The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-15
PLOT OF DEMOCRATS.
Alleged scheme tn Capture the Presi-
Dental Election.
ngton Special in Chicago Post.

Washington Special In Chicago Post.
Democratic leaders have matured a plan
to capture the presidency next fall by or
tickets in the field and then bringing the
two wings of the party together In the
electoral college,
The silver leaders have been scheming on
the proposition for months. and very lately
passed ii along for the consideration OF the
managers of the sound-money element. by
whom it has been received with open favor.
The White House has been the scene Of sew
eral consultations on this most important
matter within the last four or five days,
friends of sound money. not only in Con-
gress. but from many of the ranking inan-
cial and commercial centers, having respond
cd 10 haSty summons to meet and discuss
questions of supreme concern to the party
welfare. The result of all this palaver Is
that thorough understanding has been
reached. and that Democratic hopes are
higher at this writing than they have been
IN two years
The struggle for the control of the conven-
ton at Chicago Is to be kept UP 10 the last
There will be no compromise OF suggestion of
compromise on either SIDE If the sound
money element can control sound-money
ticket will be nominated on an uncompro-
missing sound-money Platform. There will be
no pretense of a straddle or Of a desire TO
placate the silverites. On the contrary. the
the other side. If the silver men prove 10 be
strong enough TO take charge OF the conven-
ton. and keep 1t they will adopt the same
tactics proposed in behalf of the other side.
1t will be a fight to a desperate finish.
And then what?
Why, bolt by the losing faction. rump
convention and two Democratic tickets, one
on sound-money platform and the other
on silver platform. The sound-money tick
ct will be run to win in States where that
sentiment is supposed TO control, and the sill
to be of the free-silver way of thinking. The
tickets will not be brought into antagonism
Republican and where the general result
could not by any possibility be jeopardized
by friendly struggle for points,
far-reaa hIy preparation for party triumph
is: /. A growing conviction that II will De
impossible to reconcile the two wings OF the
party in the convention and that efforts In
that direction may as we'll be abandoned
first as last g That the question must be
fought out in the party: 8. That the
only way 1t can be done without committing
willful suicide will be by the plan suggested.
f. That the count will show beyond all ques-
ton of doubt how the Democratic masses
stand, and that with the verdict thus regis
tered the electors can consolidate their vote
upon ticket committed to an agreed policy
1t is further urged in behalf of the plan as
above outlined that Its adoption Will give the
Democrats living show to control the Fifty
fifth Congress. as well as to elect President
and Vice President. The honor and glory OF
Harris of Tennessee; Blackburn, of Ken
lucky; Jones, OF Arkansas; Turpie, or indi-
ana; Vest. of Missouri: ex-Speaker Crisp: OF
Georgia.; Representative Richardson, OF Ten
nessee, and several others Of that immediate
group in Congress. The fact that Richard
son and others who have been actively az
work formulating the plan are now indi-
eating willingness 10 talk about IL may De
construed as meaning that matters are an
such an advanced state that II is CONSIDERED
safe TO admit the public into their confidence.
AS before stated. the sound money leaders
have taken kindly TO the plan. and have
about made up their minds to adopt II as
presenting the most tangible method OF ex-
trication from the troubles that now en-
velop the party and. at the same time, IN
volving a minimum of risk of disorsaniza-
ton and Generalization.
There is nothing in the laws or the Consti-
tuition, so the projectors of this double head
ed plan OF saivaron assert viz, ,na is
successful issue. They claim the presidential
electors would be perfectly free to vote for
his name had not been before the people. the
theory being that the electors are response
BILE only to the party they represent, and in
no manner obligated to vote for the candi-
dates who had been named on the ticket be-
fore the people IL an emergency vital to the
party should demand otherwise. In order
that the readers of the Evening Post may be
spared the necessity of looking up authorl-
ties on the subject. that article of the Consti-
tuition relating to the election OF President
and Vice President is herewith presented, as
having eminent Importance in this connec-
tion. 1t is the Twelfth amendment. adopted
| in 1903. and reads as follows:
The electors shall meet in their respec-
tive States and vote by ballot for President
and Vice President, one of whom, at least.
shall not be an inhabitant Of the same
their ballots the person voted for as Presi-
| dent and in distinct ballots the person
voted for as Vice President. end of the
number of votes each, which lists they shall
| sign and certify and transmit sealed to the
| seat of government of the United States,
| directed to the president of the Senate;
the president of the Senate shall, in the
| presence of the Senate and House Of Rep
resentatives, open all the certificates and
| the votes shall then be counted; the person
| having the greatest number OF votes for
| President shall be President, IL such num-
| Der shall be a majority of a whole number
Of electors appointed and If no person have
| ing the highest numbers, not exceeding
| three on the list of those voted for as
President, the House of Representatives
| President. But in choosing the President
| the votes shall be taken by States, the rep
| resentation from each State having one
vote; quorum for this purpose shall con-
| sist of member or members from two
| thirds of the States, and a majority OF all
| the States shall be necessary to a choice:
And if the House of Representatives shall
| not choose President whenever the right
/ of choice shall devolve upon them. before
| the fourth day of March next following.
| the Vice President shall act as President,
as in the case of death or other constitu-
| tional disability of the President. The per-
as Vice President, If such number be a
majority of the whole number of electors
| appointed, and If no person have ma
| jority then from the two highest numbers
on the list the Senate shall choose the Vice
President: a quorum for the purpose shall
consist of two-thirds of the whole number
| of Senators, and a majority of the whole
| number shall be necessary to a choice. But
| no person constitutionally ineligible to the
office of President shall be eligible to that
| of Vice President of the United States"
Many of the silver leaders of the Repub-
| lican party are fully advised Of the Demo
cratic programme. and they are watching
| developments with the greatest interest
| The arch-plotters among the Democrats
| fondiy hope that the Republicans may be
| induced to pursue similar tactics Others
| say it would be to the advantage of the
Democrats if the Republicans were to carry
| their fight over the financial plank past the
4 CONVEX ton into the general campaign in ar