The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-04-01
CAN DEMOCRATS WIN?
A Southern Senator Thinks
They May.
BUT THEY MUST FAVOR SILVER.
A Member OF the Cabinet Says There Must
he a Candidate and Platform sstisfHc-
tory TO the State Of New York-rwo OPP
posing Views


he a Candidate aud Platform satisfSc
tory TO the State of New York-rwo 0p
posing Views.
WASHINGTON. March 81. - Especial. i
Two radically distinct and opposite views
are taken hero of tho outlook for the Dem
ocratic party. President Cleveland, as the
leader OF the administration. Is thoroughly
convinced tho party will have chance %
win the coming elections II it declares
against free silver and makes Its fight on
that line. A majority Of the Democrats
In tho senate and house believe on the
other hand, that the only possibility of
Democratic success this year Is found In
the adoption Of an out and out free silver
plank by tho Chicago convention and the
nomination OF candidate to match. In
speaking of this matter southern senator
told mo that, In his opinion, half the
Democrats of his part Of the country would
leave the party II 1t declared for a gold
standard, or even II 1t declared against the
free and unlimited coinage of silver.
People who live in the north have no con-
cepton of the power of that silver idea
among our people" said this senator. 81
tell you II is so deep and strong In the
hearts of our people that there is no use of
trying to get IL out by argument. 1t has
become settled conviction, and there IL
will remain until legislative experiment
or something else takes 1t away.
The Free Silver View.
If the national party declares against
silver, thousands upon thousands OF the
Democrats of my state will leave their
party and go to the Populists. No; they
will not go TO the Republicans. They do
not have to do that. Even II the Repub-
licans were for free silver 1t would be al.
most impossible for southern Democrats
TO go TO them. All their lives they have
been fighting the Republican party. OPP
position To that party has become part Of
them. But they find II very easy matter
TO become Populists. Against that party
they have no traditional prejudice or bit
terness. Besides leading members Of the
Populist party say: oh, we are Democrats
still, just as we always were. We have
become Populists for the simple purpose
Of advocating free silver, which we can do
better In this party than in our own.
When We have achieved that, we shall be
Democrats again. Free silver Is the most
important thing now to us, SO why
we be Populists long enough to
'ote for that and, IL possible, bring It |
,bout?'
This Is the argument that Is taking |
thousands of Democrats into the new party. |
{ is so in my state; 1t is so In all the states |
4 the south. II President Cleveland has |
lis way about is and adopts gold stand |
I'D platform ut Chicago, the party In the |
outb will go TO pieces. The Republicans |
will not carry anything, in my Judgment.
ut the Populists will sweep everything. |
hey will have greater number OF men, /
ors in the next house than tho Democrats.
hey will have more electoral votes than
bio Democrats too. All ask is that north
I'm Democrats stop and think what we
ave 10 contend against in the south, and
len ask themselves IL they think it right
, cram gold platform down our threats
Chicago"
A Way to Win.
This senator evidently knows the peopls
his part of the country, and, being a
'asonable man, asked him II there was
ny plan by which the Democratic party
)uld carry the country this year. ''There
|, no replied. Notwithstanding the Re-
ubllcans think they have things all their
'vn way, we can beat them yet. And this
the way to do IL. Throw New York.
ew Jersey and the east to the dogs. Come
it for the free coinage of silver at 10 to 1
Y this country alone without waiting for
10 action of any other nation. Nominate
II president man who has been identl-
ed with the silver cause and who is adj
ired ana respected by all the people.
hen what happens? Why, the Populist
srty meets IN national convention and in
'rses our ticket The free silver Repub-
cans of tho western states join our ranks
r the sake of silver All the elements In
70 country opposed to the gold standard
come part Of our movement. Practi-
lily everything in the country west OF the
ississippi and south Of the Ohio will be
FRIED for silver In addition we shall
I've good chance for Indiana and Michi.
n. That is the way, in my opinion, In
hich the Democratic party can win this
ar, and the only way"
Another View.
Tho substance Of this interview I r.
ated to member Of the cabinet. ct
ssibly true, as your senatorial friend
rs, That by going after free silver the
rty might attain success" said he. "but
does not look probable. am not will.
3 To believe that Iowa and Minnesota
q Nebraska and the Dakotas can be car
ID for silver. But even II we could
'eep the country in that way the presi.
ut and his friends would still be unwili.
, to try 1t. The end would not iustifv
means. Our plan Is this: We believe
onDgt nf ha I.
rh mas given us chance to carry that
10 next iall We believe everything
'uld he built on New York as n basis.
We can carry New York, we may carry
country ana we certainly cannot carry
country without IL. Therefore we
Ist nave a candidate and n platform sat-
ictOry 10 New York. This means no
. silver. On the contrary, It means a
MARATHON against free coinage by this
htry alone. The Republicans will
Dably straddle on the currency ques-
D, and that will be our opportunity.
democratic party can come forward as
only real, sincere sound money party
The country"
But what II you lose southern states
20 you are trying TO carry New York
b gold standardy'
That is all nonsense. We have heard
talk before. The south is Democratic,
democratic it will remain. The pres
ltial battle will be fought in New York,
lhecticut, New Jersey and Indiana, az
'ro There We must win or not ut all,
IN order 60 have chance we must T.
pit sound money platform and nomi-
n sound money ticket"
nus we have two radically different
$ OF Democratic policy. This ID tho IL
stion thai Ia to DO fought out In the
'ago convention.
WALTER WELLMAN. IN
ri'k CUP Of warm milk, bouillon or
ia hofr A. lx~S