The San Francisco call., 1896-05-29

OF the party from Jefferson to CIeveiand
has opposed the principles of such leglsia-
tion, they will stay with their party and
principles and there will be no bolt
General Clunie, Foote and others may
take bunch of matches and start little
hell of their own, but they will have no
following. 1t is not true that the masses
OF the party are for silver.
Superintendent of the Mint Daggett,
who will be the dominating admlnlstra-
ton power in the State Convention, ana
whose mbitious programme TO secure the
Chicago delegation as a laurel, the State
Central Committee as power ana the
local machine as club VIII be
beaten by a close margin by bitter
enemies, if beaten at all, does not tell all
he knows about the situation. When IN
terviewed yesterday he pleasantly gave a
selection Of his convention views, while
clrcumspection sat upon his unhlurtlng
lips and discretion reined his tongue.
inns is what he said in response TO several
queries:
II think that the Democratic party is
sound-money party in California b., l 90
not undertake to say that the Federal
brigade directs the Democatic party. un-
less 1t wants to be directed that way.
The people of the party Will know
what they want. 1t cannot be de-
termlned how the convention Will
be divided until the delegates are seen to-
SSSANAs IL ID LOO 1Ol pAOPoS go ~
the relative strength of the two elements.
| should naturally think that the delega-
tlon-at-large will be all on one side or the
other, but there will probably be scram-
| BILE for the places. 1t cannot be told what
will result. 1t is my opinion that the con-
ventlon should indorse President Cleve-
land In all his acts and policies.
"As to the possibility OF any boIt1ng at
the convention 1 can only speak tor my
sell. Ii L go into convention L go In
| with determination to support the noml-
nees. l will not bolt whatever the out
| come"
On the local contest Mr.. Daggett had
this to say:
81 understand that the 'Junta' people,
| as they are called, are the only ones who,
| undas the convention call, have any right
| TO hold primary or to expect recognition.
| they have been determined to be the le-
gltimate organization as far as the State
Central Committee could determine the
matter. 1t is not for me to say what the
convention will do with the contest. AS
far as am concerned l am opposed to any
compromise on half vote for each dele
cation. One or the other delegation is en-
titled to be seated. l am no halfway man.
81 am in favor of Frank Il. Gould for
chairman and / believe that he is a
favorite. 1 have not authoritatively heard
OF anybody else being in the fight.
"As to the National Convention, that is
a worse problem than the State conven-
ton, as it depends on so many contin-
| gencies- l have no opinion as TO which
element will control the Convention,
and 1t is guess work on any
body's part. l believe that if
Mckinley comes out for silver or strad-
dies the money question the Democrats
will have good show to win with
sound-money man. That is all l care to
| say. Aside from that question, his posi-
ton on the tariff or his agitation of the
tariff question which he represents would
| be resented by the business interests OF
the country at the present time, and the
| two things combined would beat him."
Harbor Commissioner Colnon is rad
ical silver man and his views are generally
taken as in harmony with Governor
Budd's. What he said yesterday about
the State Convention was said with less
| ginger than his paper, the Stockton Mail,
has spoken, but his position is typical of
that the leading and strong free-silver
Democrats generally.
| ''The State Convention" he said, twill
declare for silver, and it ought to do so for
that is the sentiment of the Democracy OF
| California. When l say silver | mean
| the free and unlimited coinage of silver at
16 to 1 with no straddle. What the
strength of the gold forces will be know
nothing of except what / read in the
papers. | conclude though that If con-
certed efforts are made by the Federal
office-holders, supported by others who
are for the gold standard, their power will
| be very strong in the convention. Still, |
| think the interior will outVote them. The
| gold strength, which will be mustered
/ from throughout the State, will be due to
| the efforts of office holders. San Diego is
in Welburn's revenue district, and there
| is the custom-house and postofice there.
| In Los Angeles the custom-house, posioffice
and the revenue service figure. In this part
| of the State there is hardly town that
| has not some representative of the admin
| istration, and they are generally active,
intelligent and influential men. The gold
men are largely politicians and the silver
men are not, generally, politicians and not
| organized. The action of the Republican
and Prohibition conventions on silver and
the strength of the Populists are sgniti-
cant of the sentiments of the mass of the
| people of California. II our State Conven-
| ton does not declare for free silver it will
| be a clear case of administration influ-
ence.
Il don't think that straddle is possi-
BILE. 1t must be one thing or the other as
tion at large will be either Tor silver or the
administration.
"If the gold men should control the
| convention / don't think there will be
any bolt of silver men. They will await
| the Chicago convention, which | am sure
will declare for silver. If gold wins at
Chicago the party will be split, two can
didates will follow and the silver
element in this State will go its way.
| The sincere silver men will vote
for the cause Independent of party lines.
An alliance with the Popullsts would be
the natural result of split. The silver
question, like the slavery question: will
not down until settled. We might as we'll
have square fight on it now as four years
from now. The Democratic party has
hard outlook, and this is the only chance
of its winning. think that it will be just
as well if the gold men do bolt at Chicago
When they 60 out the Populists will cave
in and the silver cause will draw large
support regardless of party"
Mr.. Colnon would not say much about
the local contest which he recognized as
possibly controlling the convention, but
intimated that the great cause of silver
was more important than local family
quarrel.
81 keep sloof from local politics and
know nothing about them, f" he said. 81 am
for silver and a HalaCatQ tn tho