Evening star., 1896-08-13
LOSING ITS STRENGTH
The Free silv9r Movement in the State of
! Ohio.
democrats Arc Losing T1me-Tronble
in ru.,ns)w,,h the ropu,,.,.-
teF
Lack OF Campaign Funds.
Special Dispatch to Tie Evening Star.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, August 13.-There are
ird.catiors that the free silver movement
is losing its strength in this state. Wheth-
er this Is due TO what the republican lead
ers in their predictions have spoken of ds
the operation of the natural conservatism
CT the American people or to the distribu-
tion of campaign literature by the state
republican committee, matters not. The
fact Is generally noted. The literary bu-
reau of the state republican committee is
flooding the state with printed arguments
against free coinage. Many of the news
papers of republican politics are using an
eHectiVe form of argument with the Mexi-
can silver dollar. They advertise to give
SUBSCRIBERS credit for half a dollar on their
subscriptions at regular rates and one
mexican dollar in return for one Amer!-
can dollar. This, with the explanation
that the Mexican dollar contains 4 little
more silver than the dollar piece Of the
United States, and that 1t is of only one
half the value of the United States dollar
because Mexico is free-slver coinage
ton and does not agree, this nation
does, 10 Keep the value of the silver dollar
equal to the gold dollar, Is causing readers
to stop and think.
Democrats Losing Time.
The democrats are losing much valua-
bic Tine The republican state commit
tee has been at work for two months send
ing out literature and perfecting its county
organizations. OF This week it has organ
lied Its speakers bureau, and with the
close or the week the work on the stump
on the republican side VIII be under way
,he state campaign proper being opened
mere on saturday evening. The Fabian
policy of the democrats seems 20 be forced
upon II by the free silver leaders of the
party, VINO insist that there must be Il
lu.'on l,. with The popu!!sts. The party
fh.at
until after the populist state convention
which VIII he held on the 18th
me popuEst leaders are Sticklers, ard
the democratic leaders must proceed with
caution IN negotiat ns with them. The
democratic state committee is not a rnit
On the question of fusion. The conserya-
1--WE element Of the committee which Is
nopelessly IN the minority, fear that such
concession to the populists, as giving
thein nall of the offices to be filled would
GrFe large element of the conservative
democrats, who are st!ll ready to vote for
%! an ana 1ree silver. under protest, out
VI the party. and that the popuiists would
probably put such a man as "Geuerar'
CoXey on the ticket if given the chance
weight that would bear the ticket down
TO defeat.
r" Fuse With the Popu,is,s.
The fact that the committee failed to fill
the vacancies at the meeting here on Tues
day Is conclusive evidence that a proposi-
ton to fuse is to be made to the populist
state convention. The greatest secrecy re-
Siriing this agreement is maintained by the
members of the committee 1t is hntel
tEat the proposition that will first be made
TO the popuists is to give them half of the
state tlcket-the two places that are on
portuneiy vacant-in consideration of the
support of that party for the democratic
electoral ticket, and the rest of the state
ticket 1t is almost certain that that will
not be accepted. if made. The populists
claim that their share of the electoral tick
ct is three.
locked ttat in three of the Ohio districts
the democrats have electoral nominees
that are pledged to gold. The gold stand
ard element of the party was in the maiori-
ty there. II the democrats should carry
the state they might still lose these three
electoral votes. As far the bond of
nonor gees in the case of these men, they
are not pledged to vote for the nominee of
the dem ocrat:c party. much as for a can
G:date who stands for the maintenance of
the present money standard. They are
nominated now and cannot be withdra wn
without their consent
Lack OF Funds.
The democrats in this state will, as usual,
labor under the disadvantage Of a lack of
campaign funds, unless the national COM
mittee will come to it's aid literally. The
republicans hold every state office and all
the state institutions. FOR the last three
years the state has been going republican
ty such large pluralities that there are but
few counties in which the republicans do
not control most of the offices AS for the
federal officers holding office within the
state. they are for the most part asains:
free silver, and will refuse, generally to
contribute to the campaign fund. Execu-
tive Chairman McConvile is now in New
York to lay the before the national
committee and secure appropriate
from that committee for this state
The republican leaders are still tryin~ to
induce Major Mckinley to revoke his de-
cison to make no speeches in the campaign
away from Canton, and to attend the meet
ing here on Saturday, but will he come?