Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-04
Must Win in the Next National
Election or Never.
SOUND MONEY GROWING IN THE SOUTH
What Members of the New
Party Movement Claim.
IMPO RTANT RECRUITS


opinion which is growing among the ad-
herents Of the white metal.
Three months ago silver men who were
talked With would say that If they did not
win this year they would sweep things four
years from now. Since then a sudden
change has come over them. This no
doubt, arises from the stiff fights which
| the sound money men are putting up in
sections heretofore regarded as solidIy for
the white metal. Such inroads are being
made In silver sections that it is feared q
revolution in the feelings of the people may
take place after the coming election.
How 1t In I'm the South.
Congressman Elliott some time ago sized
up the situation in the south when he said
that a few years ago, when he was in
Congress. there were only three sound
money democrats in the House from the
south. The increase since then is well
known. THE southern people have never
been educated to anything but silver" said
a sound money southern man. Now
many of their leaders are teaching them
another size of the question, and they are
learning. In another five years, the same
man said. the south will not only favor
sound money, but will also be for protec-
ton.
Mr.. PatterKOn's Opinion.
Congressman Patterson of Tennessee is a
firm believer in the south turning over a
new leaf. He further believes that il the
unit rule is not adopted in the sending of
delegates to the Chicago convention there
VIII be big sprinkling Of sound money
men from the south at the convention IF
the silver men will just allow each district
to send its own delegates he said to a
Star reporter, I'VE will go to Chicago with
sound fnllntUinD 4 ha
south. II the silver men will do this they
VIII be licked out of their boots at Chicago
There Is one district in South Carolina
which would go all right several in
virginia. both districts in Florida a ma
lority in Virginia, several in Louisiana
Texas and Missouri"
The Matter of Organization.
So far as organization is concerned COM
pared with the organization of the sound
n oney people, the silverites are in shape to
be envied. Putting the partisan and nom
partisan silver organizations together, there
is strong array.
The American Bimetallic League and the
Bimetallfc Union, which consolidated here
in January when the silver party was or
ganized, began business several years ago
and has leagues throughout the country.
The combined organization claims a mem
~ IL
and Patriots of America are other alleged
fon-partisan organizations for the educa-
Ton OF the people on the silver question.
These organizations have just been consol-
idated The organization early last year of
the "Bimetallc democratic national commit
tee Will be remembered, and the last to
make its appearance is the American Silver
Organization" or new political party.
Democratic Committees Work.
The headquarters of the bimetallic DEM
ccratic national committee are at No 13 1st
street northeast, this city. Senator Harris
is the chairman of the committee, Senator
Jones of Arkansas treasurer and Col T. O.
Towles Of Missouri secretary.
A Star reporter who called at the head
quarters of the committee recently was in
formed by Col. Towles that the committee
bad never had anything to do with circu-
latinS silver literature; that it was formed
purely for the purpose of organizing the
democratic silver forces for this years cam
ra:gn.
The method Of organization was the an
pointment Of a silver committee in each
state composed Of strong men. These men
were to attend to the organization of silver
leagues throughout their respective states
The Washington committee is now receiving
reports to the work that has been done
and the condition in which the silver forces
are. No Information is impaired to news
paper men as to the membership of the con-
Germ.
It was not the intention of any of the mem
bers of this committee to leave the demo-
cratic party, should 1t adopt anything but a
silver platform at Chicago, but their inten-
tions are not known today. It is known,
however, that many members of the organ-
zation will not support the nominee of the
party If he Is not for silver.
The New Party Movement.
The new party movement has stepped in
to be benefited by what has been done by
all the other organizations, and today
claims that the nomination Of sound
money man at Chicago will give it the
electoral votes of solid south and west.
A Star reporter visited the headquarters
of the party. on the fourth floor of the Cor
ccran building, today. So far the force at
work consists of Chairman Mott, the sec
retary, and two stenographers.
In answer to question as to what the
rarsy Is Going, Chairman Mott referred the
reporter to clippings from papers and docu-
ments from western states, showing that
pledges from thousands Of voters are being
obtained to support only n silver candidate
for President. The leaders of the party are
actively at work in nearly every state Sc
curing pledges. Chairman Mot. showed the
reporter clipping from Utah paper con-
tanning the names of 740 voters in one town
who had signed the silver pledge. In the
ayers claim to be making the same pro-
gress.
Important Recruits.
Together with the extended claims of the
silver party as to the membership 1t al
ready has is the feeling that such import
ant men as Teller, dubois. Mantle, Carter,
T:llman. Hatch and others are going to
Join the party at ST. Louis. These men do
not care 10 pc allied with the populist party.
but are willing 10 join new party when it
is found that there is no hope for silver in
the old parties, and then let the populists
aid in the silver movement.
With the talk of the new party is the
suggestion, founded on good grounds, that
the democratic party is likely to split at
Chicago and each faction make 4 nomina-
ton. Should this be the case, there is a
belief that the important recruits looked for
by the new party would either remain in
the old parties or join the silver wing of the
democratic party.
The situation uI. to date is rot Indicative.
the politicians say, Of two parties result
ing from the fight at Chicago. That would
mean the division Of the silver forces, and
the silver men don't want that. Division
means death to silver. When the fight is
over at Chicago the rank silver men will
go 70 new party IL they lose. On the
other hand. the sound money men will go
tn the republican party il they lose.