New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-09
HOW ITLOOKS FROM ST. LOUIS
THE MKINLEY MOVEMENT WELL UNDER
WAY.
LOCAL SENTIMENT STRONGLY IN HIS FAVOR
THE EFFORTS OF THE PLATT MISSION
ARIES IN THE soUTF-THE FIGHT IN THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY on THE SILVER
QUESTION CENTRING IN MIS-
SOURI-THE SITUATION
REVIEWED.

OF LOUIS, M9rcn o.-lHe ftepuUHcdn ->dtioHdA
Convention will open here on June 16 That Is
more than three months away. Three months Is
a long time In politics Under ordinary circum-
stances such a period Of Intervention before the
nominations would deprive this place OF any
special political interest from National point OF
view. Ordinary circumstances. however do not
exist at present Exceptional features charac-
terize the existing situation. and these combine
to make st. Louis a highly important centre for
both parties
Just now Democratic activities are much In
evidence. The reason Is obvious The lines Of
the battle that Is being waged SO ferceiy between
the Administration and the Free Silver men con-
verge at this point. The indefatigable champion
OF the white metals unlimited coinage, Colonel
Charles II. Jones. holds forth here His paper
THE Post-Dispatch.' which Mr.. Pulitzer vainly
tried 10 capture. Is considered the most aggres-
sive. nncompromising organ Of the silver forces
Its war upon the Administration Is relentless Its
attacks are more severe than a good deal OF the
criticism that appears in the Republican press
The Colonel hits hard and incessanty. His infu-
ence In the an.i-Administratcn ranks Is undeni
ably great. His consplcuorsness and avowed de-
termination to commit the coming Democratic
National Convention to the most radical silver
view have brought down upon him the wrath and
FURY or the IreS.den' ana MS 1oliOWers.
SILVER THE DEMOCRATIC ROCK
They do not conccde Missouri to the silver ele
ment. 1t Is. they hold. disputed territory, just
as II was thi-ty-hve years ago. and they intend
to fight FOR IT, Their mass meeting here last
week the opening gun OF the vigorous cam
pagn which they propose to wage for sound
money in every Congress district OF the State.
1t is contended tina, they will carry more than
half the districts for Cleveland. but the Jones
people rid!cue this assertion and say that any
delegates the President gets in Missouri Will be
OF the contestant variety. They do not concede
a single district to the Administration. and talk
with the utmost confidence Of the Missouri dele
cation being solidly against the gold standard
They profess to understand the Administrators
plan perfectly. Cleveland they say. is COM
PEELED to make fight In the silver States to save
himself In the Convention. At least one hundred
more delegates must be obtained. in addition to
those already assumed TO ne favorable to the Ad-
minis,ration. to prevent the silver element from
controlling things at Chicago To obtain this
number Is the particular task TO which the Ad-
m.nistra,ion Is now addressing Itself It's efforts
in this and surrounding States have precp-
,a,ed one Of the hotties, factonal fights that the
National Democracy has seen since the awful
row Of four years ago. which resulted In David
B. HllYs ~orrowfu departure from Chicago with
all that remained of Il Presidential boom slowed
away In his waistcoat pocket.
I, is this irrepressble conflict with Its far
reaching effects for leading silver men mere 90
not hesitate 20 say. with significant emphasis.
that the adoption of a gold platform ana the
nomination ot n gold candidate In Chicago will
result in the greltest Republican victory ever
won since tho partys formatior-that invests
Missouri with peculiar interest aside from that
given by the Republican Convention. Indeed. as
an absorbent OF public attention 1t compares
favorably with the struggles incidental TO the
Republican Convention.
ADVANCE WORK BY REPUBLICANS
The echoes OF these struggles are becoming
more and more audible here. They are trans
mitted not only by the newspapers. out oy 'he
reports Of the active workers ana the various
ce endldates' friends who already throng the no.
tells at times. arranging FOR convention accom-
moiations and endeavorng to ascertain what
points OF advantage they may secure or that nave
already been secured by rivals. There IS ecarce'y
a State or Territory that Is not represented mere
In this way, In the course OF fortnight. mus
making It possible tor disinterested observer
to obtain n tolcrably fair Idea OF the way IN
which party sentiment throughout the country
Ia gradually crystaizing In favor OF the several
aspirants for Presidential honors
1t might be expected. In view OF the fact 'hh'
Iowa Joins Missouri on the North, that cohs'uei
able Is heard OF Mr. Allison's candidacy MI
Clarkson and others have been here ana give"
most emphatic assurance OF the serious nature
of the Senator's endeavor This It must be
said In all frankne.s. Was necessary ior MI
AlIison's appearance In previous party conven-
,,,.lt, hat
earnestness 70 which his actions and ambitions
are entitled. He has been considered simply as
a favorite son. and 1t Is only within the last few
weeks that any effort to invest his canvass win
a wider Significance has been made The hght
made by Quincy the party machine leader. In
Texas however the other day. showed that MI
Clarkson was determined to have some support
outside OF Iowa This, ogether with the runiors
that the Quay-Patt combination Is preparing 10
drop Reed and centre upon Allison. led 10 more
general discussion OF HE canvass. OUTSIDE OF the
bosses, however. and few isolated enorts such
as Cuney illustrates Allison does not appear 10
have any considerable strength peyoho '"e io""
borders and even at home there Is oppoSi''o"' ~
poll OF 700 votes taken IN Des "o"es 'e
Gently and McKinley's friends exceeded thoSe oi
Allison by 200 IN that showing. 1t Is needless 10
say that the Iowa Senator Is well thought OF gen.
orally. but the best politicians agree 'ha'' as
things are at present. his chief hope must rest
on the power Of the Eastern bosses. such AZ
Platt and Quay 80 far as can be learned. Mr.
Allison personally Is not encouraging the support
OF these gentlemen. He Is more alarmed 'han
satisfied with the prospect OF having II az ieas''
so say some Of his best friends He THINKS 'ha'
the advocacy OF Mr.. Reed by these gehtiehen
was great misfortune to the Speaker l"a'
famous dinner at the Brunswick Hotel where
Mr.. Reeds boom was supposed to have been
practically launched. Is still contemplated rue
fully by the most sagacous friends OF the seh''e-
man from Maine. As n matter OF fact there was
comparatively little political discussion OF I'M
poriance at that dinner but the people generaiy
thought there was, and Mr. Reed suffered In con-
sequence.