New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-19
rprE SILVER DEMOCRACY.
NoNEY LEADERS ACTIVE IN THE
o" WEST AND THE SOUTH.

-, DEMONSTRATION MAN WHO THINKS THE
.onxp- MONEY ELEMENT WILL BE ROUTED
At csIcAGo-MKINLEY's STRENGTH.
f,v TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
,,.,+on Nav 1S.-The fight for the con-
"as .ha democratic National Convention now
Ho' between the free-sver coinage and
"s"e u,orev wings Of the party seems to politi-
s.". .,,ers 70 be an extremely even and doubt
ca The capture by the Administration
!" 0 o,s of the Michigan Convention, which
ns"a Generally conceded to the free coinage
hau as so surprising that for fortnight the
me"' .,,.oa leaders lost confidence, and the
NV Tho under the stimulus and support Of the
Nv, ,",n,stration. are working for sound money
Au Ut, at Chicago became correspondnsly
eee ~',,,e Of success In fact for ten days or
MANY predictions were heard that the
w. result showed the turning Of the tide
s,c,,cally assured the outcome at Chicago.
CO. has been, however, reaction within
~, few days. based on advices from Iowa.
~, Indiana and Kentucky. The surprising
Mn" IN Michigan has spurred on the free
ue leaders in other States where conven-
a'"s have not been held. and reports are COM
wv ,.re that the outlook is very favorable for
y" -. aebased currency. The States above named
hsinr flooded with speakers, and public sem
aS..,t Is being strongly aroused, especially in
y. farming regions. by lecturers paid by the
a..,sluc League to address crossroads audi
-, IN the hamlets and towns Of the rural
e.so,s where the daily papers do not circulate
excessively
be- trim nCh ho
~, in the interest of sound money expresses
~. on,p,on that the demand among Western
r..,ocrats for free coinage is so strong that 1t
80, he overcome. I'm Iowa" said this official,
..s. home Of Governor Boies. believe the State
Convention will be al least two to one for free
s.,,s,s In spite Of the splendid fight which the
demonstration Democrats are making in ILL.,
~o,. the prospects are very largely that that
,o,vsntion will be controlled by Governor Alt
..,s and that a resolution declaring for free sill
var At a ratio Of 16 TO ] will be adopted. The
,o,.s OF our people in Illinois are based upon
uankns. who has been very successful in DEM
cratic politics in Illinois 1t seems, however. to
~ overlooked that Hopkinss success has been
.Ir.ys linked heretofore with the cooperation
SAtgeld In the present struggle for the con-
rol Of the Illinois Convention, Altgeld Is lead
INK the opposition. and, in my judgment, will win
by round majority
my Investigations in Ohio. Indiana and Ken
lucky lead me to believe that the free-coinage
men will control In all. In each Of these States,
however there is likely TO be divided delega-
ton Throughout the entire South free-coinage
sentiment Is in a majority, and delegates from
most Of the Southern States will be strong
supporters Of fres-coinage plank at Chicago
and the nomination Of a free-coinage candidate
! am unable as the result of my trip to ex-
press even a hope for the control OF the chicago
Convention by the sound-money men. II Is sur
p1sirg TO man of ordinary commercial train
ing 10 listen 10 the arguments which are prov
Ing effective with the farmers OF the west ana
South. large proportion Of them are for free
coinage because they believe that II VIII enaDIe
them through an inflated currency. to lift their
mortgages and obligations at the expense OF
their creditors. The action OF the Senate OF the
United States during the last session has also
worked TO the advantage Of the free-coinage
man To arguments in favor OF honest money
lie reply is made In the West that the greatest
!, Of our legislative bodies. presumed to be com
posed of honest men and statesmen. mas ma
ority Of thirteen in favor Of debased cur
rency. and that the great proportion OF tne
silver Senators belong to the Democratic party.
80 far as candidates at Chicago are con-
cerned," continued the speaker. indications
point to the nomination Of Governor Boies, OF
Iowa. The talk of the selection Of either Sena-
tors Teller or Cameron by Democratic con-
vention is absurd. There is as little likelihood
Of the choice Of Southern free-coinage man,
because of the feeling that 1t would antagonize
the old soldier vote of the West. Governor
Boiee will probably head the Iowa delegation
to Chicago. He is magnetic man and makes
an excellent impression. He is likely to gain
votes by his presence at Chicago ! look for
the adoption of a free-conage platform at the
ratio of Is to ] by the Democratic National
Convention. and the nomination Of Boes as Its
candidate
las far as Republican sentiment is concerned,
one hears talk of nothing but Mckinley. Out
side Of the mining States there is a general
consent that a straightout. hard-money plank
IS to be adopted at St. Louis. In the prairie
States Of the West, where free-coinage views
have been heretofore more or less prevalent
among Republicans, IL is surprising TO note the
great change of sentiment in favor OF an out
and-out declaration. for the single standard.
No one there doubts that the Ohio man will be
nominated a platform definitely pronouncing
against free coinage. 1t looks very much TO me
as II the issue will be Joined between the two
parties on the financial question. There is talk
TO the effect that should this be the case the
Popullsts and the men who now forming
the new silver party. irrespective OF politics,
will unite In indorsng the Democratic free
coinage nominee. In this case there will be
pretty fight"