Evening star., 1896-07-04

1
tion pay no attention. 1t is not yet known
| even who will second his nomination after
| senstor Tprpis has presented 1t to the
convention. and NO one asks the question.
Yet few months ago he was one Of the
men who were expected to be in the front
| rank.
he IL completely committed to the free
| ceiEeEe Of silver sixteen to one, with
out regard to the action of other nations,
ana no ono disputes that this represents
nis convictions. But this 10 not satisfac-
| tory. He was silent when the silver fight
efS thought he ought to speak. While the
oettle hung In doubt he spoke no word Of
| encouragement and threw not the weight
OF MS influence in favor Of the cause which
now controls this convention. Therefore he
is not counted as one OF the faithful, AMI
ne does not appear to be 'in It,"
His Silence Too Golden.
though New York may present the name
OF stevenson and though an appeal will be
mace In the name of party harmony that
ne be nominated, the idea Of mis- nomina-
tion scarcely excites discussion. The sill
yer men say that silence is golden and
that he was silent when he should have
uttered the speech which is silver. If six
months ago he had been outspoken for
free coinage his nomination would now be
the most probable thing. Leaders looking
over the list Of democratic candidates they
are called upon to choose from beat their
breasts and cry a plague on timidity when
they think OF Stever son.
such Is the spirit of this convention All
that Is silver makes for them an idol, but
tnat which they have not tested with time
and seen pass through fire they suspect
OF being merely plated. Bland Is an idol
among the enthusiasts. and they halt only
al the cold calculation of expediency
Inc 1act that Bland's candidacy is strong
er with the rank and file Of delegates than
among the leaders Is not due to lack of re-
garo Tor him by the latter, but Is on ac-
count OF the greater disposition among ex-
perienced leaders to calculate chances of
success and to regard expediency. The less
experienced delegates are moved more by
sentiment. Bland appeals to this senti-
ment. His years Of identiticatio with the
silver cause, the fact that he has been de-
nominated silver crank, and that he is
known among them by the endearing name
OF Silver Dick" excite their enthusiasm.
1t Is in this that lies MS strength, there
arising the apparent conflict between the
leaders and those who are expected to be
led. There rests the issue-whether ex-
dictate the nomination. A good deal of
the same sort Of sentiment attaches to Joe
Blackburn on account of the hard fight
he has just come out of against Carlisle
and the administration in Kentucky
Faith In His Own Candidacy
But 1t has not the same seasoning of
years that has the Bland sentiment, and
there is some doubt Of Blackburns having
afa rta cd wit foit In hi
dacy.
1t is or account Of the lack of this senti-
ment that the Boies boom has fallen short
Of expectations. That q candidate is
silver man does not suffice: he must be
silver man of silver men the most intense.
The field OF candidates being narrowed
down so small. and the doubt among the
men OF greatest experience of Bland's abil-
ity to carry the country, gives strength to
the Teller movement. Those who lack con-
1dence in the availability OF Bland find
when they shy from the suggestion of
Teller themselves at once walking In the
shadow Of the Missourian. Then they turn
back to Teller.
II not yet reconciled to the idea OF going
outside the party for candidate. they
turn and look once more about them for a
candidate, but each time they find them
selves turned back. Then. one by one.
slowly they give UP the search and settle
down on the Colorado leader. BY process
of backing and filling. the Teller boom Is
being built up. 1t is a delicate and difficult
situation. The reluctance with which the
delegates make selection from such small
choice of candidates is demonstrated by the
fact that though 1t takes 811 votes to NOM
mate. Bland Conceded to be the leading
a. tel hoy hmm
votes to which he can. with authority lay
claim.
Small Field.
All the votes that all the candidates can
yet lay claim to would not be enough to
nominate II concentrated on single one
A large majority Of the delegates are still
unattached. They have got to settle down
on some one, they don't know whom; but
they are constantly confronted by the man
with pencil and paper to try. by figuring
the prospects Of each candidate for election
If nominated.
1t Is always the same: The east elimi-
mated: the south sure for any candidate;
the west to be relied on to secure the cleo
tion. get the western vote or suffer defeat
Now, who Is the man who can get their
western votesr'
This ever-recurring proposition staggers
anu DeWEQerS, ana causes them to turn
from one candidate 10 another, and to
doubt and to hesitate. JP M
THE SOUND MONEY MEN,
Thoy Are on the Ground and Omen
Their Headquarters.
Special From STAFF Correspondent.
CHICAGO, July 4.-The sound money con-
tingents are here. With them are two por-
traits Of Cleveland. the first that have ap-
peared. One Is hung In the New York
headquarters and another in the home of
the Pennsylvanians. Sound money plac-
ards in big black letters are being rapidly
posted in conspicuous places in the hotel
corridors and In windows. They advertise
that certain sound money headquarters
have been established in certain places. They
annuonce the great sound money meet
Ing to be held at the Auditorium tonight.
They proclaim that sound money Is not dead
and Is not going to die. These are simply
signs Of hard death. The effort for sound
money In the convention Is like pouring a
bucket of filtered water into muddy stream
in hopes Of clearing 1t. 1t was made evil
dent at the conference Of the gold men last
evening that they did not know what thew
do