Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-13
SILVER MEN'SCIAIMS
They viii Control the Democratic
Convention at Chicago.
SPECULATION As TO TEE CANDIDATES
Aid Expected From Republicans
in the West.
GOLD MEN AND CLEVELAND

The carrying Of Alabama by the silver
men is prac tically a confirmation Of all
the white metal people have claimed In
regard to the south. There has never been
any doubt about any Of the southern
states, except Alabama, and possibly Louis
lana. 1t is not now thought that Virginia
is a doubtful state. The majority of the
congressional aspirants in that state have
declared themselves for silver. Outside OF
Richmond 1t is said that every district Is
for silver
The democratic situation is now begin
ming to clear up to some extent. The doubt
which has surrounded the complexion of
the national convention at Chicago seems
to be dispelled. The silver men are claim
Ing that they will control the convention.
The sound money" champions and Lead
ers admit that the "heresy'' which they
thought was a corpse is a powerful lively
institution. So confident are the silverites
that they will have things their way that
they are planning who the nominees shall
be and what kind Of a platform they will
put out.
What VIII the Platform Bet
Senator Dubois public statement that the
republicans Of the west would support
silver democrat for President is regarded
U
ing the sentiments Of more than one west
ern Senator. 1t is said that they know
what the feeling Of the people Of their sec
ton Is. 1t is even asserted that Senator
Dubois has the backing of the republican
executive committee Of his state. Politi-
| clans have for some time figured out that
there would be a bolt at ST. Louis, and
that the silver men would say to the dem
ocrats at Chicago: Give us a thoroughly
trustworthy silver man and the right kind
of platform. and we will help YOU carry
| the country this fall
Conceding that the nominee will be for
silver, what kind of a platform would suit
the westerners? OF course, there would
have to be a declaration for silver Next
the Westerners would want something for
protection; that is if there was any decla-
ration on that subject at all To catch
the silver men and the populists it is felt
that the national democratic convention
| must deal dexterously with other prob
| le ms. Should the convention take a pro-
| nouneed stand for the present tariff sys
| tenn there is doubt if the support from
the west would be as cordial as is now
| supposed. Indications have pointed for
months at the fact that there has been a
rapidly changing feeling on the tariff aues-
ton among the democrats but it is not
| likely that the feeling will have reached
a strength or a holiness sufficient to effect
| any mate RAJ change when a pla tform
for which all are striving, could the demo-
Gratis afford to offend their western allies
| ey taking any bold stand on the tariff
| question? Could they afford to make
| concessions in the way of protection to
certain western industries? Could the
convention afford to ignore the tariff Gues-
tion altogether and take the position that
the financial disease is the one from which
!he country Is suffering? Would that look
ike backdown or cowardiy makesnift on
! the part of the democrats?
All these and many more questions will
nave II be considered by the silver men if
they control at Chicago. There are many
democrats who feel that the execution of
| the present tariff laws has not been a sue
| cess, ana that there will have to he :.
change IL the democrats shall win this
| year.
Who Will the Candidate Ret
The candidate the silver men will put I'D
| is believed to be worrying them more than
| such questions ought to worry a faction
| which looks for victory. Boies is thought
| TO be looming up now as the one man suit
| able to the occasion. Many republicans
| think he would take among the republicans
| OF the west but there are others who do
| not think he is extreme enough or has
the backbone to resist pressure that might
| be brought on him should he be elected
President. If Matthews had come ont
boldly on the question: it is asserted In
| some quarters that he would be standing
now as the hero of the silver democrats,
| bat: his silence has produced suspicion.
which will be hard to clear away should
| he take pronounced stand hereafter
| The talk Of Morrison has about died out.
| At the time the silver men thought they
were going to be in the minority at the
convention, it is said that they were glad
enough to add their praises to Colonel
Morrison as the best man for the place.
but now that they think they have the
game we'll in their hands they look to
| somebody else. They don't want a com
promise candidate They will let the other
fellows hunt the compromise person. They
think they stand where they can do the
debating.
Oily One Way to Win.
The silver men, however, say that none
of the sound money" men now spoken
of-Morrson, Campbell, Carlisle-could win
| in the election. The chance of all chances
| is for a union with the silver republicans
of the west and the nomination of a
straight silver man. That is the only hope
1t promises victory when nothing else
does. Compromises and straddles mean de-
feat. and humiliating defeat.
Will the Gold Men Bolts
With the outlook as it is, will the gold
standard men bolt? Not many of them
have declared themselves, but it is alleged
that nothing could be more obnoxious to
them than the contemplated union of the
south and west on silver lines. 1t would
be bad enough, they think, for a silver
declaration from democrats alone but
when it comes to cuddling and loving for
| mer republicans, it is more than they can
| stand. They will bolt, it is thought and
then the name Of Cleveland will be the
and gold standard flag will be foated
Representative Terry of Arkansas express
eS the belief that no party could afford to
hoist the single gold standard flag but If