Evening star., 1896-07-03
SCENES AT CHICAGO
Nearly All the Democratic Leaders
on the Field.
fHE CANDIDACY OF JOHN R. MLEAN
Senator TiIiman Predicts Another
French Revolution.
TALKS WITH THE DELEGATES
special From a Staff Correspondent.

Special From Staff Correspondent.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, July 3-The first thing
that impresses one at political headquarters
is the presence and active participation in
the struggle of nearly every big democrat
in the country.
1t was not so at st. Louis. That conven-
tion was managed by a mere handful of
men, and the ranking republicans stood in
the background.
Here you could not throw a stick without
hitting a democrat prominent in public life,
and whose name is familiar to newspaper
readers.
The presence of so many democrats Of
prominence, Senators, governors, ex-briga-
diers, representatives in Congress, may
probably be accounted for by the fact that
1t Is freefor-all fight, in which every man
has chance for himself or his champion.
Probably the most interesting figure of
the convention to the District of Columbia
Is Jno. X. Mclean. 1t has come to pass that
the federal district has a candidate for
presidential honors. Mr.. McLeans candi-
daey is not Jest. 1t is true that he will
stand before the convention as Ohio's son,
but Washington will claim to be his step
father. Washington money will go into
his campaign, and the long-sufrering house
holder when he goes to pay his gas bill and
register his monthly kick can console him.
Self with the idea that he is contributing in
part to great political contest.
Mr.. Mclean has arrived and opened his
headquarters at the Auditorium. He Is as
pleased and proud of his sudden jump into
national prominence as country boy with
his first pair of pantaloons. Mr.. Mclean is
a man of great good nature, and impresses
one as being anything but a scheming,
wire-pulling politician. He bushes like
school girl when his candidacy Is men
toned, and looks really embarrassed.
When one starts to talk to him about can
d!dates. he switches off on the silver ques-
tion. That, he says. is the greatest thing
before the convention, the one object to
keep steadily in view. At the same time
his Ohio friends will tell you that John r.
Mclean is the personification of the free
silver idea.
The silver men will be in full CONTROL"
said MIR. Mclean, in answer to a question,
and they will take everything in connec-
ton with the convention. 1t would be
sin in them to do otherwise. don't suppose
they will be arbitrary, but they will not
lose any rights. 1 suppose everything will
y
with plenty Of bouquets, the throwing of
kisses. and all that sort of thing The con-
vention will put through silver plank
and nominate some man who will not cheat
it on the platform. The people this year
entertain queer ideas. and want to see the
majority rule. l have the utmost respect
for the gentlemen who are coming here
from the east, but by the time they get
through with the convention they will real
lie they have been in a minority.
do you think free silver would carry
the eastern states like New York?' was
asked.
Most assuredly," replied Mr.. Mclean
THE people want vote on 1t, and on its
trial next November 1t will carry the east,
and New York now realizes it. One Of the
most influential democrats in New York
had all he could do recently to prevent
free silver instructions in his home-wa-
tertown. The truth as to the situation in
the east has not been told. The waters
have been purposely kept muddled. There
will be no doubt as to the result"
The Ohio delegation will present Mr.
McLean's name, and II Senator BIackburn's
chances do not improve, Kentucky will
support Mclean, it Is understood. The
Ohio shouters are beginning to arrive and
will have headquarters at all the big ho-
tells. Col. Dan" McConville, who was
sixth auditor Of the treasury in President
Cleveland's first administration, Is in
charge Of one branch of the Ohio delega-
tions.
Tillmnn ON Hand.
Senator Tfllman is here achieving plenty
of notoriety of the unique, If not envia BILE,
Tillmanesque kind. He preserves all of his
individualities.
His clothes are full of wrinkles, his white
vest has been ironed, and ironed until the
margins are jagged. His hat is old. He
says almost everybody is wearing old hats
these days
His delegation says 1t is a relic Of his
gubernatorial days, when ne had the lawn
Of the governors mansion plowed and
planted with corn. He hates the very ap-
pearance of plutocracy. and he condemns
style as he condemned the flower beds
and smooth grass of his official home. The
ruralists passing the place pointed to the
tassels ard ears with JOY.
Up in his room at the Sherman House he
lolls upon the bed during the day with his
boots upon the white counterpane.
Hungry stomachs and hard times are
conditions which kill argument and refuse
is a typicaIy Tillman expression.
There is whirlwind brewing. The peo-
pie are rising The rule of the aristccrat
is coming to an end. 1t came to an end in
New York state when the farmers threw
off the shackles Of their oppressors and
drove the money changers from the temple
Of their liberties.
1--WE will have revolt to which the
French revolution was but childs play If
conditions are not changed. We who are
near the people can see it coming. There
are days of devastation ahead"
He thunders dramatically, and his fol-
lowers nod their heads in approval
Tillman is being courted by some Of the
gold men. They would like to see the sill
yer men nominate Tillman for President,
as they would be glad to have the free
silver movement handicapped by the can
didate if possible.
Eckels and A1tgeld.
Two men here are watching each other
like hawks. One Is Mr.. Eckels, controller
of the currency; the other is Gov. Alt
geld of Illinois. Altgeld has one consum-
ire ambition in connection with this con-