy
that Teller would not accept
the nomination if it were rendered
him. The objection to Teller,
therefore, that he is Republican, and
not Democrat of Democrats, is suf-
ficient to bar him out of the list in the
minds of 75 per cent. of the delegates.
Tn the meantime, while the silver
leaders are thus wondering who shall
be the nominee, the Bland boom con-
tinues to fatten like the kline mention
ed in the Bible. The silver leaders
know this and they are almost ready
to go down before its overwhelming
approach. On the crest of the silver
wave rides Bland, his coatless arms
swinging on high and his untrimmed
whiskers waving in the breeze. There
is a ground-swell for him which up to
the present time, the silver leaders
have not been able to check, and which,
if il continues to increase may land
the Labanon farmer at the head of the
ticket.
Tt is said to-day that Bland has taxi
en- a most unselfish stand in the matter
Tt IS in the power of Senator Cockrell
and Gov. Stone to draw him out of
the race at any time. Mr.. Bland has
placed his candidacy in their hands
and a three-word telegram from them