Evening star., 1896-06-22
They Favor Silver and Want Either
Boies or Teller for President.
STEVENSON AND MORRISON out OF IT
Gov. AItgeId Likes Teller and Will
Give Him a Fair Field.
5 l. V E r T Fl E Is S q E
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

tions Illinois takes the lead. If the plans
of Gov. Alt geld and his Heutenants do not
mjscarry, the state convention, which
meets here Tuesday, will act in a way to
keep attention focused on the delegation
from the time it is selected until the last
ballot Is taken in the national convention.
Gov. Altgeld is a spectacular leader. He
loves to appear before the footlights but
he does not believe in burning all his red
fire at once. Whatever the Illinois conven-
ton may 90 it will not bow itself out of
the public mind
The control Of the free silver element is
be 100 gold advocates, with possibly an
other 100 who would consent to a mild
declaration for silver and platform which
would enable all democrats to support the
ticket to be nominated at Chicago. But
the remainder are for free, unlimited and
independent coinage of silver. Outside of
the Chicago delegation most of the dele
gates were instructed for a ratio of 16 to
l. Since the republican national conven-
ton declared SO unequivocally for gold, the
issue has been accentuated. John X. Tan
rer, the republican candidate for governor,
is strong gold man, and the aim of the
democratic managers in the nomination of
GOV Aitgeld on free silver platform is
to draw the financial line sharply in both
state and national campaigns.
MOI enough fOE Contest.
The gold standard democrats will not be
much in evidence at any stage Of the pro-
ceedings. few weeks ago they planned
to put up a contest which could be carried
from the state to the national convention
The lack of support developed in the rank
and file of the party made this impracti-
cable. The other day Rock Islanl county,
the last one IN which a stand had been
made against the silverites, res DIV sd in
favor of silver at 16 to 1. Rock Island is
the home of ex-Congressman and National
Committeeman Ben Cable who directed the
fight in person. The Chicago sound money
democrats nominated a county ticket and
selected men to go to Peoria and protest
against free silver. but they will not make a
contest for representation. They have
nothing on which it can be based
The Illinois convention will instruct its
forty-eight delegates to Chicago to vote as
unit FOR free coinage, and Gov. Altgeld
VIII mead the delegation. on this point the
position is so clear that the chief interest
ce nterS in the candidates
Friends of eX-Gov. Boies have already
opened headquarters in Chicago but the
headquarterS are temporarily transferred
to Peoria. Mr.. Bland has some Missouri
pickets on the skirmish line and his own
convention has not kept Gov. Matthews
from Sparing q few of his advisers who are
not needed in Indiana, and who NAV be use
full in Illinois. Lastly. the free silver re-
pubiicanS. who have nominated Senator
on the ground.
Teller Suits Altgeld.
This is condition which appeals strongly
to Gov. Altgelds love of spectacular dis
plays in politics. 1t may be taken for grant
ed that he will not destroy the effect by
permitting the state convention to Instruct
the delegates to Chicag go in reference to On n
idates or even to indicate preference
"Buch' HenrichSen. chairman of the state
committee, has been credited with making
a deal with the Iowa supporters of Rojes
but he never went that far. Boics was
weeks ago given to understand that the
Illinois silver democrats thought well of
his candidacy, yet there was nothing that
could be construed pledge of support
Such pledge would have DESTROYED the end
Tor which the free silver leaders in Illinois
We're Shaping the movement which was to
make the delegation determining factor
in the convention.
Without in any manner being committed
TO Teller, the circumstances are such that
the Colorado Senator comes as near suit
ing Gov Altgeld as the candidates who have
been In the field for months. Altgeld cares
nothing for party traditions and shares
none OF the prejudices Of the oid-time demo-
Gratis against taking a candidate who does
not profess to be democrat
He has never paid much heed to the tariff
and in the governors eyes Teller's protec-
tion principles would be no bar to nominat-
ing him on a moderate tariff plank, with
not mean that Altgeld is likely in the end to
exert his influence in behalf of the scheme
TO nave Teller nominated by the Chicago
convention. but he will insist that the propo-
sltlon be treated with respect, and that no
course be adopted which would put up thu,
bars against Teller
Col. Morrison Out of 1t,
The fact that Col. VIM. R. Morrison will
rot come before the demo Gratis of his own
state for Endorsement is already known In
washington as well as in Illinois, 1t is an
other chapter in the sturdy coloners disap-
pointed political ambition and his unwi,
lingness to place expediency above pria-
ciple. The telegram to a Springfield friend.
In which Colonel Morrison saws that as
the democrats favor free and unlimited
coinage, and as he does not favor it he is
not the candidate for the occ sion states
.he case accurately, so far as his own state
Is concerned. His public declara ton ends
negotiations which were under wav TO mod
crate the free silver zeal Of the democrats
and to give Colonel Morrison the s,1nnor1 of
i%inhois % on a conservative silver platform.
Alter 1t became clear that Alteeld and the
s1lVerites really represented the democratjc
sentiment of the state, ex-Coneressman
forman went to Chicago to protest against
,he pan OF the sound money democrats to
Dolt 1t was understood that Gov Altgeld
looked with more friendly eve on Nor
rlson and was inclined to modify the ex
IRENE silver position. But the two men
hAo' e iiotihiiS III common and 1t was i'm
possible for them to act in harmony. More
over, the governor himself could rot have
moderated the silver sentiment which he
mad helped to create. Hence, the end of
colonel Morrison's candidacy. The colonel
has many old-time friends and supporters
among the delegates; yet, if a test Question
arose, they would prove to be in an insjr-
nificant minority. So the test will be avoid
ed.
Notwithstanding the reports of a revival
OF stevenson sentiment in Washington. the
Vice President is no better Off al home than
Colonel Morrison. The free silver leaders
say with some tartness that the democratic
Senators who are in the movement think
more of their personal friendship than they
do of silver. 1t is apparent that few of the
delegates now gathering in Peoria are
thinking of Gen. Stevenson. They like him
and are ready to believe that he is friendly
to their cause; yet their minds are on cam
didates whose identification with free silver
Is positive enough to be known all over the
| country. The probabilities. as foreshadow-
ed by the state convention, are against the
Illinois democrats putting forward a candi-
date of their own at the Chicago conven-
ton.
SILVER VICTORY CONCEDED.
Leaders Are Turning Their Attention
Now to Availa BILE Candidates.
Special Correspor dence of The Evening Star.
CSIIJCACn I'll T,,ra 1coD