New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-25
SILVER AN APPLE OF DISCORD.
THE TROUBLE 1T IS CAUSING IN THE
DEMOCRATIC RANKS.
SAID TO BB THE REAL CAUSE OF THE HALL
MONEY AFFRAY. AND MORE OUTBREAKS
fey TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. I

OF THE KIND EXPECTED.
tsY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIpuNE1
Washington. April A.-In conversation with
Tribune correspondent to-day Democratic Repre-
sentative said: II at all surprised yesterday
when heard OF the fracas In which Hall and Money
figured. so greatly to the disadvantage Of both OF
them The plain truth is that there is much bad
feeling among members on our side. and would
not be surprised to 1t eliminate In violent
form In the House itself before the end Of the
sion.'
What is the cause of the trouble?" asked the
correspondent
''Why. don't you know? It's the silver question. OF
The feeling is more bitter between the
sound-money men and the free-sver men on our
side than It ever was between the Randall Demo-
Gratis and the tariff reformers; yes. 1t is tenfold
more bitter, and has aroused personal antagonisms
to that degree that there is liable to be outbreak
at any time In Halls the trouble was as-
gravated by personal differences between him and
Money in regard to certain bills relating TO the
Navy, but that not the real seat OF the df-
fculty. Ever since Hall went over to the sound
money side he has suffered and personal re-
proaches and abuse from the free-s!lver men among
whom he formerly stood and now that his defeat
for denomination in his district is inevitable he feels
like a man driven into corner whose only choice
resent what he conceives to be insults and TO
fight. He Is personally popular In his district. a
large part Of which was formerly represented In
Congress by his father and he could be renominated
II ne would consent TO abide by instructions to act
for free silver. In fact. he was so advised by the
chairman OF the Democratic District Committee sew
eral days ago, and he replied In substance as fol-
lows: will not accept denomination with conditions
you name, and only on a sound-money PLATFORM.
Free silver is raising - In the Democratic party.
Now. Hall means everything ne says. and he
comes Of fighting stock. One OF his ancestors was
Commodore Preble. Of the Navy. and the family has
been represented for many years In that branch OF
tb> Opo ofh
weeks ago. was a surgeon in the Navy on the retired
list and OF his cousins is an officer OF tho nhe'
that he naturally takes an active interest IN
naval legislation. That. however. Is subordinate TO
the interest he feels in the money question: his
attitude in regard 10 which has made him so un-
nonular among his former freesiver associates You
NAV remember the bitter attack made upon him by
his colleague. De Almond. In speech IN inc iast
Congress and recall Halls reply. In the course OF
which he pointed out the fact that De Almonds
plurality Of 500 In 1892 had shrunk to 81 In 1884,
while his own plurality Of $500 in 1892 had shrunk to
q fraction less than 1900 IN 1894 Ever since that
attack the trouble has been growing more bitter
not only against Hail. but against other Democrats
who have taken the same course that he has. and
things have reached such pass that an ex-
plosion may In the House at any time
The correspondent said: 1T appears. then that
you and Mr.. Springer and Mr.. Bynum and other
Democratic members Of the House were all and
altogether mistaken two years ago
why you must remember how happy y you were
over the prospect which you regarded as certain
that the Democratic party would hnsh us gnt over
the silver question. and have that issue lad 10 rest
before the National Convention OF lsS whereas the
Republicans by postponing the issue would rnd
themselves engaged in the hercest and most bitter
kind Of a fight over the question IN Presidehuai
"Oh, yes, that a NATURALIZATION, i grant
Our troubles have continued to thicken ana the
prospect Of anything resembling harmony IN the
am ojmstar1ist as you know, although | DO not
believe that the United States alone 10 strong
enough to maintain a bmetalc standard. and
have earnestly hoped and indeed beneved tnat
extreme free-siver men, however. seem 10 be max
ing great Roadway, and are confident that their
views will control the National Convention II So
there will be ground OF compromise left. nave
and satisfactory solution Of our troubles VIII be
found when the parry assemblies I'm convention at
Chicago IN July. -. =, a..
will that solution In your opinion result In the
denomination of President Cleveland?'
IT dare not express an opinion on that supJect
and would not regard II as worth much IL should
do So i will say, however. that have not heard
any candidate suggested, barring Mr.. Cleveland
who II seems TO me, would have the ghost Of
chance Of election. I do not mean to say that ne
would, but / believe ne would obtain more votes
than any other man that could be named by the
Chicago Convention.
"What about the assertions that the wires are
being laid to compel Mr.. Cleveland's nomination.?
oh we'll you must answer that question your
self II Yet can DO You must know as well as
do that tn re Ia very strong sentiment In his
favor among the rank and file Of the Democratic
party and II might not be unsafe to conjecture
that the Administration would not do anything 10
undermine. weaken or repe that sentiment; nave
no doubt that Mr. Cleveland would willingly accept
denomination II he felt It TO be his duty TO do so
and should suppose that his friends would do what
they could TO bring II about