Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-01
THE VICE PRESIDENT
Peculiar Position in Which Nj. Stevenson
:, is Placed
He Has Observed silence Because Of
His Administration Connec-
*
tion-NOw Sidetracked.

Vice President Stevenson, now on his
way home, is denying himself to interview
ers. He sends back word that he has moth
Ing to say about tie Chicago convention, or
about any phase of the political situation.
Some of his friends are not SO mute. They
consider that he has been badly treated,
and they do not hesitate SO to declare
a SnrprisinR Position.
Mr. Stevenscn's position has for some
time excited surprise. The wonder has
been general why he did not ally himself
openly with the silver cause. He has al
ways been a silver man. In fact, he was
for season the hope Of a certain faction
Of the friends of silver. The principal rea-
son assumed for his silence was that as
sort of Ealf-brother Of the administra ton
ne did rot think it proper to lead move
ment against it. He differed with 1t on the
financial question, but doubted the SEEM
illness of his taking the field and urging on
a fiat reputation OF it's policy and perform
anceS.
Advised by the Leaders.
1t is stated now that in adopting his
policy Of silence FIR. Stevenson had not
only the Endorsement, but the more positive
encouragement of some of the silver lead
ers. At that time the prospects were not
overly bright for silver. A compromise
culation was that the gold men would
muster fully one-half of the convention,
and that both a compromise platform and
a compromise candidate would result Mr..
Stevenson was to save himself for this
emergency. The silver men would accept
him because of his well-known views, and
the gold men would accept him because
Of his position and personal popularity
And 80 the days went by without any
word from Mr.. Stevenson to indicate wheth-
er he was for OF against silver in this
battle.
Sudden Change.
Then came a change in affairs. as sudden
as it was radical. Silver began carrying
everything before It. Compromise talk died
out utterly. Silver was to rule the roost at
Chicago The gold men were not to be al
lowed to have voice either In writing the
platform or in naming the candidate. Car
oidates for the presidential nomination
from among those who had been active IN
the primaries began springing up. Men
never before considered as presidential
quantities ran up lightning rods and began
counting the Chicago belt All compromise
men well all gold men found them
selves out of the line Of calculation. Silver
active and pronounced, was on the cards
for control at Chicago. and nobody but
man who had been outspoken for silver all
through this latest fight might hope for
nomination by the convention.
Found Himself Side-Tracked.
In this way, as the story goes, Mr.. Stew
enson has found himself side-tracked. He
Is no longer consulted, nor Is his name now
on the popular list of the availables. He is
without influence in his own state. A man
of the name of Mcconnell, with only
local reputation. is put forward by Gov.
Aitgeld, who controls the state machine,
as the candidate of Illinois. Both Mr.. Stew
enson and Colonel Morrison, veterans Of
many fields, ard men of national aim ard
consequences are set aside without cere-
mOny.
One Cause of Bitterness.
What embitters the friends of Mr. Stew
enson is that some of the men now shouting
the loudest for this other candidate or that
were only & short time ago supporters of
MIR. Stevenson and among those who con-
sidered that his attitude was a wise one.
But with the rising tide they have swept
past him. and are now ignoring him. They
are either candidates themselves, or man
ayers of the candidates. of other men.