The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-06-25
COL. BLAKE.
He Grew Very Candid on the Situation
Yesterday.

Hon. J. Walter Blake of MeXia, chair
man of the state free silver executive
committee, national banker ard candi.
date for delegate at large, was not in the
best of humor yesterday. He had heard
that CulbersOn and the balance of the
state house ring had determined to
crush his ambition, and instead of send
ing him TO the national convention,
soothing his wounded feelings by elect
ing him either temporary or permanent
| chairman of the convention. Blake did
not like this plan little bit. He has got
his heart set on going to Chicago as one
of the delegates at large and he is going
or know the reason why.
Blake really believes that he is enti-
tied to an election as delegate at large.
This morning he said:
when lots of these fellows who are
now bowling for free silver were in the
brush and it required the services of Il
high-priced detective to discover what
their convictions were | was organizing
silver clubs i'll every section of the state.
When | took the craftsmanship of the
state bimetallic executive committee lots
of my friends told me | was takingmy po-
litical fortunes in my hands Now that the
fight has been made and won | find thou
sands of great original silverites that
never heard of before. There seems to
be a general disposition to get on the
band wagon. but that vehicle is full to
overlooking just now. There is no room
for straddlers or trimmers. They must
stay on the outside"
Blake cannot be sidetracked. He is a
candidate, and nobody can get him to
withdraw.
Il am going to Chicago he said"
whether there are four or eight delegates
at large, or if there is only one delegate
at large. The delegates to this cOnven-
ton know who has made the fight and
sthey are going to retire the genuine lead
ers of the silver cause at the dictation of
the Office holders who have profted in
purse and reputation by the popularity
of the movement"
All day long Chairman Blake had more
business than a fire company. He was
not only at work himself, but he had
lien tenants in every hotel and on every
street corner. Chairman Blake has been
a candidate before, and he knows what
it is. He is not overlooking any bets.
He is putting up Il straight, square fight
against the capitol slate makers, and he
is not asking for mercy. He knows who
he is fighting against, and he accurately
measured the field before he became
candidate. Having entered the race he
says nothing on earth can pull him out
of it, except special providential inter-
ference. The slate makers would not
under existing circumstances. They
think he is getting too big for his
think he is getting too big for his
breeches and ought to be rebuked. They
say that the only trouble with Blake is
that while he is a prince of good fellows
personally, he has never been an especial
friend of the people like the young Chris
tan governor, or the portly Col. Hogg,
or Jack Duncan, or any one of dozen
more. They say that Blake has come to
the front on the popularity of the silver
movement, while these other friends of
the populace were struggling on the
stump. Every effort has been made to
choke Blake off, without avail. He has
had too much experience to place very
much confidence in the smooth phrases
of the patronage brokers. He is making
this fight on his own hook and not ask
ing any of them any odds.