Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-17
SOMEBODY TO Be SURPRISED
When Free Coinage Shows Up
at Chicago.
ALABAMA HAS SET THE PACE
That Will Be Followed by All the Southern
States.
BlMETALLlsM IN THE AscENDANcY
Only Party That Will Show SINGER
ity in Dealing With the Money
Question.

:. Washington, April 13-The opinion Is
freely expressed here that the advocates
of the free coinage of silver at 16 to by
the United States, Independent of other
nations, will control the national demo-
cratic convention. This is largely based
upon the action of the democratic party
in Oregon and Alabama. The gold stand
ard idea is stronger in Oregon than in
any other western state, not excepting
California. The republican party is so
far dominated by that idea that the free
silver men in it were only able to secure
a straddle. This gave the democrats their
opportunity and they improved 1t. Their
adoption of full silver plank is expected
to draw to them all the populsts and q
large element of the radical free silver
coinage republicans. This combination,
the democratic leaders believe, will carry
the state. The voice of Oregon in the ma
tional democratic convention will, of
course, be for free silver. There is not
the slightest doubt that every other state
west of the Missouri river will follow
suit If they do they will carry the fol-
lowing silver strength into the national
convention:
California, Is; Colorado, s. Idaho, g.;
Kansas, 20; Montana, 6; Nebraska, 16;
Nevada, g.; North Dakota, g.; Oregon, 8;
South Dakota, s; Utah, 6; Washington
3; wyoming, b-t0tal, lzZ
Alabama Sets the Pace.
1t is claimed by the silver men that
Alabama has set a pace that will be fol-
lowed by the entire south. They say that
the gold men cannot make as strong a
stand in any other state as they did In
Alabama. They had the advantage of
the power and popularity of Mr.. Herbert,
a cabinet officer, and all the federal of
fees and all the money they desired. The
result indicates that the democratic pop
ulists are showing disposition to return
to the ranks of the party, from which
they have been driven by the Wall street
tendencies of the administration of Mr..
Cleveland. If this course is adopted in
Georgia that state will be carried for
silver as Overwhelmingly as Alabama
has been.- Not a state south of the Po-
tomac or of the Ohio seems likely to be
carried by the administration gold men.
The strength of the states is as follows
Alabama, %; Arkansas, 16; Florida, g.;
Kentucky, rs; Louisiana 16; Mississippi.
Is; Missouri, "a; North Carolina, %; South
Carolina, IS; Tennessee, "a; Texas, 80; Vir-
ginia, "a; West Virginia, 12; Georgia, 26
Total, 1885,
If this estimate be correct, the silver
strength in the convention from west of
the Missouri river and south of Mason
and Dixon's line would be AIS. This would
be within forty of a nomination. This
would be easily secured from the dele
gates of the following states:
Illinois, 49, Indiana, 30; Iowa, rs; Michi-
gan. 28: Minnesota. 49,: Wisconsin, "a;
Ohio 46-totaI 22O.
Indeed. the silver men have a good
right to expect the votes of all these
states; but with one-quarter of their
ried and A free silver candidate nomi-
mated.
It is understood that Q majority of the
convention makes the platform; that
when two-thirds rule is adopted in any
national convention. ii applies only to the
voting for' tbe candidates. whether a
two-tb;r5s ,ule shall he adopted at all
danends upon the will of the majority.
Every national convention decides this
question for itself. Perhaps the silver
men would be quite as anxious to adopt
II as the gold men, If a silver platform
is adopted
Mo Anti-Silyer Candidate
NIL, he ,,Iaoed ,,nonit If a. be said tha
the tworthirds r,Ile is the unwritten law
Of the Democratic party the fact goes
along with this that there is another
usage Of tbe marty under which when
ever anv Candidate receives a majority
vote. he is always given a two-thirds
majority vote by the surrender of those
who have been opposing him. This Is
just as well established a usage as any
in the party. and has never been varied
from since 1874. van Buren, VINO was
the choice OF the party at that time, was
defeated by trick. Mp Caihoun INDUCED
some OF the delegates VINO were instruct
ed for Mr. Van Buren TO oetray tneir con-
stituents py supmittlng swo-thiros rule
Tor that Oh the HaJoTity Inese Iecrsant !
delegates tnen svoteo, accoruing 70 tnelr
DISTINCTIONS, TOT mr.. van f Duren, uot t,,i.d de,
feated MIN py their votes Ior a lwo-tniro !, q q
rule. FOR this .he patty was pulilsnsu ~. ~
1873 tnrougn the oeiee'i4n a oi xaH Du.sn .t,n
anu ms Ioiioweis' m aisu ~ 'as ,;deat yo,,,;s
osmocra'ic hoiiiihee LUZ pie''uei'' lie" %
Ssss. ~, s,i,,a,. aar,oora.s ,,ara
% ions 90 ae tl,.,,., staad;ra tha
os,a, ~ t
party WINE o,,iei > Welt osei " ."e Pop,