The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-07-03
AN ORGANIZED MOB.
Plenty Of WOuld-Re silver Leaders
but Nobody to Manage Them.

CHICAGO, July 2.-The facts that are
patent here, five days before the calling
TO order of the Democratic convention, are
that the free-silver men are in an easy
majority. and that they are all at sea as
TO what they shall do. Up to date their
forces are almost an organized mob, al
though there are plenty of would-be lead
ers, each with a following and each with
a wealth of ideas. The most aggressive
spirit is Altgeld, of Illinois. He comes
nearer being a dominating force In the
preliminary maneuvering than anybody
else. He is dynamo, impetuous, suggest
i've, uncompromising and resourceful, and
with the Illinois delegation solid at his
back, ready to throw forty-eight votes un-
der the unit rule for any policy or any
candidate he may dictate, his possibilities
become great. Just at present the tenden-
cy seems to be to center about
Altgeld and let him manage. Then
there is Senator Jones, of Arkan-
sas. whose tact and coolness car
ried the Gorman- Wilson tariff bill through
the Senate. He is ths wise counselor, more
conservative than Altgeld and yet not less
uncompromising, and his strength and
ability are much in evidence. Beyond these
two there can hardly be said to be any
leadership worth speaking of.
The free-siver people believe tonight
that they will have clear two-thirds ma
jority of the convention, and they are not
troubling themselves on the point of a
declaration of principles. That will take
care of itself. The question is, who shall
be the candidate; and here is room for
committees, combinations and pressure.
Altgeld is working for Bland; at any rate,
that is the word which comes from the
inner Altgeld circle, although it must be
said that BANDS closest friends do not
altogether trust him. The Illinois Cover
nor has been about all day trying to ar
range for a meeting of all the silver DEL
egates, with view of uniting upon cam
didate before the convention and stamped
ing him through with hurrah. 1t is sup
posed that Bland is the who would
profit by such a performance as this.
Joe Hickey. Bland's manager. better
known in Washington as prominent
member of the third house and the invent
or of a concoction of whisky, seltzer and
lime juice which bears his name, says
Bland has 300 votes to start with, and that
there are plenty of others ready to come in.
There is no doubt that the trend here
just at present is more toward Bland than
any of the others. He has something of an
organization, with three headquarters and
| Autographs and other paraphernalia of a
| full-hedged candidacy. He has had the
field almost to himself in these earlier days
as 1.-The logical candidate, and If Altgeld S
! scheme for a caucus OF silver delegates
shall 60 through. the Bland shouting will
undoubtedly have a great effect on their
| deliberations. But there is objection TO
| Bland. The few conservative heads here
do not regard him safe man to nomi-
nate. He is too radical, they say, and
his record is not especially promising as a
vote-getter. There is the anarchistic speech
he made IN Congress year or two ago
| in which he made complimentary allusion
| to dynamite bombs. 1t would be blazoned
| on every dead wall should he be nominated
! There are also the speeches and votes he
| has made against pensions, which would
| surely ALLEVIATE the old soldier element. TIC
| Offset this talk BANDS friends dwell upon
| his noble unselfishness as shown in letter
| authorizing his managers to withdraw his
| name just as soon as il shall appear that
| his candidacy is a menace TO the party's
| success. But the discussion which has
grown up around Blands name is the firs
| evidence of deliberation which has thus
| far appeared among the silver agitators
| the first intimation of a thought in then
minds that anything more was required ol
this convention than the declaration fol
| free coinage at 16 to and the placing of q
candidate upon that platform.
| There is a glimmering suspicion now thai
something will depend upon the personalit,
| of the candidates. and that the issue is no
| all in all. There is an undercurrent fol
Boies. very strong under current. appar
| entity less among the leaders than among
the rank and file; but IL Boies should bs
| nominated there would loom up his utter
| ances against trades organizations, which
have already drawn out expressions of op
position from labor peopie-and so it goes.
The other Democratic silver candidate
| do not seem to be taken seriously Black
| burn is understood 10 be merely stalking
for a reelection TO the Senate. Stevenson
is not enough of a silver man to gain con
fidence, and Bryan and Campbell are mer
whispers. Matthews of Indiana is dis
missed as a convert too recent and voluble
and John r. Mclean OF Ohio is treate,
with levity. 1t must not be supposed tha
| Mclean is in this for fun He really take
his candidacy with all seriousness He /
the only one OF the candidates on tn
ground, and he Is handling his forces Il
good shape. and from his rooms In the Au
ditorium. Mclean bases his claim chen,
(Contin1ed % Feprth Page)