Evening star., 1896-06-24
EXPECTED WAR
What the Anti-Administration Dem
oerats Anticipate.
THE PRESIDENTS ALLEGED PLAN
Effort to Influence the Chicago
Convention Will Fail.
THE POSS SIBLE BOLT

The anti-administration democrats OBJ
serve with some apprehension the revival of
the Venezuelan and Cuban agitation. They
have believed for some time that Mr.. Cleve-
land intended to get up a scare on this
subject about the time of the meeting of
the Chicago convention. Nor has this be-
lief been confined to democrats. Just be-
fore Congress adjourned some of the repub-
lican members of the foreign affairs COM
mittee expressed the opinion that such was
Mr. Cleveland's plan, and said that they
had reason TO believe that General Lees
Instructions contemplated his report on the
Cuban situation being submitted in time to
admit of action by the President by the
1th of July. The opinion expressed then
passed for a mere theory. Today some
democrats here declare it to he fact that
such is Mr. CIeveland's plan.
Anticipate n War Scene.
The men here. whose business it is to
keep in touch with the administration and
With Wall street for speculative purposes,
anticipate a war scare and heavy decline
In the markets during the next two weeks.
They predicted this several days before the
disturbing reports had come from Cuba and
Venezuela. and in advance of any material
decline in the markets. The present signs
of disturbance are pointed to by them
Indicating the accuracy of their informa-
.iOn- 1t is very doubtful whether anything
that Mr.. Cleveland may do or any state of
affairs that may arise. materially
change the course of the Chicago conven-
ton If silver men have control of a large
majority of the delegates. as they seem to
have, they are for free silver or bust. and
are too fixed in this purpose. to be diverted
by anything that can now be conceived.
foreign relations has been anticipated and
discounted
4 Program in Advance
The silver men propose to anticipate the
action of the convention itself by fixing up
hard and fast program in advance, If
they have the power to do So Considerable
public Importance is attached to the meet
ing to be held in advance of the conven-
tion at Chicago. but it Is doubtful whether
the full extent and Importance of this meet
ing IS appreciated by those not informed as
who will participate The silver men them
selves are not talking about the matter,
and their purpose will be to attract as lit
Tie attention as possible to it, The OppoSs-
ton, however, are alive to the situation,
and most of the leading administration
gold men will be In Chicago early as
any one
Rather a curious situation is promised by
the presence of all the managers of both
sides in Chicago more than a week in ad-
vance of the convention, each with the pur-
kOSS
the delegates.
The Cleveland letter. followed by that of
Mr. Whitney, has intensified the feeling
ana there is d prospect of much bitterness
In the convention. The extremists are open
In the declaration that Mr.. Whitney intends
to try to influence the action of the con-
vention by the skillful of large cam
pafgn fun. and threats of drastic measures
to prevent this made. Allowance must
De made for certain amount of buster
Ind insincerity in this sort of talk but it
!eems to show something Of the state of
feeling.
Failure to Instruct Sisniheant.
The failure Of Illinois and Ohio to In
Btruct for any presidential candidate has
! particular Significance. 1t means that
those who are not only silver men, but
VINO are silver men to the utter disregard
of all personal considerations, are in con-
troll, end that they intend to settle among
themselves on a candidate after they ali
Yet .ogetEer 1t Is suspected that the ad-
: Jministration people, after doing all they
tan to modify the platform or to nomina te
q man who will repuda.s free silver in
spite of the platform. will, if they fail In
that, throw their Influence to the nomina-
ton of the weakest silver man they can
find Whether this theory is correct or
hot. 1t Ia extensively held by silver men,
and II ey want to come to an understanding
among themselves which will make such a
plan impossible of execution.
Feasibility of n BoI..
Whether there is to be bolt in the con-
vention Is still unsettled problem, but
the prospects very strongly favor a bolt. 1t
is possible for Il situa ton to develop dur
Ing the week preceding the convention
which will lead some strong gold men not
to enter the convention at all.
1t Is thought trat in the matter of tenn
porary organization the present national
committee will be largely influenced in its
action by the Obvious sentiment of the
convention developed during the few
days prior to the time of their meeting.