Evening star., 1896-06-22

| (G6HE@ C~
strength. is not looked upon as likely to
| have d united delegation. either for ex-Cov.
Campbell or for some one outside the state.
| This leaves Illinois holding the vantage Of
the position.
With such available material as Vice
President Stevenson and Col w. X. Nor
rlSon, 1t may seem strange that the vote of
the Illinois delegation is likely to go to
some one else. A number of county con-
ren;ions, while declaring for free silver at
~ to i, haze at the same time indorsed
Morrison for President. Secretary Nelson
of the state central committee. who has
been active in the silver movement, is also
advocating Morrison. Mr.. Nelson insists
that the interstate commerce commission
ers views are elastic enough to suit the
masses of the party. Against this talk is
put the declaration of cx-Congressman Ben
Cable. that Morrison is the logical candi-
date OF the conservative democrats who
are trying TO keep the party frcm gong
wild on silver.
The exact truth about the situation is
that. in spite of Gov. Altgeld's influence,
Morrison will have enough friends i'm the
state convention to interfere with any plan
for indorsing the candidate of another
state. II such action is proposed. They
Will likewise be strong enough to prevent
an Endorsement OF Vice President Steven
sen. Like their leader, they always fight,
and being in minority does not lessen
their combativeness. 1t is not the program,
clare preference for presidential candi-
date. This would weaken its position when
the national convention meets. Gov. Alt
geld intends to have it instructed for free
silver and to observe the unit rule in all
matters. and will stop there. after making
sure that he has safe majority of the del
egateS.
In Altgeld's opinion neither has claim
on thu support of the silver democrats in
Illinois. The test was put to them both last
October, when the struggle was made to
elect eX-CongreSsman Lane in the eight
eenth district on a free silver platform.
Morrison was more pronounced than Gen.
Stevenson in refusing to be drawn into an
Endorsement of free silver. but the Vice
President eluded all efforts to secure a
declaration from him. If he had taken a
square stand since the present agitation be-
gan, the silver leaders would probably have
forgiven his previous silence. But the talk
heard from the men who echo Gov. .Altgeld's
views is that they are still in the dark con-
corning Gen. Stevanson's convictions. They
are not satisfied with the personal as
surances of democratic Senators in Wash
ington that he is all right on the burning
question of the day.
The silver campaign in the west has been
too robust and aggressive for its cham
pcns to be pleased with a candidate whose
position has been negative one. They all
say pleasant things of The Vice Presidents
amiable personality and of his sound de-
mocracy, but they are not thinking of him
as the candidate to lead an awakening
| host Should a number of the southern
states unite on Gen. Stevenson the most
| satisfactory candidate. it is not likely that
| Illinois would be ungracious enough to
fuse him her support but it is only under
such circumstances that he can count on
getting it. The silver leaders seem to think
that the southern states will not be guided
| in this matter by their representatives in
| the Senate.
The signs are unmstakable in Illinois
that Ex-Governor Boies of Iowa is the
| favorite of the men who are most influen-
oil ftIn, aft t1,ae
while he Is well thought of by the rank and
file. A few counties have passed resolu-
| tons in favor of Mr.. Bland. but these are
not taken very seriously.
Boies fills the measure of what is wanted
better than any one else. When the In
diana supporters of Governor Matthews
found there was nothing to do except to
| float with the silver tide, they made inqui-
ries whether Illinois was already tied up to
a favorite son of its own or to Boies in such
way as to shut Matthews out from the
| prospect of support. They were assured
that no understanding had been reached
with Boies. and no deal made This was
true enough. for the silver leaders We're
content to drift.
Iowa ex-governor that unless there is an
unlocked for change the Illinois delegation
| bids fair to drift right alongside the Boies
craft. A southern man for Vice President
| is in everybodyS mind.
Having gotten control of everything in
F! sight Governor Altgeld and his lieutenants
are showing so much conservatism that
some of the radical silver men are protest.
| ing. The governor adheres to the plan of
not insisting on the ratio of 16 to l. Free
coinage of gold and silver is the way he
and his supporters put it. Since the cleo
| tion in Oregon the populists are beginning
| to talk of not fusing with the free silver
| democrats on any proposition. Governor
Altgeld. however, does not let the fears of
| the radical silver men worry him.
There is method in his conservatism He
| is skillfully undermining the bolt of the
| sound money democrats These are still
uTbending in their purpose. They will have
tfeir own convention and send contes,ing
delegation to the national convention. The
primaries for this purpose are already
| called. The question is what will happen
i after their delegates are thrown out
Franklin MacNeagh and others are Yet
| sanguine that sound money democrats will
| have county, state and national ticket
| of their own. Ex-Mayor Hopkins and
o:fers OF practical experience in politics
are not quite so sure about it.
The present tendency among the sound
| money democrats is to support the repub-
| lican ticket. They are encouraged in this
| attitude by John r. Tanner, the republican
candidate for governor Mr.. Tanner is an
! out-and-our gold standard man. He be-
| lieves that he can beat Governor Altgeld
running on a free silver platform by 10000
| majority. Other republicans do not agree
with him as to the size of the ma jority but
they are quite willing to Join the support of
| gold standard democrats by making the
| issue as sharp possible.
The predominant sentiment among the
Illinois republicans is so overwhelming for
the restoration of the Mckinley tariff that
they are quite willing to accept an extreme
geld standard platform, provided only that
the tariff is kept i'm the foreground. With
this feeling SO strong the sound money
democrats will be encouraged to support
the republican ticket rather than TO put vi,
| candidates OF their own. 1t will surprise
| no one if Franklin MacVeagh and his as
sociates at some stage of the campaign re-
consider their purpose of naming a sound
money ticket and simply advise gold demo-
Gratis to vote for the republican ticket
Montana Democrats.
The Montana democratic state conven-
ton met at Butte Saturday. NJ. H.
Parker Of Jefferson county was chosen