San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-07-09
TELLER'S CONSPIRACY.
A SENATORIAL ARRANGEMENT
o., THAT FAILED.
The Silver Senators at Washington Were to
Stand By Him, in His Walk Out,
But They Flunked,

tional conspiracy was form
ed in Washington last February. 1t
accomplished part of its purpose in
the bolt of Senator Teller and his as
sOciates from the st. Louis cOnven-
ton. Now it has collapsed and Tel
Ter and his followers have been bun
coed The senatorial support prom
ised for this convention has with
stood the pressure of disappearing
constituents as long as possible, and
has at last yielded. Mr.. Teller will
not be nominated at Chicago. The
greatest intrigue ever concOcted in
American politics, a plan which con-
templated the wrecking of the two
great political parties, has failed.
1t was scheme which had its De-
ginning at the opening of congress,
and had been in process of careful
formation ever since. When it be-
came evident that the Republican
party would stand for the mainten-
ance of the gold standard against the
free coinage of silver, the mountain
states men saw the certain waning of
their stars if they chung to party
lines. They cast about for a means
of salvation, for q party with which
to cast their lots. They knew that
without national party they would
be like ships without sails, they
would be political waits, haYinS no
dwelling place. In this. condition
they We're ready TO grasp at any
straw.
a"|e the Southern senators appear
II no tn
that the Eastern states would desert
their party if a silver platform was
adopted in the national convention,
and in any case the West would be
practically apart from the Eastern
wing Then the gigantic plan APP
peared-the uniting of the minoritieS
to make a president and absolutely
make a platform. That was before
the relative strength in the two par
ties was known, but it was clear that
the West and South We're for silver.
1t was decided to combine the South
and West in a nondescript party and
coin a president and all his appurten-
ances out of the Western and South
ern wrecks of the%old parties. The
man selected for this honor was
Henry NJ. Teller, with the appurten-
ance of the Office in the way of pat
ronage TO go to the conspiratOrs, the
Southern and Western senators who
concOcted the plan. The first formal
organization was made at q meeting
in Washington in February, when it
was decided that the silver element
of the two parties should either win
or bolt. The subversion of the party
to the cause of free silver was deter
mined in either case, even if it meant
the wrecking of the party's organiza-
ton. The Populists were called into
the plan under the impression that
they were to be the greatest benefc-
iaries.
As state elections were held it was
seen that the Republican convention
would declare for gold and the Dem
Ocratic convention for silver. Then
the details of the plot were entered
upon. Over fifty secret meetings
were held in Washington between
February l and June l. With the ut
most care the situation was canvass
ed.
Teller was selected as the prize
martyr, because it was believed he
could carry the West and the South.
1t was decided that he should make
a dramatic exit from the st. Louis
convention, followed by unsuspectng
victims. 1t was promised on the
part of Southern Democratic senators
that they would secure his nomina-
ton and the POpulist senators and the
national committeeman who were in
the plot pledged the nomination of
Teller by the POpulist convention.
During the last few days before the
st. Louis convention frequent meet
ings were held in Chicago, at which
these arrangements were sOlemnly
ratified. The Republicans promised
to bolt; the Democratic senators pro-
missed to go into the Democratic con-
vention and fight for Teller, and the
Populists promised to nominate him
at st. Louis in their convention.
These pledges were solemnly reiter-
ated and affirmed by all parties con-
cerned.
Then Teller went to st. Louis. pre-
pared TO be a martyr and secure a
stock of sympathy necessary for the
success of the enterprise.
An address was carefully prepared
with a special view to touching
phrases about party loyalty and 1.-The
parting of the ways" The program
of the bolt, even to the route from the
convention hall, was agreed upon. A
few minutes before the session of the
convention at which the bolt occur
red final conference was held
among representatives Of the senators
of the three parties, and again the
pledges were solemnly ratified and
affirmed. The company of conspira.
tors and victims shook hands and
went to the convention auditorium.
The bolt came according to pro-
gram. 1t was dramatic, but was short
in effect. When it was over the ex,
pected sympathetic feeling was not