Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-03
Another Tie Binding Men Of the
Two Great Parties Together.
LOCKING TO THE PRESIDENTIAL FIGHT
Conservative Democratic Leaders
Anxious for a Compromise.
MORRISON'S WING

The chief significance attacheds to the
vote on the silver substitute in the Sen
ate is that it is another tie to bind the
silver men of the two great parties to-
gether. Aside from this there was nothing
to the struggle that has occupied tile Sen
ate and no reason for the interest and ex-
citement attending the closing scenes of
the contest Saturday. Nothing can come
of the bill. Every Senator knew this as
well as 1t is known to the public. But ev-
cry vote Of this scrt accustoms men more
and more to the violation of party rule and
to the forming of new associations Men
who have been for years opposing each
other on all other questions are naturally
suspicious of each other when it comes to
matter In which they are thrown together
ana are expected to cooperate. By this
means they test each others sincerity, and
each time they vote together thev become
more more accustomed to it and have more con-
aoehce In each other. Their party ties
become less binding The indeponacnce Of
the silver faction in each party has be-
come more apparent on each occasion that
inns question has come up. So it is too,
win the anti-silver men. Each struggle
for sound money" finds the democrsti,
minority more ready to follow The lead of
MI Sherman and Mr.. Morrill, The disre-
garo OF party obligations was particularly
apparent in this latest battle and the nur
pose is to force the issue in the House so
as to break the party lines there as they
are broken in the Senate.
The Effort in the House.
farty discipline has been stronger in the
House and the efforts of the silver men have
Leen stified.' They have not had the same
chdhce 10 count noses, test each other and
COMBINE. For this reason they are deter
mined TO get the Senate substitute before
the House. Some of the leaders of the
nouse mink 1t desirable to hold this bill in
the committee and there let it die: but the
indications are that this course will not he
io;io"ed lie apt.-silver men feel strong
enough IN that body to think that the con-
sideration of the question will serve only IN
snow the weakness of the silver faction in
lhe branch OF Congress supposed to be near
tst the people for this reason the amended
coma blll VIII probably be reported to the
House fer ncn-concurrence and a severe
defeat will be administered to the silver
substitute.
The purpose of all this agitation by the
silver men is to get the men in the repub-
tican party and in the democratic~party of
their faith closer together. They do not
seek the association of the populists, but
count upon their being ccmpeiled not to
oppose anything done for silver
Looking to the Presidential Fight
The present battle relates to the presi-
Dental fight, not to contemplated legisla-
ton at this time. They are working to-
ward the point of combination on pres:-
GENITAL ticket. The silver republicans have
abandoned their visionary idea of captur
ing the republican national convention and
nominating Don Cameron They are now,
hgEr.nS on the situation as they find If and
getting themselves accustomed to the as
sociatlon they expect to have during the
presidential campaign
Inc move toward an INDEPENDENT silver
throwing
Wlndward. The silver men still have homes
OF capturing the democratic convention If
the silver democrats can do this, they can
rely upon the Support of the renuhlicapc
who are associated with them in the Senate
ana OF silver men generally who are nor
democrats. This is what they understand
ana What inspires them 10 greater efforts
6ue there is an Alternative proposition and
II the democratic convention is anti-silver
Inc radical silver men of both parties ex-
pect still to come together.
Anxiety of Conservative Democrats.
II is an understanding Of what the sit
uat1on is tending to and the motives fer
pressing the silver question in Congress
now that lods to the anxiety of the con-
serVative democrats and induces MIR. Cor
man and Mr.. Faulkner to talk of a con-
ference compromise. How serious Mr..
German regards the situation of his party
may be judged when he even in a tenta-
tive way makes the suggestion of permit
ting free coinage in return for gold bonds
l ms suggestion is evidently looking to the
national convention, not to leeisIation
Inc silver democrats are not free from
anxiety as to the consequence to them of a
spht III the democratic convention They
silver platform will not be willing to leave
their party if such a platform is not adopt-
ed. When the silver meeting was held
mere snort time ago a canvass was made
n In Ino
known as silver men, and 1T was fonnd
that some Of the strongest of these wouII
not go SO far as to bolt the convention.
Will Try Diplomacy.
This disposes them to try diplomacy on
the convention. Morrison, who has de-
clared his opposition to the free coinage of
silver, they find has considerable support
among anti-silver democrats. AT the Same
time he has long held the position that the
veto power is restricted to constitutional
questions. Some of the silver men are.
therefore, discussing a scheme to agree to
the nomination of Morrison, if they can get
free-coinage platform, and nominate a
silver man for Vice President There is
talk even of nominating a free silver re-
publican for Vice President If they will ac-
cept the place and support the ticket. with
the agreement that Morrison would not
veto a bill put through Congress as a party
measure except on constitutional grounds.
1t has been suggested that if the silver
men got control of the democratic conyen-
tlon to this extent some of the sound
money men would bolt and they would
have to secure the support of all silver men
in the campaign. The suggestion is made
that Teller or Dubois, probably the latter.
might be offered the vice presidential nom,
ination, though it is not understood that
either has been consulted on the subject.
OF course, both sides this is all the
speculation of men who feel that they are
confronted with desperate situation.