Evening star., 1896-09-18
GROWTH OF SOUND MONEY FEELING.
Mckinley Men i'm Montana Now
Hopeful for the State.

Special Correspondence OF The Evening Star
HELENA, Mont. September l., 1896
The sudden growth of sentiment in this
state, supposed to be given over irretriev-
ably to the silver theory, in favor of Nc
kinley and 1.-The existing gold standard
has surprised no cne more than the Nc
kinley men themselves. Montana. owing
10 Its extensive silver mine interests, has
always been a hotbed of free silver senti-
ment The mine owners. through the lead
ing newspapers which they control. and
through aspiring politicians and office seek
ers. have taken good care that the silver
sentiment should not wane. While there
has never been anything approaching a
boycott OF gold men. nevertheless the bus
mess man made to feel that his bus
mess interests lay parallel to the silrer
cause and TO outward appearances al least
he fell iEto line. Immediately after the
nomination of Bryan and the "Bryaniz!ng
OF Senator Mantle. Congressman Hartman
and other leading republicans, a wave of
silver enthusiasm swept over the state
which caused the Mckinley men to re-
treat to their holes and pull the holes
in after them 1t only few weeks
ago that they dared to peep out. They
were very much surprised to find several
other Mckinley men peeping out here and
there. Col. w. F. Sanders of this city at
once set about organizing What seemed a
hopeless cause. Success beyond all eX-
pectation attended his efforts, and county
after county elected Mckinley delegations
to the state convention. The Mantle-H Hart
man wing of the party began TO get fright
| ened. To save themselves they finally. about
a month before the convention, called the
| Butte conference" at which ii was agreed
that 'foc the sake of the party the two
factions should Unite in state ticket and
separate on the electoral and congressional
| tickets. Col Sanders refused to accept this
arrangement and declared that state NOM
nees must stand on the national platform.
! The fight went on. and the Bryanized re-
publicans We're scared nearly out OF their
boots in this city the other day. when
Sanders came within two votes of actually
| controlling the state convention. And II Is
| certain that II the colonel had been little
less of a iignter and little more of
politician he would have succeeded. In
| the end. however. the findings of the Butte
| conference were accepted. and after the
| state ticket had been nominated. the Man
| tle-Hartman following withdrew, and
| straight-out republican electoral and con-
| gressional ticket was named.
| Mckinley Men Hopeful.
! While the Mckinley men have not yet
| got to the point of claiming that they Will
| carry the state, they are exceedingly hope
full Now that they have had the courage
| to declare themselves, they find that the
| sound money" sentiment is growing apace.
| The east half Of the state, whose principal
| industry is sheep raising. and which is net
| so much interested in silver mining. Is
pretty solid for Mckinley. Butte. :oo
| doesn't see what advantage copper Is to
| get out Of free coinage. and fears that II
| the value of money should depreciate The
| industry would be greatly affected. The
| gold mining industry. which has been grow
ing at great rate since the depreciation
| of silver. causes further division of senti-
| ment. In view of all the Sc things. the Nc
| kinley men have concluded to lay their
cese before Marcus Aurelius Hanna, and
| point out to him that if the three electoral
| votes of Montana are worth the effort they
cen be obtained by a vigorous campaign.
| backed by the speakers and The funds of
| the national committee. 1t remains to be
| seen whether Hanna will think it worth
| while.
| Senator Cnrter's Action.
In this connection, the eleventh-h hour de-
! cision of Senator Carter to cast his lot in
with the Mckinley wing of the party ddn',
make a very good impression. The Senator
took no part whatever in the campaign
antecedent to the state convention, but in
stead went on a hunting trip without ex-
pressing his opinions When he came back
and saw which way the tide was turning
he wrote his letter, and then left fo- Wash
irgton ION pressing business" before the
convention met. He was not received vitt
! open arms by the Mckinley men, and OF
course. Is not In the least popular with the
Mantle-Hartman faction. 1t seems certain
that if Mckinley is elected the reDubica r
party in this state will be led ny different
men from those who have hitherto domi.
| mated its destinies. Col. Sanders and
| Henry knippenberg, the only great silve,
mine owners who have come out for gold
will be the leaders, and will distribute tn.
er he carries this state or not.
|