The Press., 1896-07-30
Washington Letter.
Washington, July 27, 189'


 what object is behind that action. Was it, as many pOpulists say, merely done to keep up the populist party organization, or does it indicate 8 desire to capture the populists combined have g. majority of the electoral college? Some guess that the electors will be divided with the democrats in the states which the popu- lists have no chance of carrying unaided but that in the five or six states which they believe they can carry by themselves, all the electors will be pOpulists, and that should they carry enough of those states to give the democrats combined @ major ity of the electoral college, the populist electors will demand that the democrats shall vote for Watson for vice president, and, unless the demand is acceded to, they will refuse to vote for Bryan for president. Whether this guess or any of the others which are being made is right only time can tell, unless some of the pOpulists leaders do. There is no deny ing that the populists do not like Sewall even little bit, and that is why so many people are inclined to believe that they will put Tom Watson in if there is any way to do 1t; yet, there is danger in the attempt, as the constituents of the demo- cratic electors might make 8 big row should they vote for Watson instead of Sewall. Taken altogether, the populist convention did not clear the political at mOsphere to any marked extent.
 Col. JeIe Baxter, of Nashville, Tenn, Is one of the democrats who doesn't ex- actly know "where he is at." He said, after mentioning his doubt about his po- litical standing at present "It must take man with an elastic conscience and 8 powerful constitution to remain in the democratic party, and I confess that the frequent switching is very trying to the nerves. But I am free to maintain, also, that Tennessee is rampantly inclined to silver, and that there is no question of Bryan's popularity down there. It is a cinch that he will carry the state by a rousing majority"
 Republicans are inclined to regard the suggestion of the gold democrats that the tariff be side-tracked so that all the gold men, free traders and prOtectionists alike can work together, as nothing more nor less than bluff, made to open the way for the nomination of a gold democratic ticket. Whatever 1t was intended for, the men who made 1t must have known that no attention would be paid to 1t. The republican party Is nothing if not 8 protective tariff organization. It's leaders would as soon recommend that it's name be dropped, as that the party should quit, even for one campaign, advocating @ pro- tective tariff. That circumstances should have made finance take the lead of the tariff as an issue this year does not count It was not the wish of the republicans that those circumstances should arise :; on the contrary, 1t was in spite of their efforts to keep the tariff there that silver has come to the front as the leading issue. If 1t had been possible, and the gold dem- ocrats had been sincere, the republicans might have profited by the suggestion without delaying tariff legislation single day. It is a fact that no matter how much tariff may be talked in this cam paign that no tariff legislation will be possible until after March 4th, 1899, and very doubtful whether there will be any during the term of the president to be elected next November, no matter which party wins, unless 1t be accompanied by some sort of financial amendment which will be accepted by the silver senators who are bound to have a majority in the senate until March 4th, 1899.
 Three members of the administration only have declared their political posi- tions up to date, and it is said that Prrsi- dent Cleveland Is inclined to be offended with those three for having done so before he publicly stated his own position. Of these three, two-Secretarics Olnry and Herbert-will not support Bryan and Sewall, and one-Secretary Hoke Smith will support the ticket. Secretary Smith will not talk for publication, but the impressiOnis general, especially among his friends, that if President Cleveland comes out openly against the ticket, as he is expected to do, Secretary Smith will at once tender his resignation. Two Oth- or members of tho cabinet-Cnrlislo and WilsOn-are understood to have almost made up their minds to support Bryan, but 1t is not expected that either of them will say anything for publication until af- ter MT. Cleveland speaks. If the gold democrats put up ticket the position of these two officials will be in doubt, but if they have to choose between the r"publi- can, pOpulist and democratic tickets, they will probably be found voting for the lat ter.