The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-20
4 NEW SfLyER MOTE.
Manufacturers Who Claim That Free >ii'
YER and Protection 60 Hand In Hand.

verand Protection Go Hand In Hand.
WASHINGTON, d. G.. March 19.-Spe-
cial-The conference Of silver Repubn-
can senators and about twenty or thirty
manufacturers Of Philadelphia and else
where in this city this afternoon. Is the
( beginning OF movement IN favor OF
free silver among the Republican manu-
facturers OF the East, which Is likely 20
have an important bearing upon the Re
publican campaign.
In spite of the fact that a great deal
OF money has been contributed 10 assist
Mr. Mckinley by eastern manufacturers,
10 is asserted by no less authority than
Chairman Carter Of the National kepuD-
lican Committee. that the men who nave
contributed more than 40 per cent. oi the
money used 10 run Harris0n's campaign
I'm 1872 are now holding back. and have
assumed the position that free silver ana
protection should 20 hand In hand.
There Is this difference between the
silver Republicans of the West and the
eastern manufacturers who have tt-
clared themselves Ga favor of free silver.
The former want free coinage az amy
price. while the latter arr willing 10 accept
free coinage if ID Will a!d in securing i"r
them the degree 6f protection they desire.
T0-day's conference WAS % certain cN-
tent brought about by the anxiety OF the
manufacturers 20 ascertain whether OF
not i've froe-siiyer senators Dubois. Man
tie. Carter. Teller and Cannon-arc nm
earnest in declaring that there VIII be
no protective legislation enacted BY CON
gress as long as the silver men can pro
vent unless free-siiver measure pre-
cedes H..
SO far as can be asceriaiucd, the sena-
tors named left no doubt in the minds oil
arv OF their visitors that they mean eN-
actlv what they nave said. and that li
the manufacturers desire to secure high
protoctive-tarin measure, they must jon
issues with the West and aid I'm securing
the free and unlimited coinage Of silver
first. How the manufacturers expect 10
arrange the slight difference which must
necessarily arise between themselves ami
the sound.m money wing of their party VINO
declare that they .giil do without protec-
ton rather than accept free silver mas
not been determined.
The silver men feel. however, that win
such strong allies in the East as these
manufacturers are likely 10 prove ,h'y
have "a good chance OF making themselves
felt i'm the ST. Louis convention, II not
I'm securing a frec-silver platform, at
least in preventing the nomination OF a
single gold standard advocate as the
nominee.
They declare they will be able 20 pre-
vent the nomination of Mckinley or any
other Eastern man.
Thoro can be 10 question mat the a.
velopment OF silver strength In the East
has taken Eastern Republicans with sur
prise. and that a decided change may Dc
made in the partys prospects OF success
nv to-9qv's meeting. The silver men are
raturallv sanguine and enthusiastic and
probably exaggcraie tho probable enect
of th,ir latest move. but that 1t portends
r more serious suiit n tho kepuDlichn
narfv when the convention meets thth
anv OF The eastern leaders had antirl-
mated. the most conservative are WILING
10 admit The SILVER Republican senators
stU declare that If they are unable 10
prevent the adoption by the convention
of a gold standard platform they WIN pol'
the marty but their manufacturers allleS
are not prepared 20 follow them TO this
extreme.
II will De interesting TO- note the oeNti-
oprnents that will follow from now on IN
the fight between the two wings OF the
marty and the very probable interference
vgith the plans of some OF the leddlhS
candidates for the nomination. hhey 10
result from to-day's conference.
This movement in favor Of protect'oi'
and free silver should have the effect or
,rovino to the free-silvor Democrats how
little the cheap money proposition mas 10
do with Democratic doctrine.