The herald., 1896-06-12
Can the Democrats Carry the
Country With Such,
OR EVEN THE GOLDEN STATE
Expressions Of Opinion From Prominent
Local Democrats
Seine Arc Doubtful, Some Are Sure. but the
Majority Are Opposed to q Candidate
Of That Sort

With view of discovering the opin-
ions of well-known local members of the
Democratic party regarding the contfn-
gency of free silver Democratic presi-
Dental candidate, the two following
questions were propounded by report
er yesterday to some two dozen or them
l. Do you think a presidential candi-
date nominated on platform declaring
for the free, unlimited and independent
coinage of silver by the United States
at the ratio of 16 ounces of silver TO
ounce of gold can be elected?
2. Can he carry the state Of Califor-
MIA?
The following were the answers
Judge ]. S. Chapman l should say
no. 2. If Senator White is nominated
believe he can, but / don't believe any
other candidate can.
Judge w. A. Harris--1, No. 2. am not
prepared to answer, but doubt 1t.
S. b. Gordon--1. don't believe he can.
81 don't think he could carry the state,
but I am uncertain on both questions.
1t seems to me that one must wait until
the campaign Is pretty well developed
before an intelligent answer Is possible.
John F. Humphreys-1. certainly do,
and I am equally sure he could not be
elected on u single gold basis, and yet
would like to see three words added to
the 16 to /, and they are ''of American
product" e He certainly can.
j. M. Elliott, president of the First
national bank, penclled very leSiDle
mo- to both questions.
Rusk Harrls-I'm not q free silver man,
but think a free silver Democrat cam
didate can carry both the country and
the state.
General Robert H. Chapman-Con-
fine silver to the product of the United
States and 1 believe such a candidate
both throughout the country and In Cal
ifornia.
M. l.. Graft adjusted his pince-nez.
weighed the question in legal form. and
raised an objection to it, Finally he
amended 1t and answered.: l do not
think Democratic presidential candi-
date nominated on platform declaring
for the free and unlimited coinage of sill
ver"at the ratio of 16 ounces of silver to
ounce of gold would be elected or
should carry the stae of California.
John e. Platter, president of the Los
Angeles Savings bank. registered a de-
cisive mo- to both questions. He said:
1t Is the biggest problem offered to the
country since 81. l may be guided by
my prejudice In answering mo" to both
questions, for 1 am solid gold man
without equivocation. If the Democrats
adopt a free silver platform and McKin-
ley comes out squarely for sound money
I shall vote for Mckinley If Mckinley
straddles / shall not vote at all, because
there will be nobody for me to vote for
Major Harry w. Patton of the Capital
replied with a vigorous affirmative to
both questions
Clarence A. Miller-1. No. 2. don't
know.
Frank Coulter-1. believe this will
be the platform, but it is difficult ques-
tion to answer. 2. i don't know whether
such candidate could carry the state
or not.
Ben Goodrich replied: Il don't think
so" to both questions.
w. j. Hunsaker-1. | am not 16 to 1
free silver man. but believe there would
be chance of electing candidate on
such platform, If the candidate was
such man as Boies of Iowa or Vice.
President Stevenson, both Of whom have
records as free silver men. 2. am very
doubtful.
Frank Fl. Burnett have no means
of forming an opinion as yet on either
subject.
W. X. Dali. do, but don't believe
in free coinage. 2. Yes, undoubtedly.
Frank G. Finlayson-1. No. .. No.
DIR. c. B. Jones-1 No. =. 1 don't
know.
Councilman M. p. snyder-1. If it Is
possible to elect Democrat, such is the
man: on any other platform he would
have no earthly show: 2. 1 am very
doubtful If he could carry the state Of
California even on that platform.
Jay f. Hunter-Yes, because the free
SliNei party, TtSdTuleSS OF pOlltlcS ana
the Populists would be with US, where
as, but few so-called sound money
men would bolt.
c. D. Willard was not prepared to
answer either question. He declared
himself to be conservative in Offering
opinions and disclaimed the prophetic
instinct.
General c. F. A. Last beamed pleas
antly and said: Think he can in both
instances.
Joseph Mesmer answered in the affir-
native in both cases, and expressed no
doubt whatever as to the state of Cali
fornia, provided the Republican candi,
date proved to be for sound money.
Max Lowenthal-I wish l knew. but I
don't think he could in either instance.