Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1896-04-17

The Political Situation In Colorado
and Something About the
MineA.


Wv" -
10 The Editor of The Optic.
CoropAxI, Colo, April l4th. 1896 -
Politics are beginning to interest the
average voter OF this state. From
present appearances, the political
cauldron will contain as pretty o
DEVILS tooth, as one could wish for.
We are at sea, just now, and no
amount OF study seems to help us sight
a safe harbor, in which to cast our
vote, when the ides Of November come
around.
We became a convert to republican
principles when Lincoln ran for the
presidency II 1860, and We have never,
In all these years, voted for anyone not
a republican. This year, however, we
are in a quandary. The republican
party seems hopelessly split ON the sill.
yer question, the eastern wing being
"gold bugs" while tive uns" Of the
wild and woolly west have a firm con-
viction that silver, and lots Of it, IS
what we want, in addition to the yell
lew metal, and the greenbacks.
Now, it seems to us, that the repub-
lican party cannot successfully strad-
die the gold and silver question; any
more than it could consistently advo-
cate protection and free trade in the
same breath, yet that is about what the
party evidently expects | . DO, by its
advocacy of the gold standard in the
eastern states, and declaring for free
silver, west and south.
Ordinarily, the republican party
would win this fall, not only In the
national contest, but also in the state
elections, but divided against itself on
the money question, there is a reason
able doubt Of republican success, II the
democrats and populists fuse, as there
seems a strong probability that they
will.
In this state, there is a likelihood of
a fusion between populists and demo-
orats. There are also large numbers
of republicans who do not favor the
free coinage Of silver, and hence they
would hardly care to vote for a free
silver candidate; while, on the other
hand, the free coinage wing would
certainly not vote for the sgold bug"
nominee. To add fuel to the flame, it is
said to be an open secret that the free
coinage issue is not popular with the
rank and file composing the different
parties in this state, but that only the
political bosses and party leaders really
favor it, and solely for selfish ends,
and that when election day comes
round the chooses" will be given a
black-eye at the ballot box. So here
we are virtually singing:
"How happy could we be with either,
II tother dear charmer were gone"
The democrats are in the same fix,
and the belief seems to be growing
that this difference on the money ques-
ton in both the great parties will lead
to the formation of q new party in this
state, that will be for free silver, and
which will not only carry the state
ticket, but will also defeat the national
republican ticket in this state.
Now, this being the case, and other
western states being similarly situated,
would follow Colorado's example by
forming a third, or free silver party,
the success OF the republican party, on
national issues, would be rather prob
lematical, to say the least. Whether
oil can be poured upon the troubled
waters, and harmony restored, is a
question that cannot now be settled by
argument, but time will tell.
Her. doos n " offar 80 GO mn MIR g.
a Cripple Greek mine strike youP That
is a sum which fairly takes ones breath
away, yet it is the amount Mr.. Stratton
was offered for his famous mine. He
promptly declined the offer, because
he now has about 50, 900, 900 worth of
ore in sight, and can therefore feel as
independent as the traditional hog on
ice.
Stratton, who, until recently, fol-
lowed the business of carpentering,
now bids fair TO make John w. Mack
avs wonderful record for lnck seems
insignificant. With his 80, 000, 900
mine, and numerous other valuable
claims that he owns, he will soon be
the richest man in the mining world. |
He eau now sit down to his breakfast
and order two extra eggs on the side, |
without a fear that such unheard of ex-
travagance will leave him a ..busted
STATIONS phenomenal luck is, Of
course, the one case in ten thousand.
Rich as Cripple Creek is in gold, one
can find many prospectors there, to-
day, who find it uphill work to raise a
ssgrub-stake." What am
anomaly. In the midst Of populous
wealth,wan and misery hold high car
nival.
We have just been thinking what a
pity it is that ex-governor and
blood the bride. bit Waite, has
.ransplanted himself to the more
,cngenial soil of Illinois. What fun
The old warrior loses in not being in
Colorado during a convention time
md what a hornets nest he could stir
up if he would only be there to take
part IN the august deliberations.
Waite is a first class crank and a pro-
,ounced demagogue. Yet strange to
'ay, l have found in my nosing around
news and information, that Waite
8 a prime favorite with the average
wage Garner. The miners, whose
'ause the governor espoused during
he riots, are for him to a man, because
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