Evening star., 1896-08-06
THAT JONES INTERVIEW
His Explanations Intended More for Western
Than Southern Consumption.
How the Republicans Look at the
Matter Affecting the Votes
of the POpulfsts.

AS the republicans look at the matter
the efforts of Chairman Jones to set him.
self right with the populists is intended
mere for western than for southern con-
sumption. He fears a sympathetic
strike" The south is safe. The popu-
lists. nun erous as they may be. are power
less there. The elections machinery is all
in the hands of the democracy. Blu; In
the west the situation is very different.
If that section is to be carried for silver
it must be through a union Of populstic
and democratic votes. and every vote will
be necessary. Hence the desire of Mr..
Jones not to be quoted throughout the
west in derogation of the representative
populists Of any section.
Southern Populists Inccnsed.
Naturally. the southern populists are
very much incensed at the language at
tributed to Mr.. Jones. Nor do his denials
or explanations appear to appease them.
They are all ex-democrats-some of them
men of talent and high social position.
Their reason for leaving the democracy
is well known-has long been known. No
difference on the silver question drove
them away. AS matter of fact they
fare never been warm advocates of
silver as have the democrats. They
really for fiat money. The reason they
gave for leaving the party was that the
democracy had ceased to be q party of
progress, and was content to be only
an organization of oftice-holders. with a
tenure based upon false counting. at the
polls. In nearly every southern state, and
particularly in Alabama, Louisiana, Mis-
sissippf and North Carolina, this reason
was aggressively proclaimed, and in North
Carolina a coalition of popuists and re-
publfcans, with q fair count al the polls as
its shibboleth, overthrow the democracy
and elected two United States Senators.
Why They Are Angered.
Mr.. Jones. therefore. in ascribing office
hunting to them the sole cause of their
separate existence. has appeared to mock
the populists. That is the charge they
have been making against the democrats
and amplified with the graver charge of
cheating at the polls. Why should he bring
1t against them? If there is anything CEN
surable in office-hunting or office holding.
does 1t lie i'm the mouths of southern demo-
Gratis to use it? DO not they fill all of the
off1ces in the southern states? And if this
coalition for Mr.. Bryan, with the demo-
Gratis working IN the lead, shall succeed,
VIII there be any hesitation on the part 81
the southern democrats in presenting tA-m-
selves for their share of the spoils?
This is what frets the gizzards of the
southern populists. They are less angeresi,
1t is thought, at the charge of being place
hunters than at the source from which il
comes.
Harm In the West.
The republicans have No means of know
ing how likely the western populsts may
be to resent an alleged affront put upon
their southern brethren. But they believe
that 1t Is in the west, If anywhere that
harm Will come of Mr.. Jones interview.
The men who feel themselves directly af-
fronted may be never so bitter about it,
but they have no practical redress. pro
test and counter charges are all the means
at hand, But if the western brethren flare
up, there will be trouble in the land" The
western populists hold the balance of power
In their section. and patronage has never
peen objectionable to them in times of
past local triumphs. Will it be now, If the
time of national triumph comes by their
aid?
He Hits the Bulrs-Eye.
Mr.. Jones, it is believed. hit pretty near
to the bull But it is suggested that
he was not the man to shoot. The love of
patronage is not confined to populists, and
by the politicians is not considered the root
of Darty evil