Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-18
Matters Causing Anxiety at Demo-
cratic Headquarters.
CONCERNED ABOUT TIE POPULISrS
Mr.. Cleveland Expected to Advise
Against a Third Ticket.
CONFERENCES HELD TODAY

This is an anxious and a busy day with
the democratic managers at Washington.
1t is Chairman Jones' last chance for con-
ferences before going to Chicago. and his
lieutcnants are assembled around him
This morning the call of the gold demo-
Gratis for an Independent convention in
Indianapolis was published throughout the
country. This afternoon Senator Buffers
populist executive committee meets and
the meeting may be loaded. All this
gives them much to think about The
grouping together of these things brings
out in bold relief the conditions of confu-
sion and doubt which surrounds the can
VaSS.
At the hour named for the popul:st exec
utive committee to meet there was not a
quorum Of that committee in town, but II
was expected to develop later. 1t is Wat
son committee and its presence in the city
is viewed with anxiety. Chairman Jones
had talk with Senator Butler this morning
which did not last long. Apparently IL did
not result in any clearing of the atmos-
pherc. There is 4 very strong SUSPICION
that, no matter how this meeting OF the
populist committee may go OFF, Mr. Butler
means mischief to the Bryan and SeWail
ticket. II is yet to develop whether the
popuiist executive committee will make any
Recommendation with relation to the popu-
list ticket. They are liable to do so, but
whether they do or not, 1t is quite certain
that the populist official organization in
tends to stand by Watson.
Delaying the Division.
1t is said TO be certain that the eXecu-
tive committee will not recommend to the
national committee that Watson be pulled
down in the interest of silver, and the most
the democratic managers can hope for Is
that this meeting will be silent on the sub
jcct Of the candidates. considering only
routine matters pertaining to the selection
of headquarters. This silence, If 1t could bc
secured, would delay the hour OF DIVISION
and give the democrats more time to make
local alliances before the formal announce
meEt of an independent ropui!st pres-den-
tial ticket. Senator Butler fully realizes
The importance OF North Carolina IN this
light, and ii looks If he might hold out
IN a way to very seriously injure MIR. Bry-
IN and the silver cause.
This gives the democratic managers
something to worry about.
Then the democrats have d conferenc ce
of their own, at which they nave d nurni er
of perplexing details to deal with Mr..
Jones Goes not expect TO announce the bal
ahce of bis campaign committee ard the
executive committee before he reaches Chi
cago, but it is desirable 20 have the Wash
ington branch fiXed Gp before his depart
ure, and there are lot of things 20 ne
decided on, while the confusion of the
situation renders dec sion diff cult.
\ Conference To-day.
There was a conference this afternoon
between Mr.. Jones. Mr.. Faulkner Mr.. Nc
Millin. Evan Howell, Johnson Of Kansas
Richardson OF Tennessee, Roach of North
Dakota and others. Mr.. Howell came from
Georgia to represent his son. Clark Howell
who Is expected to take charge Of the
newspaper bureau Of the headquarters
here. 1t is expected that Mr.. Mclean, Mr.
Howell and Mr.. Smalley VIII have charge
OF the Washington headquarters
Senator Mitchell cf Wisconsin. Who held
of for long time before announcing HIM
self in support of the Bryan ticket, made
good today the declaration published a
day or two ago, by paying visit to the
democratic headquarters AMI avowins his
interest In the campaign anil his wiling
ness to assist. Mr.. Wall. the national com
mitteeman from Wisconsin, is elso gcing
to support the ticket of his party.
The Gold Democrats.
The formal call for an independent gold
democratic convention is regarded as show
ing that Mr.. Bynum and his followers
mean business, but there is wide differ
enoe of opinion as to what the result of a
nomination by this convention will be- The
democrats would regard an independent
nominate as beneficial to their own tick
ct if they think the ticket named at Indian
apolis would be supported by the men who
Iut 1t in the field. They are sure that such
ticket seriously supported by the gold
democrats would simply operate to hold
from Mckinley democratic votes which he
would otherwise receive and that this
would more than Counteract the direct in
jury 1t would do Bryan. But, as anxious as
they are that, since they are to lose this
gold democratic vote, 1t should be thus kent
frtm Mckinley, they cannot bring them
selves to believe that the gold men are 60
ing TO be foolish enough to divide up in this
way.
An Expected Letter From Mr.. Cleve-
land.
1t is expected that very strong letter
from Mr.. Cleveland will be read at the In
dianapolis convention urging the impor-
tance of everything possible being done to
defeat the silver party, and while he may
not in so many words advise against the
nomination of an independent ticket, his
reasoning will point clearly to the support
of Mckinley directly. In some quarters ii
Is thought that MIR. Cleveland will make
his disapproval of an Independent nomina-
ton strong enough to influence the con-
vention, and that the urshot may be that
no ticket will be named. but that declara-
tion of principles will be adopted and
negative campaign be organized, not IN
support of any ticket directly, but to spread
the anti-silver doctrines and to fight Bryan
leaving a vote for Mckinley as the inev-
liable conclusion Of their teachings.