The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-06-08
A M1LLIoN TO BEAT HIM.
St Louis Banks Loaded With Wall
Street Money to Defeat Mckinley

St Louis Banks Loaded With Wall
Street Money to Defeat Mckinley
St Louis, June S.-If money. can talk.
Major Nckinleys bright presidential
expectations seem destined to disap-
pOintment, for, according to prevalent
gossip. the opposition to his nomination
is not only concentrating their forces
but are piIng up their dollars to defeat
the high tariff apostle.
w hile Mckinley is feeling satisfied
and his supporters are confident of his
success, the other side is working like
a colony of beavers and plans have
been formulated to place ST 600 600 in
St Louis banks to be used in carrying
the convention for an eastern man,
presumably Morton. This money is to
be at the disposal of several shrewd
lobbyists of long experience in pOlit-
icaI Wire pullng- one Of them has
been quietly watching the tide of af-
fairs from St. Louis for several days.
while the others are doing missionary
work in Washington and New York.
The anti-Alc cEinley lobby, it is said,
viii be well organized and money viii
be freely used to accomplish his defeat.
IF we can only prevent his (McKin-
ley's) nomination on the first ballot we
are all right" said one of the lobbyists
to a friend at the Laclede hotel.
In detailing the plans the Information
leaked out that various delegates were
to be approached and sounded" as to
their sentiments on the financial ques-
ton If they are strong in their anti
that Mckinley is an unsafe man to
nominate because of his leaning toward
bimetallism. and his letter, written six
years ago. during one Of the congress
siOnal campaigns, is to be used as proof
of his 'unSOundneSS.
If the delegates are open to argu-
ment they are to be Wined and dined
and when the sparkling champagne has
I created a congeniaIty and confidence
between the lobbyists and the delegates
/ another money question is to broached
mot the question of free silver but a
to how much these several delegates
viii accept to vote for the man the lob
byists are to name
Tf already instructed for Mckinley.
enough of the delegates are to be in
duced to disregard their instructions
so as to prevent nomination on the
first ballot If not instructed for the
Canton major they are to be allowed
to vote for whOmsOvere they please on
the first ballot, provided they vote
aeafnst Mckinley, and later on they
are to cast their votes for the man
in whose interest this muCh-taIked-Of
$1,000. 900 fund is to be placed in St.
Louis banks.
The lobbyists entertain bright hopes
of being able to capture a number of
southern and western delegates. as well
as eastern men. for liberal prices will
be paid for votes, and money is sup
posed to have its power during these
I hard times
SAID one Mckinley lobbyist:
These delegates have no special in
I EereSE nominating 1LCh1DEeT- 1t they
/ can make a good thing by voting for
/ somebody else, why should they not
do sO2 How Will Mckinley benefit them
more than any other man? IF they
vote right they can get a benefit dur
/ ing the convention and they wiz be re-
menbered afterward, too, if the man
\ for whom they vote is elected.
That is the way the lobbyists look
I at it. and that is the way many dele
/ gates are expected to regard it when
the critical moment arrives.
Mr.. Platt who is commanding the
/ Morton forces, is supposed to be the
! general under whose directions this
/ fight on the lines indicated is to be
/ carried on but no mention of his name
/ is ever heard among the cautious kings
of the lobby. His subOrdinates have
| their orders and they will direct the
I fight i'm the lobby, and i'm this conven-
I tion the lobby means the various ST.
\ Louis hotel corridors. restaurants. wine
! rooms and other places of feasting
! festivity and business
! The Iobby's work viii begin when
! the national committee meets here next
] Wednesday. and the first steps will
/ then be taken that viii lead to the un-
/ seating of some of the Mckinley men
] in favor of cOntesting delegates
] The anti-1fcKfnley men seem to have
! their forces we'll organized and their
I plans wei laid.