San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-06-07
BAD PREDICAMENT.
SEVERAL QUERIES SUBMITTED BY
THE NEW YORK TIMES.
National Convention Will Not Straddle-
The Money Issue-No Consider
able Bolt Expected.

It's CoireepoHuentS Unrougn0ut the
Union to the following set of ques-
tions:
"Are the democrats of your state
in favor OF gold standard or free
coinage OF silver and gold at the
ratio of Is to -"
"What action will they take
through their delegation in the
National Conventlon?n
evil the populists OF your state
fuse with the democrats on a free
silver presidential candidate?"
"Would this combination carry
your state?"
"Do the gold democrats OF your
state favor a separate gold candi-
date If the Chicago convention de-
clares for free silver?"
In summing up the situation
the Times says:
The replies show that the results
of the contests that are now as
sured will determine the COM
plexion Of the Chicago convention.
The gold men will contest "a sill
yer seats in Nebraska, Illinois,
and Texas, while the silver men
will contest the eight seats in
South Dakota. In these contests
will be found the balance of pow
er. Neither the gold nor the silver
men can secure two-thirds of the
delegates. A majority of 200 will
be the limit.
1t may be safely predicted that
the democratic convention will
not straddle the financial issue.
Everything indicates that it will
declare unmistakably for either
gold or silver. In almost every
state the issue has been made be-
tween the silver men and the gold
men. Moreover the democrats
Will recognize the financial issue
as paramount in the coming cam
paign. With them the tariff has
become Of secondary importance.
1t is doubtful II there will be a
bolt of any considerable dimension
from the National Convention.
AS to the silver men they have an.
nounced their determination to
nominate an independent candi-
date if either party nominate a
gold man.
OF the eastern group of states,
the Times says:
"The replies indicate that there
is strong feeling among such
democratic leaders as are strong.
ly identified with the organization
against any independent gold
movement. Though they are fight
ing the silver craze, these lead ers
will support the nominee of the
Chicago convention and hold the
organization of the party, hoping
that the lapse of a few years will
bring the party back to sound
principles"
OF the middle group Of states it
says:
"The contest for supremacy in the
Democratic National convention
has really been fought in the mid
die ststes-in the Mississippi val
ley and lake region. The results
have been disappointing. While
Michigan, Minnesota, and Wiscon-
sin have undoubtedly been saved
for sound money, Iowa and Mis-
souri, have elected silver delega-
tions. Nebraska, Illinois, and
South Dakota will be contested
and Ohio, Indiana, Kansas indi-
cate determination to give at
<'1east majority for silver. The
sentiment in favor Of q separate
gold candidate in case the Chic ago
convention declares for free sill
yer and dominates a presidential
candidate in sympathy with that
declaration is very strong in some
OF the states, Minnesots, North
Dakota, Illinois and Nebraska in
particular. In all these states
there is large element OF gold
standard democrats who will stay
away from the polls. rather thau
vote for a free silver candidate.
Fusion with the populists in the
event of the nomination OF a free
silver candidate appears probable
in all OF the middle states except
Missouri, where the silver demo-
Gratis suppose they have a strong
majority without aid from the
third party.
Since the Kentucky democrats
have Joined the silver movement
and have made certain a silver
delegation from that state to the
National democratic convention
there is little likelihood that a
good delegation will be sent from
any other southern states. APP
parently the only hope is to be
found in Texas, in which the gold
democrats, resisting an attempt
to enforce a silver test at the
democratic primaries have signal
lied their intention to send
contesting sound money delega-
ton to Chicago. The only western
states that seem certain to give a
free silver majority are Colorado,
Utah, Idaho, Nevada and Mon
tana, with a combined electoral
vote Of Is. Oregon, Wyoming,