The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-23
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE.


Tho spokesman-Review has come to
conclusions upon the probable action CT
the national conventions. which are ut
terly at variance with those of most Of
the other leading Republican papers in the
country. Summarizing the situation it
expresses the opinion that the Republican
convention will not declare for the gold
standard: that the Democratic conven-
ton is more likely TO do so, and that the
indications even point to a large majority
at St. Louis against the gold standard.
The difficulty OF discussing the subject
with the free silver papers Is that they re-
fuse to recognize anybody as favorable to
the use of silver who will not adopt the
ratio Of le to I. They insist that all who
will not accept that ratio must be in Ia
vor OF gold alone under any and all cir
cumstances. II they will admit that It Is
not silver against which the sound money
men are arrayed. but against a fictitious
ratio which must inevitably lead to silver
mono-metal lism, II can readily be con-
coded that the Republican national con-
vention viii not declare for the gold
standard.
The Republican convention must either
declare emphaticaily-not against silver
but against the radio OF 16 to /. or II will
fly in the face OF the platforms of nearly
every state east OF the Rocky mountains.
on the other hand. all Indications are
that the Democratic convention will de-
clare In favor OF that ratio. Where the
Spokesman derives the Information from
which IT concludes that the Republicans
will straddle while the Democrats win
make q decisive declaration either for or
against free coinage. is not apparent to
one who depends upon generally accepted
representative newspapers as an author
ity.
1t would seem 10 US rs beyond all CUES
ton that tho Republican platform will de-
clare against the free coinage OF silver
at ls 20 /. and that the Democratic plat
form win declare In favor OF silver. bu,
omit any aiiusion to the ratio. The Chi
caeo Herald puts II pretty clearly and pre-
sents the characteristics OF the two fac
tons when II says: ''If the silver forces
capture the Chicago convention. the East
ern Democracy will not bolt but viii QUIZ
city vote the Republican ticket or stay
at home. On the other hand. IL the sound
money forces win, the silver faction
threatens to bolt and set up silver party.
seeking coalition with the Popul!sts and
the free silver Republicans"
But suppose this should b done, the
danger Is not As great as It nigh, seem.
Suppose the eilver men bolt and form the
best kind Of . combination possible. they
Nigh; carry Alabama. Arkansas calieor-
ma. Colorado. Florida, Georgia. Idaho,
Kansas. Kentucky. Louisiana. Mississippi.
Missouri. Montana. Nebraska, Nevada,
| North Carolina. North Dakota Oregon.
South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee.
Texas. Virginia. Utah and Wyoming. ard
we will. With a n,;le feeling OF shame,
but for the sake OF argument. sad-wash-
ingson, and they would have tweaty-six
states with eos votes in the electoral COL
lsge. The states whieh would re pretty
sure 20 so not oaiy for sound money but
fer Republican candidates. are: Connect
cue. Delaware. ilirc,s. Indiana. Iowa.
Maine. Maryland. Massachusetts,. Mschi-
gar. Minnesota. New Hampshire. New
Jersey. New York. Ohio Pennsylvania
| Rhode Island. Vermont. West Virginia
ard Observation-Disclosures states with an
electoral vote Of "a or twenty more than
a majority Of the college
There are 81 votes in the electoral co.,
| less a2d - Is necessary 70 4 cAasce.
Al tnsss later states went Republican