Semi=weekly graphic., 1896-03-07
FREE COINAGE.
REPUBLICANS DEvIsING PLANS
TO SEPARATE FROM
THEIR PARTY.
Some Want to Organize Silver
Republican Party and Others
Do Not.

WASHINGTON, March 5.--The free
coinage Republicans who. under the
leadership Of Senator Carter, refused
consideration OF the tariff bill and
proclaimed warfare on protection
have been in constant though infor-
NAL consultation since upon the
probable effect of their action upon
their party. Their discussions have
also had II bearing Of self-interest,
inasmnch az more than one of the
Senators SO voting will be candi-
date for reelection
The fact that their attitude re-
mains up to date unsupported by
the majority of the free coinage Re-
publlcans is causing some anxiety to
Messrs. Carter, Teller, Mantle, Du-
b0is and Cannon. The Senators
from the neighboring States frankly
express their dissatisfaction with the
assault upon the Republican doc
| trine OF protection and assert that Ii
will not he Endorsed by the Republic
cans OF the States which they repre-
sent in the Senate. The five Sena-
tors and Senator Shoup, who did
not vote against consideration Of
the tariff bill, insist on the other
hand that the paramount interest
among their constituencies Is the free
coinage of silver, 10 which all other
interest III the popular mind are en-
tirely subservient. They claim that
they are receiving overwhelming in
dorsements OF their positions from
the people of their respective States,
and that they have seen no reason
To modify their attitude since their
votes were east against the Morrill,
motion.
At the same time none Of the quin-
tct seem TO view with pleasure the
prospect of segregating themselves
from lie Republican party. While
they insist that the failure of the
| next Republican convention to nom
mate Il free coinage candidate on a
free coinage platform is imminent,
they profess to believe that such
action OF the convention will be la
defiance cf Republican platform
declarations, for their own interpre-
tation OF which they are standing,
and under such circumstances it will
be the party which will leave them
and their constituencies, and not
they whe will leave the party This
is the keynote set by Senator Carter
in his recent speech. and it Is being
used as an argument for all it liz
worth in Colorado, Utah, Idaho and
Montana.
The free quintctexpress them
selves as hopeful TINT u maintenance
OF their attitude on this line will be
effective in creating n reYulsion OF
feeling ON the monetary question
among The Eastern manufacturers
and among the wool growers, who
feel that q revision of the tariff Is Il
question OF paramount Importance.
If they are to be believed, they are in
from sound-money constituents,
showing q tendency to support free
silver in the coming convention, on
account OF the menace to he protec-
tod Industries, with which they are
threatened by the declaration Of
those who confidently assert that
hereafter protection and free coinage
must r. hand in hand
This view is not. however, held
by the majority of the free-coinage
Republicans in the two houses.
Many are already considering what
shall be the best plan for separating
themselves from the Republican
partv under the practical certainty
that the convention viii oyerWheI-
mingly decline TO place itself on re-
cord for free coinage. Several prOpO-
sitions have been suggested, of
" hich one OF the most thoroughly
canvassed Is tie organization of y
new silver Republican party. with
free silver amt protection for watch
words, and which shall nominate
it's own electors. without exacting
any pledge, except that If elected
they will vote for the candidate
favorable to silver Snch plan IL
HTStu III TIT EiOuHi tbC vi
za.ion of the party before either OF
these two conventions meets will he
likely to have a much stronger in
huence than the threat OF a subst
quent bolt in case the platform did
not meet the demands of the min
/ ing States. Other advocates OF free
coinage IN the party are, however,
counseliHg moderation. These at
present outnumber the more radical.
and are likely to be in the majority
up to the time Of choosing delegates
for st. Louis. Much pressure Is
being brought to bear upon the
more moderate free coinage men by
their associates, and the organs OF
1G to | opinion are using ever effort
to bring home influences to bear IN
favor OF the most radical course.
,farf TT c Govt p er,ort