Evening star., 1896-03-21
having the two conventions merged into
Ex-Speaker Crisp.

ExSSpeaker Crisp expresses confidence
that the silver. or old-fashioned. democrats
VIII control the national convention. Il
have no doubt about Georgia sending sill
yer delegation to the national convention.
A fair expression Of public opinion will re-
suit, / believe, in silver delegations being
selected in all the southern states ! am
very hopeful that a strong majority OF the
national convention will be In favor OF Sill
YER If it turns out so, there IS no reason
why democrats should be Respondent over
the prospects of their presidential ticket. II
is the departure from democratic pr1n-
ciples that has proven disastrous 10
u.s. Clear that away, return to Old
fashioned democratic doctrines, and nomi-
nate man who will carry out democratic
policy, and We shall enter the campaign
with a fair prospect of success
I'm MY Judgment, the only thing that
could prevent the silver men controlling
the national convention would be for them
to neglect making a proper effort to secure
a fair expression of public opinion In their
respective states. l do not believe there
is going to be any such neglect, and am
confident that We can control the conVen-
ton
sourd money men from his state, sized up
the situation down there as follows:
"Our party in Georgia is, unfortunately,
divided On the money question 1t is unfor-
trnate that the destinies of any party
should be staked on a single issue, when
there are so many other vital issues Oh
which we all agree The free silver FAC
ton seems to be much more aggressive
than the other Nearly all the local poll
ticians, including candidates for county Of
fees, for the legislature and for congress-,
are on that side, while on the other side
stand, as general rule, the merchants
and well-to-dO farmers and business men.
The latter class rarely try to make their
influence felt in political campaigns, and
exert much less power than their numbers,
their intelligence and their stake in good
government would authorize.
Il do not thiak that Georgia will send
a solid silver delegation to Chicago. The
delegates from one more congressional
districts, / think, will be for sound money,
and unless the unit rule is put on the dele
cation they will act in accord with their
convictions at Chicago. We never have,
SO far as I remember, adopted the unit
Iu1e in Georgia. 1t may be adopted. however,
this year, inasmuch as those in control of
the party at present seem to have very lit
tie regard for it's success.
Il think that the convention at Chicago
will adopt sound money platform and
nominate sound money candidate. To do
There will probably be bolt of the most
ardent free silver men, and two so-called
democratic electoral tickets in some of the
states That also would be suicide. 1t
seems to me that nany democrats are just
as fa1atical and reckless of the interests
of the national party as many We're at the
Charleston convention in 1Sta. In 1850 the
division was upon an abstraction. SQuatter
sovereignty, AMI in 1876 the division is
upon mere incident to free coinage, name
ly. the ratio.
Il think tfat probably both factions in
Georgia would unite in support Of VIM. Il.
Morrison for the Presidency
The East.
The New England states, Delaware,
Maryland. New Jersey, New York and
Pennsylvania, are states that are absolute
IL certain to send gold delegations to the
convention.
Representative Sulzer Of New York, who
will probably be one of the delegates from
that state, and who was supposed before
he took his seat in the House to be sill
Yer man. said to a Star reporter:
The prospects for democratic success
this fall are improving every day. be-
Eeve We have good fighting chance to
elect Our national candidates. and a ma
surely cannot do it if We give up all hope.
The republicans overconfiient, and
therein lies their weakness. They think
they can nominate n 'yaller log and elect
him on any kind of Il platform. They have
done nothing in Congress but play petty
politics. and they intend to do nothing, and
oper.1y and defiantly braS and blow about
it, But the people are watching us all, and
they cannot be fooled. The republicans in
the Fifty-fourth Congress are as incompe-
tent TO legislate as the majority in any pre-
eedfng legislature, and at the coming cleo
tion they will have to give way to new
men. and this Will continue until something
Is done for the people,"
How about democratic candidates." was
asked
II do not care to discuss candidates at
this time Any prominent democrat in
my judgment has good chance to get the
nomination, and a better chance to win the
presidency MIR. Whitney Is most promi-
nently mentioned, and is no doubt the most
available candidate if he could he prevailed
On to accept the nomination. I believe If
anytcdy can win Mr.. Whitney can. He
IS one OF the ablest and most popular men
In the country, and the party would sup
port him TO I. man. Besides. he would poll
a tremendous independent vote
Speaking of the platform. Mr.. Sulzer
said: That Is very important matter,
and one that Will doubt give the con-
VSnuon great deal of trouble and anxi-
ETY.. However, / believe. and sincerely
hope, the convention will he harmonious.
anu that sound democratic platform will
be adopted / believe the republicans will
straodie the currency question. which will
be, and ought to be, the one paramount
issue in the next campaign. The demo-
cratic party should put sound money
plank in its platform that would not be
susceptible TO double combinat ation, and
that would be SO plain, so clear and so
simple that he who runs could read and
understand. 1t ought to be as clear and
emphatic as the currency plank in the
democratic platform of the state of New
York in 1895. In that platform, if 1 re-
memher Alright the democratic party of
money-go1d and silver the only legal ten
ders; no currency not convertible into coin.
Eradldi retirement and extinction of the
Sreeaback currency: no free and unlimited
coinage of silver That's brief and to the
point, and no man who can distinguish th,
difference between a bank and a hand saw
can doubt for moment what 1t means
but you must excuse me from going into
iurther details at this time regard
ing the platform. 1 believe the combined
wisdom of the party will make it broad
nDeral. safe. sound, patriotic, Statesman
IKE and Jeffersonian on every question
With good platform. well-known. able and
popular candidates, our grand old ard his
torlc democratic party will again command
the support and confidence of the people.
Let us line up, all stand together, and with
courage and determination win another
ueclslVe victory for the democratic party"
District of Columbia.
1t can be stated on undoubted authority
1hat at least four out Of the six delegates
rom the District of Columbia will vote
with the silver MEN at Chicago; that there
is strong probability of five doing so and
a possibility of the delegation being solid
OF: ire subject. 1t is likely that the dcIega-
tIor VIII adopt the unit rule. If it does So
tne delegation will be solid for silver The
Geiegat1on hasn't any special choice for
President yet.