Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1897-12-29
WOLCOTT VS.. GAGE.
win Mckinley he Forced to Choose BE-
tween Them.


Washington, Dec. 27--The political
sensation of the holidays has been the
reported estrangement of Senator
Wolcott and sc everal other ives tern sem
ators from the administration, owing
to the continued efforts of Secretary
Gage to more thoroughly fasteu the
gold standard upon the country, which
at least Wolcott's friends aver seem to
have the silent endorsement of the
president. For some days rumors of
coming strife have been prevalent, and
it is this that Senator Chandler had
reference to in his public letter warn
ing the administration to suppress the
secretary of the treasury, under pen
atty of losing the support of the silver
republicans in the senate. Senator
Wolcott refuses to be interviewed, and
his continued silence in the face of
such grave statements has made the
conviction stronger that there is foun-
dation for the stories.
Republican senator is authority
early in January will make speech
on the subject of international bimet-
allism and on the money question in
general, in which he will formally
sever his relations with the Republican
party and announce his purpose to act
with some party which favors the free
coinage of silver by independent ac
fion on the part of this government.
He will say that there is no longer
the slightest prospect of restoring sill
yer by international agreement, that
the financial contest henceforth in this
country will be battle between the
standards and that he prefers silver.
His speech will be something upon the
order of speech made by Senator
Teller at st. Louis, but will be far
more eloquent and dramatic.
1t is expected that number of Re-
publican senators who have heretofore
supported the administration will fol-
low Mr.. Wolcott in giving notice that
they can no longer act with the Re.
publican party. Among these sena-
tors are Carter of Montana, Clark of
Wyoming, Warren of Wyoming and
Wilson of Washing ton.
The desertion of these senators will
reduce the administration strength
in the senate to less than two-fifths of
that body. 1t will probably mean that
no serious effort will be made during
the present session to pass any finan-
cial Legislation through the senate.
The position in which Senator VOL
colt is placed is we'll understood by all
those who realize the peculiar situa-
ton which has developed with respect
to the administration and monetary
| commission of which the Coloradoan
is chairman. Either President Nc
kinley and Secretary Gage are at vari-
ance, or Senator Wolcott and his sym
pathizers are utterly deceived as to the
presidents attitude. Mr.. Wolcott has
since his return from Europe talked
long and earnestly with the president
and he defends the president while
taking a position of open antagonism
to Secretary Gage.
The assertion is made by Mr. VOL
colts sympathizers that Secretary
Gage misrepresents the administration
and that if it were not for the political
disturbance it would cause Mr.. Gage
might retire from the cabinet This
statement, which is now made pri-
vately, it is likely will be made public.
ly before long. If this is done the is
sue will be raised and the public will
know the facts.
The result will probably be that Mr..
Wolcott will find that he has
misunderstood the position of the
president and will then dramatically
announce his indignation at the ad-
ministration. The president can hard
ly be in sympathy with both Secretary
Gage and the Colorado senator as Gage
stands simply fol- gold and Wolcott for
silver.
As things are now tending the presi-
dent will have to break with one or
the other of them, and unless he is
misunderstood by the leaders of his
party and persons closest to him, the
break will not be with the secretary
of'the treasury.