Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-10
Interest Felt in the Coming Republi-
can DeIiverance at St. Louis.
bow FAR WILL THEY GO FOR SILVER?
Business Men as We'll as Politicians
Are Puzzled.
.. MR.. EVANS SUGGESTION

A simple declaration against free coinage
| at 10 to 1 as an Independent act by this
government is, of course, easily drawn
but that, 1t is recognized, would not meet
the occasion. While the republican party
| Is against free coinage as an Independent
act by this government, 1t is not against
free coinage if it can be brought about by
international agreement But neither
would financial plank drawn in those
bold terms meet the occasion. The COM
plant is that that is a hackneyed DELIVER
ance. The party is for bimetallism, safe
guarded, and the point is to declare that
in the best terms possible How shall it be
done? What form shall the friendly mes
sage to silver take?
business Men Interested.
The politicians are not the only ones puz-
Zling over this matter. They are very busy
with it, but not more so than the promi-
| rent business men in all of the business
centers. who are looking to ST. Louis for a
delverance favorable to sound money.
lhey have made up their minds what to
expect from the st. Louis convention and
later, from the convention that will meet
at Chicago in July; so that 1t is to the
repubhcan convention that they will make
thelr appeal FOR recognition. They will
submit to the platform committee their
ideas iii writing on the subject and mem
tefs OF that committee will carry into the
committee room in their pockets a large
assortment of rough drafts of the financial
rlahk Tor consideration and debate.
Volunteer Suggestions.
Gen. Grosvenor, who left Monday for St.
Louis, took with him number of sugges-
tions on the subject from prominent re-
publican members of the House Some were
in writing; others were delivered orally.
taI h,,t,.
less welcome for being volunteered Gen
GfosVenor recognized the fact that the sub
Ject being of the highest Importance, the
party would profit by all the light to be
obtained.
Among those who submitted suggestions
IN writing was Mr.. Evans of Kentucky, a
member of the ways and means committed
ana a representative southern republican
This is his plank:
Mr.. Evans Plank.
NO people can be permanently pros
porous whose currency is dcIased or dis
credited, or whose financial policy is halt
ing or doubtful. The free and unlimited
coinage of silver at ratio to gold based
upon anything less than the relative COM
mercial value of the respective metals
must necessarily result in fiat money to the
extent of the difference, and the republican
party declares its unalterable opposition
thereto. l: equally opposes any departure
from the present gold standard, unless
such departure shall be based upon some
agreement with the great commercial ma
ttonS of the world with which transact
the bulk of foreign business, which
would enable us to establish and maintain
system whereby dollars coined in either
of the two metals could be made of such
intrinsic value as to be equal to each other
in fact and in the estimation of the com
nercial world. Any other system of BIZ
metallism is fraught with evils too great
to be risked by an intelligent people; but
within these limitations we favor the
largest use of both silver and gold as
coinage metals"
Sectional Ideas.
1t is ascertained by examination that the
strongest Endorsements of gold come from
the east and from the south. The most
liberal concessions to silver are proposed
by the republicans of the middle states
and the northwest. What the outcome at
st. Louis Will be no man of large exper
ience will undertake to say. Unconditional
free coinage will not be indorsed. An I'M
qualified gold standard will not be urged
But how shall the double standard be
recommended so as to harmonize the con-
fiicting views that are held in the party on
the subject?
senator Teller Not Consulted.
Senator Teller holds that nobody knows
what is going to be done at st. Louis. A
month ago he believed there was no doubt
of declaration for single gold standard.
Today he says he is much at sea as any
of the others who will be at the conven-
ton. He is not consulted by either the
gold men or bimetallists, and consequently
is not aware as to what their plans are
a curious thing is that Senator Teller is
absolutely LETT in tine cold when confer
ences of the leaders are held, while Sena-
tors Cannon and Brown are consulted and
hlir olt-iaf
named are supposed to be equally as Sc
rious in their fight for silver as Teller and
to be equally as pronounced in their in
tention to bolt at st. Louis, but they seem
to be more deSirouS to remain in the party
than Teller. He has reached point
where he believes that the convention will
do nothing for silver, and is making no
effort to get it to do anything. Senator
Cannon is working hard to get some dec
| laration in favor of the white metal, and
hopes there will be some such declaration.
1t is known that he has pointed out to
many Of the republican leaders q course
he believes would hold the silver republi-
cans in line His suggestions are being
considered and may develop in a few DAYS
Senator Cannon. as well as Senator Teller
| is delegate to the convention.
Important Caucus Held.
Whatever may be on foot, it is known
that an important caucus Of the silver men
here who are delegates to St. Louis has
been in progress. at intervals, for several
days, and some facts about it may come to
light tomorrow or next day. Some time
ago these men agreed as to the kind of a
| fight they will make in the committee on
resolutions. They will first introduce a
resolution for free coinage at I6 10 l. When
this is defeated they will vote with the gold
men.
A Vice Presidential Rumor.
There has been a floating rumor that the
silver men might be conciliated by giving
them the vice presidency. Representative
Hartman of Montana was asked this morn
ing If he thought there was anything In
this rumor. He answered in the negative.
Mr.. Hartman is a delegate to St. Louis,
ard Is one of the followers Of Senators Tel
Ter and Dubois. He wants to see Teller
nominated by the Chicago convention. I'm
less he changes his mind, nothing will suit
MIN but free silver plank
Senator Teller is keeping his plans to
himself, as he does not propose to lave
them discounted ahead Of time.
Mr.. Morton. Secretary of Agriculture, ad-
| dressed the graduates of the University Of
Tennessee yesterday on "Citizenship.'