Evening star., 1896-06-25
SILVER LEADERS
Bland Indorsed by Texas When
Boies Had Been Pushed.
His BOOM NOW LOCKS FORMIDABLE
Warner May Be Put Forward as a
Candidate by Ohio.
POPULISTS FOR TELLER

That this Is an off year for the political
leaders was forcibly illustrated in some of
the state conventions held yesterday, as it
has been throughout the year in both par
ties. The Endorsement by the Texas con-
vcntion Of Bland is one of the surprises,
and shows that the people are in the saddle,
and that the most trusted leaders get run
over If they are in the way Of the crowd.
Less than a month ago there was an in
formal conference here Of the Texas repre-
sentatives in Congress, at which it was
agreed that these leaders of the silver
democracy in Texas would do all in their
power to push the boom for Boies. Three
or four of the members were interviewed
at the time and pronounced themselves
heartily for Boies. There seemed to be no
doubt that they knew what they were do
ing. Despite the opposition of Ex-Governor
Hogg, John H. Reagan and many others
Bland was almost unanimously Endorsed.
Representative Bailey, who spoke in the
interest OF the resolutions for Bland, was
thought to have been one of the Texas men
who. few weeks ago, agreed that Boies
should be the choice of Texas.
This action of Texas gives the Bland
boom new impetus. and makes it begin to
look mighty formidable. Missouri, Arkan-
saS and Texas and two or three territories
have indorsed the Missourian Arkansas
was another state where the leaders got in
the way OF the will of the people. and were
walked over. Senator Jones, for instance
was known to be strongly opposed to Bland
He was for Teller or Boies He and Sena-
tor Berry fought the resolutions for Bland
IN the Arkansas convention. but they were
outVoted, and Silver Dick instructed for
Gov. Campbell Turned Down,
In the Ohio convention the former idol of
the party, Governor Campbell, was virtual
ly ignored. and a new set of men brought
to the front.
l.. f. Holden one of the delerates-at-
large from Ohio. is the editor of the plain
Dealer, which has been preaching silver
Tor years Mr.. Holden attended the silver
conference here in January last, and made
a speech. He refused at that time to dAsert
the democratic party until It was fonnd
,hat IL opposed silver. In the event Of that
ne pledged himself to go with the new sill
Yer party.
zen. Warmers Prominence.
Gen. A j. Warmers participate in the
Chic democratic convention as permanent
presiding officer has excited considerable
comment here. Gen. Warner has been a
democrat for years, but he openly and fear
lessly left the PARTY here last January
when he presided over the silver confer.
ehce which launched the American silver
organization Although it was supposed
al that time that he had merely severed
his connection with the party Temporarily
or to await the action of the convention st
Chlcago, what he said and did were con-
sidered ample proofs that he had left the
party. He went even further than Senator
Tillman, who asserted that he would holt
the convention at Chicago If it declared for
gold. Gen. Warner bolted in advance and
indirectly said that he would go back to
the party if 1t declared for silver. Gen.
Warner was the leading spirit in the or
1rty IYo to,
day the chairman Of the finance committee
of the party. and has long been looked
upon as the prime mover In all that is
done, although DIR. Mott is the chairman Of
was launched Gen. Warner has frequently
been to Washington to attend meetings of
committees and conferences of the silver
men of Independent persuasion. He went
through the west and raised money with
which to carry on the headquarters here
In every way he has been regarded as the
leader of the new party.
The POpulist Vote.
When here attending the January con-
ference, Gen. Warner declared to a Star
reporter that the flight would be won'
should the silver men control at Chicago.
During the last few months he has stated,
In interviews, that the nomination Of a sill
yer man at Chicago would draw to the sup
port of the party the silver party and pop
ulist vote. His latest position makes it al
most certain that he will use his influence
to have the silver party strength thrown to
the democratic nominee. Right here how
ever. arises the interesting question, can
he do it? The men whom he put in charge
Of the silver headquarters here and who
are directing the movement in every state
are not p.edg ng their loyalty to whatever
silver man is nominated at Chicago They
are insisting on the democrats nominating
the man they pick out. DR.. Mott, for in
stance. recently issued an address, declar-
ing that the party would have to be well
pleased with the nominees before 1t would
sanction the nomination. DR.. Motifs ut
terances, however, were not construed by
politicians just as they read. They were
construed as a kind of bluff" and were so
sized up by the silver democrats. DIR. Mott
and the other officials Of the party here
want to force the nomination of Teller,
and threaten to become obstreperous If this
is not done. The popuiists and silver re-
publicans are playing the same game.
Gen. Warmers influence.
Having identified himself with the various
silver elements six months ago, General
Warner will exert a strong influence at Chi
cago in the welding together of the silver
forces. AS democrat who had the courage
to leave his party for the sake of silver,
his opinion will be highly respected by the
contending silver men at Chicago General
Warner has been quoted as in favor Of
Teller, and 1t would not be surprising to
see him exert himself In that direction
Failing in that, it is said that his next
choice would probably be Bland. At the
same time. with multiplicity Of compli-
cations. it is not impossible that General
Warner may be turned to as the man the
convention wants, and 1t is limited that the
prominence given him by the Ohio demo-
Gratis was not without motive of this kind
in view. General Warner and John r. Nc
Lean have worked tremendously together.
and what more natural than that Mr.. Nc
Lean should lead the Ohio men in dash for
the nomination of General Warner? 1t
might be repetition, it Is said, of the Car
field nomination. Such a project has be-
fore been intimated here, and the name of
General Warner was connected with it, He
Is. 1t Is urged. extreme enough to suit the
extremists of every party. He is almost
idoliZed in the west, where he has been
working for years in the cause of the white
metal. He was, and is, president of the
American Bimetallic League, and has nu-
merous mementos of the affection felt for
him by western silver republicans
All these things are coming to the minds
of silver men today, since the convention of
yesterday, when Gen. Warmers speech was
loudly applauded at quick intervals. Many
things are being said about the rugged old
Ohioan. and in the present condition of af-
fairs nobody knows what will be done at
Chicago, except as to platform.
The Indiana Convention.
The election of G. v. Menzies as a dele
L. fv.N~S I,~zlf