Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-28
NO SECTIONAL FIGHT
That Must b Avoided at the Coming st.
Louis Convention.
Coz Acrvative Republicans Admit the
Party Divisions and Are Look
ing for Compromises.

The conservative men among the republic
can leaders are laboring to prevent any,
thing and everything resembling a sec
tional fight at st. Louis. Presidential as
pirants Of the different sections may clash
never so vigorously, but the effort made will
be 10 keep the sections themselves from col
liding in any fierce sectional spirit on the
issues involved. The desire rather is to
bring all sections together in agreement in
support of a general policy having for its
object, and making provision for, the con-
1icting interests as well the common
interests of all sections. This, and this
alone, 1T is held, is national politics, and
alone can give the country what the coun-
try needs at this time.
The Division on Issues Admitted.
That their party is divided on all the ma
tional ISIS ues, including even the tariff, is
conceded by the conservative republicans
The republicans of the extreme east in
cline toward the single gold standard, while
their brethren Of the west and northwest
and in portions of the south, are not only
for bimetallism, but favor heroic effort
on the part of this government to bring
about by International agreement the re-
establishment Of the double standard every
where.
Conditions are such now that the east Is
not demanding as high protection as the
south and the west. The manufacturers of
New England would not. taking the pfopo-
sition separately, protest against free raw
materials. They would even welcome the
taking down of the bars that far. There Is
/ an opinion that the schedules of the Wilson
bill are not at all destructive of their in
terests that In times of business confidence
and ordinary business activity they would
thrive under the law. But the SOUTH the
west and the northwest, where raw ma
terials are in abundance, want them pro-
tccted. and the west, moreover. Is disturbed
because Of the growing Importance of Japan
as manufacturing power.
There are natural divisions on the subject
of public improvements. The seacoast Sec
tons urge liberal appropriations for sea-
coast defenses. The interior enthuses but
little over this, but understands the ques-
ton thoroughly when it is presented In the
form of improving waterways, by dredging
rivers, and locking around the rocky places
In them
A National Man Needed.
Here. then. the conservative men argue,
Is food for thought for all men Of exper-
ience and liberal grasp Of affairs. This is
very big country, full Of conflicting inter-
ests and capable of being converted into
the arena for a most deplorable and de-
structive warfare by the Inauguration of
policy Of playing those interests in an
uncompromising spirit one against another.
The gold men must consider the views Of
the silver men, and the silver men the
views of the gold men. The manufacturers
of New England must not forget the raw
material men of the south and west. Pro-
lection as a shield must be broad enough
to cover the whole country. And as to
public improvements, the sea coast and the
interior, having a common interest in the
safety and upbuilding of the country, must
1t Is held. to accomplish anything at all.
concede each the Importance of the other
claim.
Such Is the way the case is stated by
those who hope to see the situation at ST.
Louis properly appraised, and the opportun-
ity properly improved. They deprecate the
talk of an eastern candidate or a western
candidate for the presidency. They hold
that the man nominated at ST. Louis must
be national man in every sense broad
enough of view to see all sections, and
broad enough of purpose IL elected Presi-
dent to consider and help advance the in
terests OF all sections.