Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-10-08
SILVER IN OHIO.
A Big Split in the Democratic
Party Imminent.
IMPORTANT BEARING ON The ELEC-
TON.
Mr.. MoLean's Advice May Cost
the Democracy Many Votes.
The Real Situation.

Since the arrival in Washington OF
eX-Representatlve Towne some very in
teresting stories are current in pOlitica.
circles respecting the Democratic polit.
ical situation in Ohio. There is a fore
s~hadowing of coming vents which, il
is said, will have important bearing
upon the fall elections in that state.
1t is learned, however, from other
sources, that a campaign of education
and oratory on the lines Of free silver
by Mr.. Towne or any one else will be
discouraged by the Ohio managers,
This statement is putting the case mild
ly. The real fact is that the Democrats
IN Ohio are on the point of abandoning
free silver as IN issue altogether in the
campaign and exerting their energies
in other directions. 1t is said that Mr..
John r. Mclean, who in this case is
the controlling spirit in the Democratic
campaign, has come TO the conclusion
that under existing circumstances free
silver as campaign capital would be a
losing investment.
This would be but a passing incident
in the campaign, subject To comment,
but not worthy of deep consideration,
were it not for the fact, II is said. that
there are some other Democrats in Ohio
besides Mr.. Mclean, and whose politi-
cal creed comprises more than the mere
election OF a United States Senator.
And here is where Mr.. Towne and his
friends enter the equation as factors.
The statement is made that the aban-
donment OF the cause OF free silver by
the Democratic managers in Ohio Will
bring about a very big split in the
party in the Buckeye State. Those
who put forward this assertion explain
it by saying hat a large proportion of
the Democracy in Ohio at this time con-
sists of men who honestly and earnestly
believe IN the unlimited free coinage of
silver by the United States government
as a financial policy of the country.
Some of these men re former Republi-
cans, who left their old political associ-
alton, and who stand by the Democratic
platform on account of this free silver
platform.
This being the case, it is claimed that
these people will not submit to the
abandonment OF free silver just because
Mr.. Mclean may happen to believe
that it will advance his interests on the
welfare Of the Democratic machine i'm
Ohio, 1t is pointed out that Mr..
Townc is the head Of the element or
ganizod under the erm Of bimetaii,ts.
gained under the term of bimetalis,s,
cause of free silycri, the first conside %
alton. Ii mi, aggregation are gath
erred many men who were formerly
prominent In the Republican party;
senator Teller and his associates. vino
walked out of the Republican National
Convention at 81. Louis, for instaI &c.
they undoubtedly have a large follow
ing throughout the United States, and
II is claimed a fair proportion of them
are I'M Ohio.
The assertion is made that if senator
Teller, Mr.. Towne and the rank and
file Of the voters whom they represent
left the Republican party fer free sill
vcr's sake. they will not cspou~e the
cause Of Democracy if free silver is
given mp as n politicsl issue 10y that
party. If this be true, it is claimed, it
VIII mean that the Democracy Will lose
a very heavy vote in Ohio this fall. 1t
Is known that the bimetallic leaders
are exceedingly indignant at the pro-
posed intention Of the Democratic man
ayers in Ohio with respect To the free
silver plank. Efforts will be made TO
induce Mr.. Mclean to reconsider the
program in this respect, but if ne per-
sists IN his course, it is said to be a Ger
tainty that an immediate split will
occur in the ranks Of the Democracy,
and the men who have been alles of
the Democrats will become their bitter
cnemies.-From the Washington "Star"
Gnd) Sept. -.