Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-22
\ LIVELY FIGHT
Struggle Between Gold and Silver
Democrats in Ohio.
THE LEADERS ON BOTH SIDES
Office Holders Are Timid and Are
Holding Back.
E A IT H I N B RIG Z

A lively fight is reported to be on be-
tween the gold men and the silver men in
Ohio. The advantage SO far is slightly
with the silver men, but it is recalled that
at the start the silver men had the best of
1t last year. and yet at the state convention
the gold democrats won out. Mr.. Brice
came with a rush at the close, and wrote
the platform and named the ticket. He is
very busy man again this year, and he
may repeat that success.
Leaders on Both Sides.
The gold men are we'll led. Mr.. Brice is,
Of course. in command. He is both an
amiable and a capable man, and he works
without furry or friction. Those who
stand with him are ex-Congressman Tom
Johnson, ex-Congressman Cultivate, Vir-
gil P. Kline. NJ. Z. Ingalls, and Lawrence
T. Neil. The combination is regarded as
very strong one. The silver leaders are
John r. Mclean, working through the
leading newspaper of the statei Allen W.
Thurman, John w. Bookwalter and ex-
Gov. Campbell. They are men of expert
ence and influence, and are eXerting them
selves in silvers behalf. The convention
Is full month Off, but no grass will be
permitted to grow under the feet Of either
side.
Third Term Agitation.
1t is said that the agitation of the third
term question is proving troublesome to
the cause Of sound money. The buckeye
democrats do not take kindly to the sug-
gestion. The gold men in the interior of
the state are finding it difficult to combat
the assertion of the silver men that the
whole sound money movement In the party
has for its object the denomination of Mr..
Cleveland. The effect of this is said to be
10 chill into Indifference many men who
otherwise might become active against the
free coinage proposition.
OfhcehOidcrs Timid.
1t is asserted. too, that the Office holders
in the state are showing some timidity this
year. Last year the silver men complained
of their activity-charged, indeed that the
state convention was run by them. A list
of those in attendance was prepared and
published, and a copy sent to the White
House. No notice, however, was ever
taken Of it. But, for some reason, the
office holders now holding back. II
may be because of the Stir raised over the
result in Michigan, which their brethren in
that state were charged with having bossed
and executed. AT any rate, they have not
as yet been in evidence and ii makes a diff
ference. Some Of the most capable of the
Ohio democrats are IN federal Office, and
when they fail to interest themselves in
local contests the effect is noticeable.
Waiting for the Attorney General
1t is suggested that these men may lie
awaiting the initiative Of Attorney General
Harmon. Mr.. Smith throws himself into
the Georgia campaign for sound money
delegates to Chicago, and Mr.. Carlisle, by
letters, into the Kentucky campaign. May
not Mr.. Harmon, with equal propriety, start
tine ball rolling in Ohio? If ne decides to
do go, the fight it is promised. will become
very much more interesting. Mr.. Harmon
lives at Cincinnati, and that is where the
Mclean influence is strong. Can the At
.orney General carry his own town On the
administrations issue? Some OF the gold
men would be very glad 10 have him try.
Another Disadvantage.
Still another disadvantage under which
the gold men in Ohio are laboring is that
before their convention is held the demo-
Gratis of the neighboring states of Illinois,
Indiana and Kentucky will have acted. The
present prospect is that potn Illinois and
Indiana will declare for free silver, and
that Kentucky may do likewise. This is
having a depressing effect in Ohio, and if
the actual performance is according to
promise the difficulties of the gold men
will be increased.
Faith In Mr.. Brfce.
But the fight is on, the gold men are in
earnest, and the faith in Mr.. Brice's leader
ship is high among his followers. He won
against heavy odds last year Does his
right hand still possess its cunning?