Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-08
TlLLMAN A CANDIDATE
He Expects tho Nomination at Chicago if
Free Silver Controls
Where He Expects to Get the Votes
Tint WIZ Elect Him-win
Make Another Speech.

Carolina will blossom as full-blown pres
idential candidate during the next two
weeks.
On Thursday, Senator Tillman will leave
Washington to deliver speeches in Louis
Vile, KY. st. Louis. Mo-. and Denver, Col.
and while making these several appear
ances before the public he will perform a
no less important part of his mission by
having numerous conferences with prom
inent western free silver democrats, looking
to securing control by the free silver men
of the Chicago convention. Mr.. Humans
utterances while on his western tour may
be watched with great interest, as they will
probably outline the manner of campaign
he proposes to follow.
Where He Expects Votes.
It is learned from what appears to be
NEST reliable sources of information that
Mr.. Tillman entertains very sanguine hopes
that the free silver men may capture the,
democratic convention. His tour through
the west is for the purpose Of strengthen
ing the belief of free silver men in this
opinion and to rally them in enthusiastic
support of Benjamin Ryan Tillman as a
candidate for the presidency. Mr.. humans
greatest card to be played FOR this support
is the belief of many that should he be
able to carry the convention he would prob
ably be supported by the 100000 popuiist
votes OF the country, as 1t Is thought there
would be no Independent ticket II the pop
ulists were able to vote for Mr.. Tillman,
who is generally regarded as first-class
populist except in name. MIR. Tillman also
counts on receiving 100000 votes from free
silver republicans, and this support, he be-
lieves, would overcome the detection or
sound money men from the democratic
party. Mr.. Tillrnan wants the democratic
nomination and he will make the greatest
effort of his life in endeavoring to get 1t.
SCr.fh o1i,,o tow y1 n n
eLC n to Rave an alternative If he should
be turned down by the democratic coEven-
ton. which will probably be the case. If the
free silver men cannot control the conven-
ton considerable number of extremists
who follow Mr.. Tillman will be ready to bolt
the convention and to give their support to
the nominee of the free silver and poDulst
convention, and Mr.. Tillman will again
loom up as the leader in this convention.
But the South Carolina Senator is far from
having the undivided support Of the free
silver democrats. Many believe that if they
get control OF the democratic convention
ex-governor Bo!es of Iowa Will be nomi-
mated. and not Tiliman, though the friends
of the latter do not concede this.
Contemplntes Another Speech.
After this western tour is over Mr.. Till
man will return to Washington. and again
shock senatorial dignity, and 1t is under
stood that he expects to make a more pro-
nounced sensation than that created by
his speech in the Senate two months ago.
Mr.. Tillman has given a great deal of
thought to the subject of the Pacific rail-
roads, and the speech he proposes making
Will nave these roads and legislation af-
fectinS them as a.ekeynote. Some extreme
things VIII be said, or the floor Of the SEN
ate, and Mr. Till1nans friends think this
speech Will not o.ily add to the national
reputation of their favorite, but will Sc
cure for him a very important support On
the Pacific coast
There are many phases of the coming
campaign of Mr. Tillman which he believes
Will be effective in rallying a strong sup
tort to him. Even in staid old New Eng
land ne expacts to get following. He is
rot abashed by the strength of the sound
money sentiment .in that section of the
country, but proposes to give portion of
the people there something that will rally
them to mis- support or at least minimize
their opposition. What he proposes to give
them is his record in South Carolina on the
subject OF the dispensary law, and he be-
ieVes that {. large portion OF those who
have been identified with the prohibitionlst
movement Will become friendly to him. He
will say some things about a control Of the
liquor traffic at the proper time, and he
thinks, these utterances will make many
friends for him. There is now movement
IN Rhode Island looking toward an adoption
OF Senator Tillman's dspensary scheme in
that state. and it would not be surprising IL
this movement should extend to other New
England states.
Time for Surprises.
Senator Tillnian is strongly of the op:n-
| ion that the present is a time for political
| surprises. and his friends think he has the
necessary tact as manager and the re-
! quired magnetism to rally about him great
bodies of people who think that the pres
| ent order of things should be changed.
| Above all, Senator Tillman is watching the
! country and working His friends think he
| Will De able to spring a decided surprise on
the country during the next few months.