The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-23
But the Administration Men Are
Rather Late in Their
Work.
SOUNDING ALL THE DELEGATES
Determined but Futile Attempts to
Turn Majority to the
Gold Standard.

|
letter of ex-Secretary Whitney is regarded
by Democrats here as being in the nature
of compromise rendered the free-silver
wing of the Democratic party. Mr.. Whit
ney is understood as receding from the
single gold standard assumed by President
! Cleveland in his recent interview, and
favoring straddle on international BIZ
metallism." For weeks it has been con-
ceded that the free-silver element will
control the Chicago convention, not only
| by majority, but by q more than two
| thirds vote, thus insuring the naming OF
an out-and-out silver candidate, to stand
upon free-coinage platform.
At the eleventh hour, after three-fourths
of the delegates to the approaching con-
vention had been selected, and after Mr..
| Cleveland had issued proclamation de-
claring in favor OF gold monometallism,
without any redeeming sop to the disaf
fected faction OF the party, Mr.. Whitney
is persuaded to forego a European trip and
step into the breach with an olive branch
| of peace. The olive branch extended by
Mr. Whitney is the same old declaration
regarding the international bimetallism
that has appeared in the platform of the
dominant political parties for many Ma
tional campaigns. 1t means nothing, it is
said, and is on the alleged principle of
homeopathic remedies which are said to
do DO harm, even if they do no good. In
short, Mr.. Whitney has been selected to
head a movement intended to prevent
silver supremacy at the Chicago conven-
! ton, and, failing in the attempt, to offer
bimetallism as a harmonizing compro-
mise.
This is regarded as the meat in the
cocoanut. so far as MIR. Whitney's letter is
concerned. Whitney will receive the
earnest support of every prominent Fed
eral office-holder, beginning with the
| President. The first practical move in
that direction made here was to secure
list of all delegates select to the Chicago
convention. More than two-thirds of
these have been chosen. All delegates
chosen who are either instructed for silver
or are believed to incline to silver will at
once be communicated with personally,
and the delegations for weeks past have
been receiving "sound money" literature
from the New York and Boston reform
clubs, but they will now, it is asserted,
be solicited by letter. Efforts will also be
made to ascertain their standing in their
communities and what influence if any,
of a local or National nature can be
brought TO bear upon them to change
their views on the money question. To
this end prominent bankers and mer-
chants in communities in which delegates
reside will be written to for information,
and when in hand this information, with
any political pressure that can be brought
from rhair follow. Dor
nationally, will be utilized in the direction
of the well-known views of the admins
tration.
The President and ex-Secretary Whit
ney have commenced their campaign too
late. They are locking the stable door
after the horse has been stolen. 1t is
pointed out that their standing for the
views of the administration have been
beaten at every turn. Secretary Carlisle
tried to save Kentucky, but only one dis
trict in the State pronounced for gold.
Senator Bryce has been completely
routed in Ohio, and the State Convention
which meets tomorrow will be almost
unanimous for free silver. Secretary
Smith took the stump in Georgia until he
lost his temper and ex-Speaker Crisp lost
his voice, but the result was an over
whelming administration defeat. Secre-
tary Herbert could not control his own
State of Alabama. Nebraska slippedaway
from Secretary Morton. Attorney General
Harmon will not even try to stem the tide
in Ohio. Will the fate of free silver de-
pend upon union of Western Republican
States with the Southern Democratic
States? Must there be q coalition of
Western Republican silverites with the
Democrats of the South? And if this
combination is effected what ticket that
may be named for President and Vice
President can defeat Mckinley and Ho-
bart? Union of effort means union
ticket-a man from the West and man
from the South.
The Republicans of the West claim the
right to name the man for first place. Dis
putes forward Mr.. Teller. And, more
than that, the West insists that he must
be taken. The West has no words of dis
paragement for the Southern leaders, but
Mr.. Teller, as It believes, is the one man
in the whole country who by his ag-
gressive services stands most eminently
and distinctly for silver's cause, and there
fore the man to represent it this year.
Teller himself is silent, but available. He
knows what is going on in his interests,
and he is not Directing. Mr.. Dubois, hi,
protege and bosom friend, and now also
his fellow-bol and representative, puts
the case with entire frankness. Effective
union is impossible without Mr.. Teller as
the candidate.
For second place several strong men are
mentioned. They are, of course, South
ern men, and thoroughly representative
of their section. Any one of them would
be entirely acceptable to the Western
man. Daniel of Virginia is one of these.
He is a typical Southern man. He has
always stood for silver He was in the
company of those who resisted with all
their might the repeal of the purchasing
clause Of the Sherman act Being
speaker of high repute, he is put forward
in the debates, and tackles the biggest of
the goldbugs
Captain Evan Howell of the Atlanta
Constitution is mentioned. Captain Howell
has never held office, but with his pen has
done great deal for silver. Georgia's po-
citiop in, Tho c;Iyar limo iS arcradifad