New-York tribune., 1896-12-31
SILVER MEN VISIT M'KINLEY
THEIR APPROVAL GIVEN TO THE
MONETARY CONFERENCE BILL.

MONETARY CONFERENCE BILL.
ALLISON WOULD SUIT THEM FOR SECRETARY OF
THE TREAsURY-MAJoR MKINLEY GOING TO
CLEVELAND TO STAY SEVERAL. DAYS
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBuNEl
Canton. Ohio. Dec. Ex-senator Clarence D.
Clark and Representative Frank w. MondelI. Of
Wyoming. talked FOR an hour or more to-day
with the President-elect about the political situa-
tion In the Mountain States and the present con-
dition Of silver sentiment in the West Senator
Clark and Representative Mondel are called
silver men, but they supported Major Mckinley
and Will act with the caucuses OF the Republi-
In Congress Mr.. Mondell told Major Nc
Kinley that he was bimetallist. and then
there was animated discussion Of the bill
which Senator Wolcott and his colleagues have
drafted providing for the appointment of dele
gates to international monetary conference
Both OF the Wyoming callers expressed en-
phatic approval of this measure. Said Senator
Clark:
1T Is OF the highest Importance that an ear
nest. honest. intelligent effort be made to carry
out the promises Of the st. Louis platform in
respect to the freer use Of silver by means of an
international agreement The people of the
M1dule ana western states DeneNe the fcpuDli-
can party stands for bimetaism. and II 1t does
not make good its promises they Will express
their dsapproval at the polls"
rs the free-sver sentiment declining since
the electon?" was asked.
by no means" answered Senator Clark. "On
the other hand. think It Is increasing some
what. This is accounted for in part by the hard
times. the continued depression and the recent
fol in al oil A
pie become possessed of the unreasonable idea
that immediate and abundant prosperity would
follow the election No one had right to ex
pect immediate results. Recovery Is sure to be
slow. II we have good times within the next
two years the Republican party may hope to
win back the ground It has lost In the West. but
If times are not good deal better. If prosperity
does not return in due time. think there is no
doubt about the triumph Of the silver people in
the next National election.
I'VE may as well look the truth In the face.
The free-silvcr idea Is not dead. It's advocates
not stunned. They have accepted defeat in
good part, but 1t seems to be regarded by many
of them temporary reverse. This is fact
and a condition that must be considered II
the Republicans convince the people that inter
national bimetallism may be achieved within the
next four or five years. If II IL apparent that an
party will retain its hold upon those Of It's ad-
herents who believe in the use Of both metals.
But If the bill authorizing the participation OF
the United States in an international monetary
conference should be defeated and times should
not notably improve. then the Republican party
could not be saved from disaster"
What would be the effect upon the bimetal-
list and silver Republicans Of the West II the
appointment OF John Sherman Secretary of
the Treasury should be made?'
Nothing could be more unfortunate In its
political results" was the answer. "Mr. Sher
man is regarded as gold monometallist. His
appointment would drive the bimetallists In
large numbers from the party-at least. 1t would
have that tendency. though II season of gen
eral prosperity follows the passage Of
revenue law II may be the money question will
lose some of its present commanding interest
and importance. ! expect ~ support the Tariff
by the party. but | want tn make II plain that
there is n condition in the Middle and Western
States tina: cannot be ignored and cannot be
met in a light contemptuous manner"
When Senator Wolcott, Of Colorado. visited
the President-elect early in the week he talked
a good deal in the line pursued by Senator Clark
to-day. and his diagnosis of the situation and
sentiment in the West In respect TO silver and
bmetallsm coinCided with that made by Sena-
tor Clark and Representative MOndell. The
same views have been expressed by "A score OF
apparently we-informed men from the West.
Callers on the President-eect from the states
in which the silver sentiment is strong unite in
the opinion that Senator Allison would be an
acceptable Secretary of the Treasury. They
think the senior Senator from Iowa. while he is
In perfect accord with the principles OF his
party. would be disposed to deal in as fair
manner with silver as he consistently could.
Major Mckinley will probably go to Cleveland
the latter part of this week or the first Of next
to make a visit lasting four or five days
Major and Mrs Mckinley entertained about
eighty Of their friends tonight.