The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-06-21
The Secretary of the Navy Raj
lying the Gold Men.
UNDERTAKES a BIG JOB
To Turn a Free Silver Majority
Into a Gold Party.
summonlNo HIS LIEUTENANTs
He Has Established Headquarters in
New York and Will Have Thor
ough Organization Every
State in the Union

Except Mckinley, eN-Secretary OF
the Navy William c. Whitney was the
most talked of man yesterday by the
citizens of New York. Even those who
ought to know what is impossible inI
politics seem to believe that the eS~
Secretary can perform political mira
cles: that he Will give an example OF
his sI1ill in Chicago by turning free
silver majority of the convention into
a gold party, have himself nominated
for President, and defeat Mckinley for
election.
This was not only the talk among
the crowds gathered around the buL-I
letin boards, but it was heard in the
clubs and hotel corridors. Besides
this. the three great silver Democrats
who expect to dominate the Chicago
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Vest, of Mis-
souri. Harris. of Tennessee, and
Walthall of Mississippi-who are in
!the city. sounded Mr.. Whitney's praise
in a way that yerifies eN-Speaker
Crisps recent remark that the ex-Sec-
rotary us Blaine's successor as the
magnetic man of America.
OF course, these silver leaders SAID
that the convention would declare tor|
free coinage just the same as IT Mr..
Whitney had gone to Europe. Senator
Vest expressed the opinions Of himself
and colleagues when he said: Il am
sorry Whitney is going to Chicago,
because a free coinage plank will be
adopted just so surely as the conyen-
ton assemblies. So far as Whitney isl
personally concerned he is prince. OF
good fellows"
The silver leaders claim that they
will have a two-thirds majority i'm the
convention.
GENERAL IN COMMAND.
As for Mr.. Whitney himself he began
active work yesterday morning as the
general in command of the sound
money forces. From now on until he
leaves for Chicago his residence, aJI
Fifty-seventh street and Fifth avenue,
will be the scene of great political ac-
tiyity, just as it was Immediately pre-
vious to the Democratic National con-
yenti0n of four years ago. Mr. Whit
ney said yesterday TO all his newspaper
callers that il might as well be their
last visit to him, for until he arrives in
Chicago, he viii not say word for
publications This was my rule four
years ago. and | found it a good one,
he added.
SIR. Whitney's first work was to
summon his Ieutenauts who served
him so faithfully at the last Chicago
convention. when he forced the nomi-
nation Of President Cleveland. Some
of them were not near enough to reach
him yesterday, and those he commu
nicated with by telegraph or long
distance telephone. The first to ar
rive was Secretary of War Lamont, who
remained with Mr.. Whbtney for some
time Colonel Lamont brought mes
sage from President Cleveland. The
Administration will recognize Mr..
Whitney as 1.-THE leader of the sound
money campaign, and VIII use it's i'm
fiuence as he directs. But politicians
know that Mr.. Whitney in this fight
viii not be under Administration in
fiuence. The Administration will be
under him.
Another old lieutenant who called
was Carlos French, the Democratic
leader of Connecticut, who gave assur- !
ances that his State delegation would
obey Mr.. Whimey's orders just as
faithfully as they did four years ago.
The far West was represented in the
conference 10y Hugh c. Wallace, of the
State of Washington. Mr.. Wallace
brought discouraging reports. He
said that only three of the eight mem
bers of his delegation were for gold.
In the evening Senator James
Smith, the leader of the New Jersey
Democracy, and Senator German, OF
Maryland, called. Bradley b. Smalley,
of Vermont, and other New England
Democratic leaders are expected to
report to-day at Whitney's headpuar-
ters for active duty Chairman Har-
rity will probably be here by Saturday
GOLD FIRST, THEN.
When Mr.. Whitney takes up his work
on Monday he will have a thorough
organization, extending to every State
in the Union, and each man, down to
the privates, viii have duty assigned
to him. The first sldirmish OF the
Whitney army will be for the gold
standard.-New York Journal