Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-19
SOME SILVER LEADERS
Their Attitude Causing the Campaign Man.
ayers No Little Uneasiness.
Two Virginia Senators, John II. Nc
Leaa and Mitchell of Wisconsin
Apparently Lukewarm.

The attitude of certain silver leaders for
some weeks past has given the managers of
the silver campaign no little uneasiness.
There has been haunting fear of luke
warmness on their part. Their devotion to
the silver issue has not been doubted, but
1t has seemed strange that they should not
enter with more zeal into the fight.
The Virginia Senator's.
The names of the two Virginia Senators
are on this list. Senator Martin, it is true
Is rev convert to silver. He went over to
that side only last spring. A good deal
has been expected of him in this campaign
but, SO far, he has cut no figure in 1t at ALL
His name has scarcely appeared in print
since the holding Of the Chicago conven-
ton.
Senator Daniel. who pI esided at Chicago
sailed soon afterward fer Europe. But he
returned home in september. He has just
been heard from on the stump, with only
two weeks Of the campaign remaining. He
comes out now against that feature of the
party platform upon which Gov. Altgeld
and his friends In Illinois are relying for
so much help. He tustifies the action of
Mr., Cleveland in dealing with the Debs
strike. The fear is therefore that so far as
the middle states are concerned the break
Ing OF his silence by MIR. Daniel may do
more harm than good.
Mr.. John II. Mclean.
The claims of democratic strength in Ohio
have not seemed to consist with the failure
OF John r. Mclean to appear on the scene
and take charge Of the campaign in person
Mr.. Mclean is the most potent man among
the silver buckeyes. He has wealth, DO
itical experience and he controls the party
machinery in the state, The silver Mef,
have been waiting for his coming, but he
has not come as yet" He has Kept up a
steady fire through his Cincinnati newspa-
per, but his personal presence, it Is con-
sidered would have been far more valuable
to the cause. They have not entirely aban-
doned hope of seeing Mr.. Mclean in Ohio
before the fight is over, but November is
so close at hand q visit at this late esalay
could lot effect much.
Senator Mitchell of Wisconsin, like Sem
ator Martin Of Virginia is a recent convert
to silver. But he has not gone beyond de-
ciarinG his purpose to vote for the Chicago
ticket. He has had no part or lot in ali
OF the hot campaigning in the northwest.
His colleague. Mr.. Villas, who repudiated
the Chicago ticket, has, on the other hand
taken a very prominent part in the fight
and it Is largely through his influence and
activity hat the cause Of sound money is
now SO strong in Wisconsin,.
Some Explanations.
There has been some speculation as to
what the explanation is in cases like these.
The best opinion expressed is that the
broader lines upon which the democratic
campaign has been conducted have not
been altogether acceptable. Men who be-
lieve In silver, or who are willing for the
party's sake to accept silver, are not in
sympathy with the attacks on established
institutions which have characterized so
many campaign utterances. Senator Mar
tin is lawyer prominently identified with
the business progress of Virginia He ia
leading counsel for several railroad COM
panies and it is not thought possible that
he can approve of the war that agitat0rs
like Mr.. Debs are making on railroads in
the name of democracy. Senator Daniel
Is a lawyer of prominence, and man Of
wide reading, and of much dignity, and 1t
is not thought probable that he sympa-
thizes with the attacks on the Supreme
Court in which many obscure. men n the
name Of democracy are indulging.
Men of. Property.
Mr.. Mclean and Senator Mitchell are
both men Of property and influential busi-
ness connection 1t has been strange
enough to many to observe them In the
Bryan camp. 1t Is seriously doubted II
they indorse all that is being done by the
coalition formed to put Mr.. Bryan in the
White House. They have a great deal at
stake, and it does not seem reasonable that,
however they may have felt when the cam
paign first began, they can now lend ap-
proval to such extreme appeals as are being
made to class prejudices. ana to such de-
nunciation Of property rights as are being
delivered in the middle states and through
ont the northwest.
Pertinent Question.
And the question comes up: If this sort of
feeling explains the apparent lack Of push
and fight in these men, all of whom are
good democrats, how much further does it
extend in the party? How many men are
to be found throughout the country who
wish silver well, and who may give their
own votes to the coalition ticket, but who
are making no strenuous efforts to get the
ticket elected?