Evening star., 1896-02-11

leaders of all the parties finds that the
timent Is that the campaign this year Will be
virtually over when the national conven-
t1ons meet. On every hand it Is recognized
that there will be practically but one issue
this year-that of finance. Overshadowing
even the question of tariff is that of double
or single standard for this country, and
every indication points to the fact that no
party will be able to bring the tariff ques-
tion to the front with sufficient force and
attraction as to give the other a back seat.
Therefore, the leaders of every party know
what the main issue will be, and they know
now what the people Of the country will
think of that issue. The fight from now
til the conventions meet Will be more bitter
than afterward, because the contending
forces Will struggle for the mastery of the
conventions. The side that Is defeated and
the side that wins will know what to ex-
pect and how to act Shrewd men see that
it is no longer a question of personality in
the selection of the presidential candidates
1t is question Of how each candidate stands
on the financial question. Even the plat
form is hardly likely to be regarded as i'm
portant as the man who stands on it, be-
cause there has come to be suspicion in
the minds of the voters of at least some sec
tions of the country that platforms are
miragas, pretty to look at, but not easily
grasped All of the recent speeches in the
Senate and House have meanings between
the lines that are beyond comprehension by
the public at large, but the struggling men
on each side realize their meaning. Both
from republican and democratic speakers
have come warnings that certain things may
be expected If this or that is not done
These warnings are for the benefit of the
men who Will sit in the coming conventions
and not for the purpose of influencing legis-
lat1on now. 1t Is all part of the big fight
which is on for the mastery of the co1ven-
tons
Silver In the Convention.
1t is freely admitted that the chances Of
silver In the ST. Louis republican conven-
ton will be simmer than in any of the other
conventions, but the republican silver men
who have determined 10 remain in the party
are going to make fight for the man most
favorable to their views. They are now try
ing to determine who that man will be- The
preliminary fights in the western states so
far are favorable to Mckinley. Many silver
men construe this as indicating that Nc
Kinlcy will receive the silver vote at st.
Louis. Reed has strong friends among the
silver men. His supporters argue that none
of the men now spoken of for the nomina-
tion are silver men; that Reed is honest
enough to vote and work against them, and
that he would be honest enough to treat
them fairly should ne be elected. Allison s
boom has a silver lining, but it i.s looked
Upon as of the kind which will fade. His
vote in the Senate on the bond bill substitute
is pointed to as proof that he is no more
for silver than hundreds of others who claim
that Morton will get any support from the
| silver forces. The extreme silver men who
| talk of wall street dtminat ton" already
| charge that the word has gone out that Nor
| ton must be the republican nominee or that
| funds will be lacking when they are needed.
| This charge is being dustriously circulated
| by silver republicans against Morton. Some
would-be knowing ones assert that For
akers attitude on the money question will
| be a big thing for Mckinley at st. Louis.
| 1t will enable him to get in good work for
| the Ohio men among the silverites.
The Fight at Chicago.
At tho Chicago convention the white
metal men are going to be thoroughly Or
ganized. They are fighting every inch
| now, and will go there prepared for a
desperate conflict. The gold men are also
getting in readiness. Who the silver men
there will support will worry them con-
| siderably. None of the men prominently
mentioned so far will get the votes Of the
genuine silver delegates. Neither Steven
as the lines will be SO tightly drawn as
not to permit of complimentary personal
votes. Who knows but that the talk of
Voorhees, may amount to more than now
| supposed? If Governor Matthews ex-
poets to be voted for he must show how
he stands. Democratic leaders know that
their party is in a fearfully shaky condi-
tion and that the nomination of any man
|
1t practically every southern state. Voor-
| nees has voted with the silver men, and
processes to stand shoulder to shoulder
with them today in all they do. Then
| there is more than little talk for Hardin
| of Kentucky, but he could hardly expect
more than second place on the ticket if the
| silver men have control of things. Another
man who is being quietly talked of fol
| second place is Thurman Of Ohio son OF
the ''old Roman lie is one of the big
four silver combine of that state, and
| should he be able to take a silver delega.
ton to Chicago will be looked upon as
lieved that the gold element of the part,
has brought out the man it expects te
support. One of the silver men who gets
frightened at the Wall street ghost de-
clares that the money power will have
no other man than Cleveland; that no
even Whitney or Olney will suit them.
There will be two conventions where
gold watch will be almost out of place
the populist and new party people, at st
Louis. There silver will be king. 1t car
| reasonably be counted upon as certainty
that the two conventions will become ont
before they are in session a half day
| What men this combination will put up il
an unknown problem. The desire among
the majority of silver men is for a darl
horse. 1t seems to be the opinion tina
Senator Teller has cut himself loose S,
completely from the republican party tha
he will be found in harness with the silve
party at the proper time. This woul,
| Min 1OrWdIQ as pTeSluent1dI nom
inee, but Star reporter was informed OF
undoubted authority few days ago tina
Teller had told the silver men that h
would not be their candidate under an,
circumstances because his interest in sill
yer properties would lay him liable t
charges Of being silver mine owner 1
Senator Tillman wasn't from the south h
would probably stand better chance thai
any man mentioned so far. AS it Is, h.
is now the hero Of certain element O
the silver men and is being talked of IL
every direction as the silver nominee.
The Tillman Boom.
Since Tllman's speech in the Senate h
has received over $500 letters Of congratu
lation. A Star reporter was permitted t
look over some Of these letters They ar
from every state in the Union. Some O
them contain resolutions from granger an
Knights Of Labor organizations indorsin
the Senator's speech, and all of them as
for copies Of it. The public would be inter