Evening star., 1896-03-02
THE FINANCIAL QUESTION
Probable Complexion of the Next Elsc-
toral College in This Respect
A Conservative Estimate Puts the
Sound Money Strength
at About $50.

The recent demonstrations by the friends
of silver III the Senate and the utterances
of the far western republicans have set Up
a drift of speculation as to the probable
outcome If silver free coinage should be-
come the marked issue between the parties
in the next campaign. Consequently there
has been deal of figuring done at the
Capitol on the complexion of the next cleo
tofal college, and some interesting forecasts
of the result are being made.
In all Of these calculations the assump-
ton is made that the country will divide
on this question mainly along geographical
lines, that is, with the west and the south
in combination against the north and east
The term west has changed In signili-
canoe very considerably of late years. What
were formerly known as western states,
such as Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois
and even Iowa, are now classed as middle
territory, and with the possible exception
of Iowa the Mississippi river is taken as the
divisional line between the west proper and
the middle east.
A Line Drawn.
One of the most conservative estimates
lately made draws line of demarke ton
between the gold and silver regions along
the western and southern boundaries Of
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana,
Ohio and Maryland, giving to the anti
silver party or parties all the territory ly-
ing north and east Of that line. With the
exception of Maryland and Indiana these
states are normally republican. Maryland
is at present a republican state, but her
title such is not yet confirmed, though
she has always been ranked as favorable
to sound currency as opposed to the free
coinage of silver al 16 to l.
indiana is ALWAYS a doubtful Ullan.itV
The state went republican at the last cleo
ton by A, 713 majority. but there are ap-
portionment problems in the field now that
may complicate the next campaign. Yet
the record of the state has been with gen
eral uniformity favorable to the doctrine
of sound money.
Maryland and Indiana.
A fair compromise, it is thought by the
one who made the estimate referred to, is
to give Maryland to the sound money col
umn and Indiana to the doubtful list.
There will be 447 votes in the next electoral
college, of which 22i will be necessary to
choice for the presidency. The states in
side of the line thus established including
Maryland and Indiana, are entitled to 22l}
votes. Taking out Indiana's 10 votes there
still remain 2OS votes reasonably sure for
sound currency, or 1t less than enough to
elect
In the recent balloting in the Senate on
the question of free coinage both of the
Senators from West Virginia and those
from Iowa, which are not included in the
sound money territory, voted against silver,
and it is regarded as reasonably certain
that both of these states favor the sound
system of finance. West Virginia has six
votes and Iowa thirteen in the college,
making a total of nineteen votes that may
be counted upon as practically pledged to
the cause of honest currency, giving total
of 227. Delaware has three votes and. be-
ing somewhat uncertain quantity, may be
cast out of the calculation and still leave a
majority of the college in favor of gold.
As to Nebrnskn.
Nor is this all. Nebraska is outside of
the line, too, but she is by no means a GER
tain silver state. Indeed, it is now regard
ed as among the probabilities that her vote
will be cast against free coinage. She has
six Representatives and two Senators, thus
giving her eight votes in the college, which,
if added to the vote already outlined, would
give the gold strength 232 votes without In
diana or Delaware. One of the Senators
from Nebraska, Mr.. Allen, is a free silver
lite, uncompromising and radical, but it is
urged that he does not represent the pres
ent sentiment of the people. He was
chosen during the anti-republican wave of
1S.}2-'93, when the popuiist party was a
strong factor in the west, and when Ne
braSka, normally republican, was carried
by fusion party. The state has no direct
interest in silver such as has Colorado and
Nevada or Montana, and except for her
proximity to the silver belt is in general
sympathy with the sound money senti-
ments of the east. The last man to stand
before the state for a seat in the Senate
was Mr.. Thurston, pronounced advocate
of gold, and the state went safely fepub-
lIcan on the legislative contest. In 1892
there were Seventy-one votes friendly to
silver in the legislature against sixty-two
republican votes, and in 1894 there, were
elected nnety-seven republicans against
thirty-six in joint ballot, thus indica ling a
marked change in sentiment. In 1894 the
republican candidate for governor was de-
feated by fusion candidate supported by
the populists and democrats by a majority
of 3,192 while the candidate who ran on a
square free silver plank received but 1900
in the entire state out of a total vote of
very nearly 100000. In 1895 the republican
candidate for supreme court justice re-
ceived majority of $3.50.
Giving the sound money column all of the
states inside of the line indicated above
and adding West Virginia, Iowa and Ne
Draska, there will be cast in the electoral
college no less than $50 votes, leaving but
1917 for the white metal. This gives to the
free silver column Kentucky, which is at
present very much in doubt on the money
question.