Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-06-12
PERFECT LANDSLIDE.
ENTIRE SOUTH AND WEST A UNIT
FOR SILVER.

Leading National Statesmen Say
the silver Sentiment Is Fast
Sweeping the Country - Some
Have Feared TO Speak-GraduaIIy y
Voices Are Raised in Its support.
The N. Y. World has been one OF
the most determined and persistent
advocates of the gold standard, but il
is newspaper as we'll, and endeavors
to give fair expression of popular
opinion on current topics.
Its Washington correspondent, un.
der date of the 9th ult., gives the fol-
lowing resume of the situation, which
has ever since been growing more in
tensely in favor OF the white metal:
"There are too many people in this
country who are hiding their eyes to
great facts. They place themselves
in the position OF the ostrich pursued
by an enemy. They do not wish to
gaze on what they term the spectre of
OF silver. So they hold their hands
over their faces, aud cry out: Il cam
not see it comipgv"
The speaker was an especially dis
tinguished Senator, who expressed
himself privately to the writer on the
financial question. There is enough
said in private here in Washington at
the present time on the silver ques-
ton to cause chill to pass over those
whose convictions and interests are
wrapped in the single gold standard
side OF the controversy.
People in New York and in the
East have scanty conception of the
strength of the silver sentiment at the
West and South. The press which
enlightens them on public affairs is
almost unit in favor of a gold stand
ard. The real situation throughout
the length and breadth of the United
States west of the Middle States is not
compreher ded in New York or New
England.
If the private utterances of public
men on the silver question could be
published as formal interviews, q por-
tion of the country would receive a
tremendous shock. I have conversed
with numerous persons whose names,
if were at liberty to give them,
would be we'll known to every
reader. The burden of what was said
was that the silver movement is gain.
ing hand over fist throughout the
country; that while there are diversi.
fed views as to the extent or the con.
ditions under which silver is favored,
there is determination on the part oi
the majority of the politicians OF the
South and West to make silver, and
not gold, the dominant element in the
national currency.
A leading Republican Senator, who
is we'll known as an advocate of gold
declared his belief to me that if the
question Of gold versus silver were to
be submitted pure and simple to the
people Of the United States, an over.
whelming majority would be rolled up
for the white money.
Il believe" he explained, "that the
sixteen to one standard might not pre-
vail, but that bimetallism, under con
ditions that would not meet with the
approval OF us who favor the golt
standard, would be favored. I believe
that in more than one-half the State.
the vote for silver would average NOR,
than two TO one."
This Senator would not dare to ex
press such an opinion for publication
Nothing would tempt me-" he said
at would be ruinous for me to do so.
And this same fear of consequence
deters many public men from ever
whispering what they think.
Another well.knowp politician in
formed me that Indiana would b.
carried by silver. Gov. Claude Mat
thews, of that State, recently said I,
me that Mr.. Cleveland could not carr,
a single Indiana county with his pres
ent view on finances. A leader OF tn
Arkansas delegation here says tha
Cleveland, as gold man, could no
carry an Arkansas county. Gov
Campbell in bis recent interview il
The World stated that silver is gainin,
throughout Ohio. Members of tn
Ohio delegation who are not wedde
to the silver belief tell me that tn
silver tide is swelling in the Buckley
State.
Gen. Charles Grosvenor, McKinle
manager, recently informed an &C
quaintance that the silver movemen
was gaining in Ohio. He was merel
narrsting q fact, and not using it q
an argument.
| The President OF one Of Chicago
great national banks recently state
that he had been studying the view
| of the 400 or more OF his banker col
respondents, and he has conclude
that silver has got to come. Thl
bank president is very wealthy. H
has begun to draw gold contracts an
leases, and will put all his affairs on
gold basis. There is no more arden
gold man in the country than he.
Democratic sound-money Senator (ne
Senator Brice) told me to-day ths
Ohio and Kentucky would be carrie
Gov cilynr