The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-02-26
CHANCES FOR ALLISON.
He May Secure the Republican
Nomination.
HE OCCUPIES A MIDDLE GROUND.
The silver Question IL the Predominating
Factor In Both Parties. and Both Are
In Distress Over It-Char.cteristios of
tho Iowa Senator.

In DISTRESS over it-IhArsctermtAcs Oh
the Iowa Senator.
WASHINGTON, Feb. % [special.1-
Senator Allison Is now openly in the field
as presidential candidate. There Is much
more In the Allison movement than APP
pears on the surface. The Iowa senator
has becl SO often spoken OF for the Repub-
lican nomination and has cut so little fig
ure In conventions that 1t has become a
sort of standing joke that he is n promis-
ing candidate. Eyes, he promises we'll,
but never pans out, I have heard many
men say But this year the conditions are
different. The field Is well split up, and
there is no great, commanding figure. Be
sides the issues are different. This Is the
first presidential campaign IN which the
silver question has been the predominating
factor That 1t is now the question of
questions every one admits. 1t is so In both
of the great parties, and both are in trou-
BILE with IL. IL would be difficult to say
which is In greater distress. The leaders
Of both organizations fear there may be
bolt from the national convention. All
are trying TO find a safe ground which will
avert the threatened disaster.
Allison Openly In the Field
This Is where Allison is strong. He
occupies middle ground and could stand
on almost any sort of platform. While
his votes have nearly always been cast on
the side of what Is known as sound mon
ey, he has at the same time been consist
entity In favor of the largest possible use OF
silver. The sound money men do not
greatly distrust him. Some of them do,
but between him and an out and out free
silver man there could be but one choice.
The silver men, too, while they would pre-
fer one of their own number, will be CON
tent with him. IL the Republican party
gets itself into such position that it must
compromise I'm order TO hold the two
wings together, Allison's position becomes
promising one.
The friends of Senator Allison have
lately perfected in this city an organization
which is TO lock nitor the practical end of
the campaign. They have looked about
them and seen that Speaker Reeds inter
ests appear to be in the care of Senator
Quay, than whom there is no more practi-
cal or skillful politician. Mr.. Platt, with
more or less sincerity, is looking after the
welfare of Governor Morton. Ex-Governor
McKinley's interests are receiving the
careful attention of very bright and en-
ergetic man, Mark Hanna of Cleveland.
Though plain, blunt business man and
| fond of calling himself such, MIR. Hanna
| is about as smart as they make thGn In
| the political world. Ex-President Harri-
| son is being groomed by Colonel John G.
New of indianapolis, and Colonel New
knew all about politics before most Of the
| men of today took their first lessons In the
art.
In Clarl<son's Hands.
Why should we not have an organiza-
ton, headquarters, n man to watch
things, some one TO send out to see the
right people at the right time, and the
money for all proper expensesS asked the
Allison men Of themselves. Then they
came together with an intention TO provide
Just such machine. It is located here in
Washington and will cooperate with that
prince Of politicians and past master OF the
art of working up public opinion, James
| S. Clarkson. In such hands tho Allison
movement ought to thrive. Already it IL
attracting much attention in the west, and
predict you will hear more of 1t before
| the summer is over.
There is a great deal of curiosity here rs
| to whether Mr.. Allison intends to stand
upon q platform which was erected for him
| by some of his admirers a few months ago
| They said Mr.. Allison, IL nominated and
| elected president, would not veto any cur
rency measure that the congress might
pass. In this Allison was to take his
| stand upon the theory that the veto power
| was not intended TO be used by presidents
| except in the case of hasty, or i'll consid-
| cred, or mistaken legislation; that 1t was
| never intended TO be interposed where the
| people themselves had had opportunity to
| discuss the question and where the con-
| gress had been elected on that issue. That
| would be making tho president greater and
more powerful than the people, something
which the founders Of the republic surely
did not contemplate Ii would be making
/ him a sort OF dictator.
| Mr.. Allison's friends argue that this is
sound doctrine, wholly In accord with the
spirit of our institutions. They say the
| people ought to have the right TO express
| their will at the ballot box in the election
| Of representatives and senators, and that
| the executive ought not have the power 90
| nullify that will when thus registered.
They contend that the veto power was
given the president only with the idea that
now and then congress would do some
thing rash or hasty: that IL would act upon
sudden passion or without full informa.
ton, and that In such instances the veto
power was check and corrective, and that
this IL the scope OF the power when rightly
used.
Allison = Bimetaiiist.
| Senator Allison, understand, Is n great
believer In international bimetallism.
While abroad representing this country at
the Brussels conference he made n careful
study of the currency question In Europe
and returned home convinced that some
day the world will restore silver 20 equal
rank with gold rs n money metal. lt Is
argued In Allison's behalf that his election
TO the presidency would command much
respect abroad and tend to bring the quos-
ton OF international bimetallism TO the
front Tho foreigners who favor this meth
cd of solving question which Is trou-
bling the whole world would say that the
opportune time for action had come, and
the result would be n vigorous movement.
Personally Senator Allison Is ono Of the
most lovable men In Washington public
life. IL he has any enemies, probably he
does not know who they are. Always az
fable an courteous, approaohable and un
affected, he has the esteem and affection OF
oil who know him. IL Is n great mistake
to suppose that Mr.. Allison Is man with
out strong convictions. He has decided
opinions and expresses them frankly. In
debate be IL frank and strong, and thers
are few senators who care TO go against
him.
Mr.. Allison IL a very poor man. Though
he has been In public life practically al
Of his manhood years, he has absolutely
nothing but his salary.
| wALrxE wKLknAy.