Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-08
They May ALI Eventually Vote for
MIR. Mckinley.
LEADERS RESOLVED TO DEFEAT BRYAN
Watson's Aggressiveness Causinga a
Good Deal Of Uneasiness.
STEMMING THE SILVER TIDE

The democrats who were figuring on the
Palnler-Buckner ticket drawing gold DEM
oCratic votes which would have been cast
for Mckinley If no new ticket had been
Eemed are likely to find that they are
mistaken in their calculations. The gold
democratic party intend to make vigorous
campaign for Palmer and Buckner right
up to election time. Their course when 1t
comes to voting will De determined by cir
cumstances, but the present expectation of
the most far-sighted leaders Is that as far
as possible the foIces assembled under the
Palmer -Buclkner banner will be thrown
over to Mckinley at the last minute. Their
anticipation is that during the course of
the campaign the antagonism CT the
Palmer-Buckner democrats toward the
Bryan ticket will become so great as to
preclude the possibility of any considera-
support Mckinley directly if the leaders
determine that to be the only safe course
ID secure the defeat of Bryan
The original plan of the promoters of the
geld democratic movement before 1t had
taken the shape of a national convention
was 10 organize themselves into a party
AID to take the stump against Bryan with
out presenting candidates Of their own. 1t
IS known that Mr.. Palmer was in sympa-
thy with TINS idea in the first instance, and
that the Illinois gold democratic organiza-
ing purposes. THIS being true. it is not
doubted that if before the campaign IS
over il is found that the gold democratic
vote can be thrown TO Mckinley direct MIR.
Palmer will very readily assent to that
Beng done 1t Is said that ii the circum-
stances warrant it, the gold democratic
national committee may, just prior to the
election. withdraw the Palmer Buckner
ticket. or, if they do not do TINS, they in
some formal manner VIII recommend their
followers TO vote the Mckinley ticket.
"atson's Assre.siveness.
The sggressiveness of Candidate Watson
in his demands that Sewall shall withdraw
from the democratic ticket ard in predict
ing the defeat of Bryan If this is not done
is causing a great deal of irritation among
the democrats and the Bryan and Sewall
popuiists. 1t gives color to an impression
which has been growing that many, if
SeWaii Is rot WltnQraWn, II not most OF the
middle-Cf-the-road populists in the south
Will cast their votes fer Mckinley. 1t is
very strongly intin.ated that in some parts
of the south the midde-ofthe-road popu-
lists will, with the approval of Watson,
make either an open or secret fusion
with the republicans. by which their vote
will be thrown almost SOliGly for Mckinley
and Watson.
Government Clerks Keeping Quiet.
The disfavor with which the administra-
tion looks upon any assistance being given
the government Is having an effect. The
man who is engaged in sending off a great
quantity OF documents for the Bryan cam
paign said today that large number of
government c:erkS who had volun teered to
give assistance in addressing envelopes,
etc, have notified him in the last few days
that they will not be able to render the
service volunteered, for the reason that 1t
will give serious offense to their superiors
ard probably cause dismissals. They rep
resent that such a display of partisanship
on the part of clerks under the civil ser
vice classifiC alton will be regarded as a
particularly grave offense, and that they
Will be more liable to punishment for 1t
than are those government employees who
owe their positions entirely to political in
fluence.
TIE minor government officials who are
actively participating in the Bryan cam
paign say that they have had no intima-
tion that their course endaneers the loss of
their positions. They are prepared, how
ever, to believe that that may be true, and
those who are thus displaying their parti-
sanship appear to be ready to play the role
of martyr. The authority for the state
Inent that Mr.. Cleveland will not tolerate
the active support of Bryan by his officials
is such to preclude the idea that what
has been said on the subject is merely idle
gossip.
stemming the Silver Tide.
Private informatio from various sections
of the country gives indca ton that the i'm
mense work that Is being done by the re-
publican national committee is having q de-
cided effect in stemming the silver tide
where it was supposed to be strongest
The abundant supply Of literature which
they have been able to distribute and
which they have distributed with much
sagacity, has educated in many commu-
mites class of men to the point where
they are able to get the best of an argu-
ment against silver agitators Of local repu-
tation, who have heretofore been the cock
OF the walk In the community. In q great
many communities there have, during the
past few years. sprung up silver agitators
VINO are not very well informed but who
knowing more on the question than most of
those to whom they talk, have been able
10 beat down antagonists in argument and
nave thus held the crowd with them The
liberal distribution by the republicans Of
campaign literature has furnished the gold
men with Information and arguments
which tnAr haye been able to use with
great effect. while tne local silver agitators
have not been as we'll supFaIad, and have
not been able to keep up with the ehi.sshteD-
ing progress of the discussion. In every
case where silver agitator whom nobody
mas dared to dispute with In a small COM
munity has been worsted by his new an
tagonists 1t has had a marked effect upon
tnose who heretofore had been accepting
MS word as law on all financial questions.