Evening star., 1896-09-21
Democratic Leaders Incensed at John
Boyd Thacher's Letter.
WILL SURELY lose BRYAN THE State
A Deal to Win the State Ticket
and Legislature.
CHARGED TO SENATOR HILL

New York, according to the view OF tne
democratic and silver managers today, Is
irretrievably lost to Bryan and this feel
ing comes about over the letter of john
Boyd Thacher, the democratic nominee Tor
governor, published in the New York pa
pers this morning. Probably one-third of
the managers hope for the best, since the
letter, but they look for the worst Be
sides this feeling the majority of the lead
ers are mad-mad clean through-and dis
posed to look upon their fellowdemocrats
In the empire state either the simplest
minded politicians on the face of the earth
or treacherous to the national ticket.
Few of the leaders will talk for publica-
ticn about the letter today. but they admit
that Mr.. Thacher has placed the democrats
in his state in a position that will make
them the laughing stock of the country
and lose them the respect of the party.
Some think that the best thing which can
be done is for the silver men to sacrifice
the state to a dead certainty and maintain
their principle by nominating an indie
pendent or silver democrat for governor.
This, they think, would at least give them
chance to stand on principle and to go
down with flying colors. 1t would be bet
ter to go down this way they think than to
go down with the odium which will. it is
supported
Senator TiIIman Mad.
Senator Tillman of South Carolina, who
was here this morning comforting with the
managers about his appointments to speak,
was one Of the maddest of the leaders.
Speaking to a Star reporter of the situation
in New York, as just developed by the let
ter of the democratic nominee, the fiery
South Carolnian said: 1T Is a deal be-
tween the Cleveland and Hill wings to be-
tray the national ticket for the state ticket
he he iy.rr mo I,ph
to put out candidate of their own for
governor. either democrat or an inde-
pendent"
Speaking of the campaign generally in
the eastern states, Senator Tilman said
that the trouble to contend with was
treachery to the national ticket in various
places. For that reason ne did not have
much hopes in the east.
Senator Tillman is one of the few lead
ers to tark openly about the New York pre-
dicament- The others feel he does, but
they are keeping quiet. Senator Faulkner
was not in the city this morning, not hav-
Ing returned from his home, where he went
Saturday night. Secretary Gardner refused
to talk about the affair. Senator Stewart
was red hot. and thought the Thacher let
ter had finished the business for Bryan in
New York.
Charged to Senator Hill.
Senator Tillman's declaration of deal to
save the state and sacrifice Bryan is re-
garded as what is actually the situation
in New York. Senator Hills attitude, 1t is
charged, has been preliminary to such a
course. and it will be generally believed
that his hand has figured in this more ex-
tensively than appears on the surface. This
aggravateS the silver men more than Is
imagined. They had recently grown tireC
of Hills apparent Indifference to the ma
tional ticket. and they are said 10 have
made the Senator aware of 1t.
There would be no great surprise II
all Chn Ii n1Eo toll
from Chicago or from here about Mr.,
Thacher. There are those who say that
Se?ator Jones ought to declare himself
on the matter. He ought not to let Bryan
be butchered. They think that a stiff
position the matter from him would
do good in other states.
1t is furthermore said that should an
intimation be given Representative SulZeI
or some of the other silver enthusiasts In
New York they would quickly take ground
which would repudiate Thacher and which
would either force his resigna ton or force
something else Sulzer acqaiesced in the
nomination of Thacher, but nobody be-
leyes he did it with good grace. He is
now in a position to say II told you So
and to be more lauded than ever as she
true leader of the silver forces In New
York There Is no telling what Sulze
will do, even If he does not get an init
nation from official sources as to the pcsi
ton to assume.
Regular ThrOat-Cuttins Match.
Unless something is done in New Yorl
to restore harmony 1t Is believed that tn,
fight there will develop into regula
throat-cUtting match between the silve
democrats and the followers of the ma
chine. The national ticket will not onl
be slaughtered, but democracy in the stat
will be practically exterminated, SO far a
this campaign is concerned.
While the foregoing are the views of
majority of the democratic and silver man
ayers here there . few who think tna
Mr.. Thachers letter may aot tie so ser.ou
appears at first blush. They think tha
1t is Intended to secure The gold vote o
the state for the national ticket and be
iieve that it will work all right. The,
do not take into consideration, however
the things considered by the silver men
the hatred which will be felt for the ticke
by the rab!d silver men OF the state, tn
di5trust which Will ensue on all Sides an
the swapping field which will be opened t
the republicans.
There are those who say that Mr.. Thach
er's position does not differ materiall
from that of Secretary HOke Smith, VIII
has been praised for his stand. Mr.. Smit
still maintains that he is a gold man, bu
recommends that the Chicago ticket
supported because of its regularity.
Tine idea that Mr.. Thacher's letter Is In
tended to catch gold democrats is knocke
put, the silver neil allege, by the positio
taken by the Albany Argus. That pape
now comes out for Thacher but continue
ft. GrrIt