Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-01
The Democrats and Silver Men
Pooh-Pooh the Gold Convention.
NO EXCITEMENT OVER INDIANAPOLIS
Committeeman Richardson Says
They Can't Garry Precinct.
BYNUM'S LARGE CLAIM

A wonderful amount of apparent indif
ference Is manifested around political head
quarters here as to the convention of ma
tional democrats which assemblies at In
dianapolis tomorrow. If anything. the re-
publicans are watching the movements of
the gold democrats with more real interest
than the allied silver forces a block below
on the same street.
The leaders of the silver forces claim to
have discounted the detection Of the gof1
democrats long ago. They say that when
the Chicago convention declared for silver
and nominated Bryan they knew there
would be bolt. They took all that into
consideration when they acted. They al
lege that the movement has not been any
larger or of any more Importance or power
than they anticipated. 1t matters little to
them, they assert, what Is done. No ac-
lion that IS taken will affect their conf
dence in the result Of the election.
Effect ON the SOUTH
The position Of the republicans is that
they cannot be hurt by the convention, and
they do not know whether they can be
helped to any great extent-that Is. the
beneficial results will not be general The
nope OF the republicans Is that some man
VIII be nominated who will be acceptable to
the large element Of southern democrats
believed to be backing up the new move
ment. There Is feeling among republican
leaders that the right kind of a ticket at
Indianapolis might play havoc with the
democratic party in a number of southern
states.
In Louisiana there Is a wealthy and in
Huential faction Of the democratic party
Which Will support a strong nominee In
Florida there is almost the same kind OF
an element If gold democratic electors
could be put out in these states and in
dorsed by the republicans and other anti
suVer elements the expected result might
be changed.
Hints of Fusion.
There are floating hints that in several
states where the gold democrats have made
good showing Chairman Hanna would be
willing to advise the republicans to with
draw and support the gold democratic cleo
tors. or fuse with them. 1t is limited that
ne might do this In the two states named
DIS wen as In Texas, and probably In Ala
Dama. Chairman Hanna is we'll aware
thdt the conditions are such that those
states would not permit republican electors
~ De erected. Looking at it this way, he
nlsht agree TO let the gold democrats run
succeed. N
III, II such a plan could be put into opera
tion and should be successful. it would he
IN line with the belief Of some of the silver
leaders that the hope of the gold demo-
Gratis Is to hold the balance of power in the
eiectoral college. The silver men look upon
TINS as q remote possibility but they have
such notions In their heads
Inc ciaim OF Representative Bynum that
Ine gold democrats would carry Louisiana
FLORIDA. Texas and Kentucky NAV have
been based on some idea of such a nIan nc
mas been outlined. At any rate. his claim
has received attention.
They Talk About It.
1t was In reference to Mr.. Bynum's claim
mat Star reporter talked to some Of the
leaders at headquarters today.
secretary Mercer Of the republican con-
sressional committee said: II have not
gwen the matter enough thought to talk
ABOUT IT, l do know, however, that the
nomination of a man like Henry Waiter
son might cut big figure in several south
ern states. He is an old-time democrat,
and the old-timers would flock around
him. He Is popular and brainy: In fact.
he Is one of the great men of .he south at
this day."
Chairman Faulkner's Views.
Chairman Faulkner looked upon the
claims Of Mr.. Bynum as amusing, and
said: I'VE will have not less than 10000
majority in Texas. We will have from
$4,000 to 10000 in louisiana Florida will
gu democratic by the usual majority The
same element which has always fought US
in that state is doing SO now, but will have
no more success this time than before
We have received many additions in Flor
ida. In Kentucky will have hard
hsht. but as the question has resolved itself
into MckfnleyiSm or democracy, we have
absolute confidence even IN Kentucky. The
nomination Of Mr.. Watterson might add
some votes to a gold ticket in that state
democrats are realizing every day that
the movement Of boiling democrats is in
accordance with the judgment and views
of Mark Hanna, who is managing the
CO mpaign for Major Mckinley and that
a vote for a boiling democrat would he a
vote hn t.
becoming strong that there is not one
leader in this Independent boiling move
ment who will vote for his own nominee
The ticket will be put up simply to catch
the unsuspecting and those whose stom-
achs cannot stand Mckinley
Can't Garry a Precinct.
Representative Richardson said: "Why
didn't Mr.. Bynum include Mississippi, Ten
nessee. Georgia and South Carolina in his
claims? He could have done so with as
much likelihood of his prediction proving
true. AS a matter Of fact, l do not believe
that the gold democrats can carry a voting
precinct in this country. I do not call to
There is no interest in what the conven-
ton does. anyway, any more than the in
terest which attaches to a gathering CT
men in any section of the country"
Lawrence Gardner Laughs.
Secretary Gardner laughed in his jovial
way at Mr.. Bynum's claims, and said the
democrats were not worrying themselves
about losing any Of the states named
THE people Of the country will under
stand perfectly before the election" he
said. that the purpose of this whole thing
is to elect Mckinley Therefore, it will
not fool anybody. 1t is not the intention
of that convention to nominate a man
from patriotic motives. The whole thing
is a political game in the interest OF the
republican candidate, and anybody can see
through it,
Secretary Diffenderfer of the silver party
said 1t was a matter of Indifference to his
party what the convention did. He did
not expect to see Bryan defeated by any
thing done at the convention. The fight
was too well understood and the lines too
closely drawn for the gold democrats to
make any impression or dig a hole in the
democratic party. There is as much
chance for them to carry the mountains
of the moon as there is to carry a single
state" he said.
MERGERS District.
For short time today Secretary Mercer
of the republican congressional committee
let his mind get of national politics and
wander to his own district in Nebraska.
Mr.. Mercer received telegram. saying