Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-27
A Big Split in the Democratic Party
Imminent.
IMPORTANT BEARING ON TIE ELECTION
Mr.. Mclean's Advice May Cost
the Democracy Many Votes.
THE REAL SITUATION

Since the arrival in Washington of ex-
Representative Towne some very interest
ing stories are current in political circles
respecting the democratic political situation
in Ohio. There is a foreshadowing of CON-
ing events which, it is said. will have i'm
portant bearing upon the fall elections in
that state.
AS stated in last Saturdays Star. Mr..
Towne denies that it has been intimated to
him by the democratic managers in Ohio
that his services as free silver talker will
not be needed in the Ohio campaign If
such a course was in contemplation on the
part of Allen o. Myers and State Chairman
McConville, it had not been outlined to
him.
Free Silver Losing Investment.
1t is learned, however, from other sources.
that campaign of education and oratory
on the lines of free silver by Mr.. Towne OF
any one else will be discouraged by the
Oh1o managers. This statement is putting
the case mildly. The real fact is that the
democrats in Ohio are on the point of aban-
doning free silver as an issue altogether in
the campaign and eXerting 1heir energies
in other directions. 1t is said that Mr.
John X. Mclean, who In this case is the
controlling spirit in the democratic CAM
pa1gn, has come to the conclusion that
under existing circumstances free silver us
campaign capital would be a losing invest
ment.
This would be but a passing incident in
the campaign, subject to comment, but not
worthy of deep consideration, were 1t not
for the fact, Ii Is said. that there are some
other democrats in Ohio besides Mr. Nc
Lean, and whose political creed comprises
more than the mere election of United
States senator. And here is where Mr.
Towne and his friends enter the equation
as factors
Big Split In the Party.
The statement is made that the abandon
ment OF the cause of free silver by the
democratic managers in Ohio will bring
about very big split in the party in the
Buckeye state. Those who put forward
this assertion explain it by saying that
large proportio of the democracy in Ohio
at this time consists of men who honestly
and earnestly believe in the unlimited
free coinage of silver by the United States
government as financial policy which
will bring great good TO the people of the
country. Some of these men are former
republicans, who left their old political
association, and who stand by the demo-
cratic platform on account of this free
silver plank.
This being the case. it is claimed that
these people will not submit to the aban-
dcnment of free silver just because Mr.
Mclean may happen to believe that it will
advance his interests or the welfare of
the democratic machine in Ohio. II is
pointed out that Mr.. Towne is the head of
the element organized under the term of
bimetallists, with whom the advancement
of the cause of free silver is the first con-
sideration. In this aggregation are gath
cred many men who were formerly prom
inent in the republican party; Senator Tel
Ter and his associates, who walked out of
the republican national convention at St
Louis. for instance. They undoubtedly
have large following throughout the
United States. and 1t is claimed a fair pro-
portion Of them are in Ohio.
Loss to the Democracy.
The assertion is male that If Senator
Teller. Mr.. Towne and the rank and file
OF voters whom they represent left the
republican party for free siIvers sake,
they will not espouse the cause of democ-
racy. If free silver is given up as politi-
cal issue by that party. If this be true it
is claimed, 1t will mean that the democracy
will lose very heavy vote in Ohio this
fall 1t Is known that the biuetailic lead
ers are exceedingly indignant at the pro
posed intention of the democratic man.
ayers in Ohio with respect to the free ST.
Yer plank Efforts will be made to induce
Mr.. Mclean to reconsider the program in
this respect, but II he persists n his course
II Is said to be a certainty that an imme-
diate split will occur in the ranks of the
democracy, and the men who have been
allies OF the democrats VIII become their