The San Francisco call., 1896-05-05
Senator Perkins Says 1t Is a
Golden Chance for the
States Recognition.
TACTICS OF THE M'KINLEY MEN
They Circulate Report That Quay
Has Withdrawn Prom the
Candidacy.


was a rumor put forth tonight to the
effect that Senator Quay had withdrawn
from his Presidential candidacy. 1t was
surmised by some shrewd politi clans that
this report might have been circulated in
order to influence the California kepubli-
can Convention, which meets at Sacra-
mento tomorrow. General ]. s. Clarkson
said to a CALL correspondent tonight:
Senator Quay has not withdrawn and
has no intention of doing so. The object
of putting out such report is obvious to
all. The Mckinley managers are making
great effort to have it appear that Nc
Kiniey has 'cinch' on the nomination,
and that other candidates will Withdraw
so that States yet to select delegates may
be influenced to instruct for Mckinley.
Mr.. Mckinley not only has not enough
votes to nominate him, but if he should
secure every one OF the 132 delegates yet to
be selected he could not win on the first
ballot, and unless he can win on the first
his strength will go to pieces. Mckinley
will not be nominated, you may depend
upon it.
1.-THE California and Pacific Coast people
never had better opportunity to make
themsel felt in the National Conven-
ton than they have now by sending un-
pledged delegates. If they do this they
will certainly hold the balance OF power
in the convention.
at is significant fact that the Demo-
cratic press is almost unanimous for Nc
Kinley's nominatian. They realize that
his nomination is their only salvation"
The combination" formed against Nc
Kinley is the talk of Washington to-day.
No one doubts that such a combination
has been formed. The conference between
Clarkson, Fessenden, Quay and Allison
yesterday and the statement given out by
Mr.. Platt in New York leave no doubt
but that the friends of all the other candi-
dates have combined against the Ohio
man. 1t will be repetition of the famous
convention when Grant came so near be-
ing nominated, but lacked few votes.
The opponents of Mckinley declare posi-
lively that he cannot be nominated on the
first ballot, and that his following will
desert him after the first vote.
A prominent Republican United States
Senator said to THE CALL correspondent
to-day: "Maior McKinley's weak point
lies in the fact that he has no apparent
convictions on the currency question. He
cannot be brought down to concrete ap-
plication OF his faith. His views on the
question are apparently embodied in the
last statement he made in the House when
the Sherman silver bullion bill was under
discussion, when he said that whatever
money we have must be based on both
gold and silver and must represent the
best money In the world.
'He is apparently an opponent of both
the free coinage proposition and the gold
standard proposition, In fact, I do not
believe he knows himself exactly where
he stands on the currency question. The
tariff is his hobby and he can see nothing
but that around the whole political hori-
son. If he is suddenly called upon at the
convention this summer to tell lust where
he stands as regards money some interest
ing developments may follow that will
change the whole aspect of the political
situation"
General Clarkson declared to THE CALL
correspondent tonight that eighteen OF
twenty of the Ohio delegates would desert
Mckinley at the first opportunity.
Senator Perkins said 10 THE CALL CORE
spondent tonight: "McKinley's chances
have been in the ascendant of late, but I
think it would be great mistake for ou1
convention to instruct the California dele
gates. 1t is true that am friendly to Mr.
Allison's candidacy. but aside from this ]
believe that now is our golden oppor-
tunity to secure recognition for California
by sending uninstructsd delegates"