The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-06-19
TELLER FOR
PRESIDENT.
His Chances Considered By Con-
gresham Hartman
Believes He Could Carry the
Southern States
WHICH ARE FRIENDLY
Because of TeIIer's Fight
Against the Force Bill
While He Could Capture the
Entire Western Vote.
Democratic Nominee Couldn't
Get Certain Northwest States.

St. Louis, June 9.-Representative
Charles S. Hartman. of Montana, was
asked by a reporter what effect he
thought the action Of the bimetallist
delegations in repudiating the gold
gold standard plank Of the Republican
platform would have upon the coming
campaign.
He replied as follows;
IF all the bimetallist forces Of the
country can be centered upon one can
didate there VIII be no difficulty in my
judgment in having a bimetalHst presl-
dent and a bimeta1list congress elected
this fail. The end and aim of all the
supporters of bimetallism should be to
promote the nomination Of the strong
est candidate that can be obtained. 1t
should not be a question simply of in
dividual preference of any citizen But
the prominent question which every BIZ
metallist in all parts and in all sec
tions ought to ask himself is.
What viii bring TO that ticket the
greatest number OF electoral votes2
las the result of a very careful and
extensive examination of the ques-
tiOn through personal interviews and
CORES spondenee. L am convinced that
Mr.. Teller above all others is infinite
ly the strongest man we can nominate.
The action of the retiring delegates
from the Republican convention was
the proper course to pursue, and should
he be made the standard bearer of the
bimetallist forces. his election would
follow by an overwhelming majority
Ut has been conceded by q large num-
Der of Democratic bimetallists, both
in and out Of congress. With whom I
have conversed. that Mr.. Teller by rea-
son of his bold, courageous Ond pa
tient stand against the force bin,
would carry every southern state with
the exception Of Maryland and West
Virginia, and with that concession I
am content
The people of the south have not for
gotten the ringing sentences to which
Senator Teller gave utterances when
the force bill was pending in the SEN
ate when he denounced it as the most
infamous measure that had ever cross
ed the threshold of the senate"
ANY one of the many prominent and
distinguished Democrats mentioned in
the press to head the ticket could also
carry these same states.
therefore, thus far their strength is
equal Now take the states lying west
of the Missouri river. Any one of the
Democratic bimetaIlists on bimetallic
platform could carry five of the inter
mountain states, possessing l6 electoral
votes. but he would lose eight of these
Mr.. Teller could carry all of the states
west of the Missouri river and would
therefore have 45 more electoral votes
at this stage Of the analysis than
Democrat could possibly hope to have.
Now let US take the belt of states ly
ing between the Missouri river and the
AIleghenv mountains A Democratic
binetalust with all the forces -centered /
upon him would certainly carry Mis-
souri, would carry Indiana, would
stand q fair show of carrying Illinois,
would stand no show of carrying Min
nesOta. and but little show of carrying
Michigan Mr. Teller, on the contrary,
would carry Michigan. Indiana. Illi- !
nois, Missouri and would stand more
than an equal show for carrying Min
nesOta, so that figuring on what IS only
certain, SO far as anything in politics
can be certain Mr.. Teller would have
ia electoral votes from Michigan, I
which the Democratic nominee would
not get and which added to the AS sur
plus of the states west of the Missouri
river. would give him certain clear
advantage OF 39 electoral votes over I
any Democratic bimetallist that could
be named on the ticket
with Minnesota Mr.. Teller would
have IS electoral votes more than the
Democratic bimetallist could hope to
receive. or any aggregate vote for Mr.
Teller of 265 as against 1877 the very
most a Democrat could hope for. There
fore the question which presents itself
to Democratic bimetalIists if my analy-
sis is correct, is will they exchange
what is practically a certainty of sue
cess for what. to say the best of it, is
a strong posi- biity of defeat2'
IF the Democracy at Chicago de- |
sires to make a success of bimetallism
a certainty. actuated as I believe they !
are with a sincere desire to achieve |
such success they VIII not hesitate to
take the step which VIII practically
render certain the reputation OF the
gold standard and the remonetization
of silver by naming II. NJ Teller for
president and some equally splendid
patriot of their party for vice president. /
If this is done and the bimetallist for
ces of the party which viii assemble in /
St Louis July % VIII ratify that nomi-
nation. the cause of bimetalIism viii
win against the combined gold forces /
of Cleveland, Sherman and the bond
syndicate