New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-22
THE JOKE WAS on SENATOR DANIEL.
HE WASTES HIS FREE-sILvER ARGUMENTS ON
AN OCEAN LINER ONLY TO FIND ALL
PASSENGERS FOR GOLD.

PASSENGERS FOR GOLD.
Local nol,tcfans are laughing quietly among
themselves over a story that has been gong the
rounds within the last few days relative to senator
John W. Daniel Of Virginia. Senator Daniers part
I'm the Chicago Convention Is well known 10 the
public but according the story that politicians
are telling each other Senator Daniel does not con-
ne any part Of his free-sver ebullitions to his ap-
pearances In public.
The Senator from Virginia sailed for Europe some
weeks ago on one of the big ocean greyhounds. and
the story goes that for the first few days out the
SALON. the smoking room. the library and the decks
of the ship resounded with his clamor. Morning
noon and night, In season and out OF season. al
bredkfast. luncheon and dinner, the Senator talked
free silver Everything reminded him Of sixteen to
one or fiat money popular initiative. The silver
on the table the gold of the horizon at sunset alike
stimulated him to oraorlcal action. until his fellow
passengers were compelled In selfdefence to dis
cover things OF interest at the starboard rail- when
the Senator was discoursing silver on the port
promenade. In like manner. when the Senator be-
gan to hold forth in the library the smoking-room
at once assumed remarkable attractions.
Had IT not been Cor one passenger the Senator
would have had difficulty in securing an audience.
But there was one man who gave him much inno-
cent pleasure lie was quiet undemonstrative
Individual who would sit meekly for hours listening
to the Senator's endless harangues He rarely said
anything himself When he did speak 1t was only
10 say YEARLY "Ah." or 'Indeedi But this did not
trouble Senator Daniel. All he wished to be
listened to- and as a listener this man huge
success SO the Senator talked for about four days
But the worm will turn.
on the morning OF the fifth day he came to the
Senator with paper Il thought il would be in
terestng," he said. mildly "to get census OF the
gold and silver sentiment among the passengers
This was the longest speech the silent man had
made in the course OF the voyage. The Senator
was delighted and said so. lie headed the silver
list with his bold signature. Then the listener
started on his mission. lie made fair canvass.
but in the first cabin the only other signatures he
could get to the silver side of the paper was that
of 4 seventeen-y ca r-old boy from Tennessee and
those of several women. More than 100 signatures
were appended to the gold column.
The senator was not dismayed. That's moth
ing" ne said. Just you try the second cabin.
These are the aristocrats up here. In the second
cabin you'll find the representatives OF The great
voting class You'll seep'
So the went through the second cabin
Only one man In the second cabin wrote his name
below those of the Senator the Tennessee boy and
tho half dOzen women Then the worm. determined
TO have peace any price went through the steer
age There the defeat OF silver was even more
crushing. every signature was for gold
For the rest of the voyage the worm was kept
busy receiving congratulations. bit he didn't value
these especially. What he was after was rest, and
This is the story as II comes local politicians
and as they are telling II to one another. Though
IL amuses all OF them, the more delighted OF them
are those who know Senator Daniel best