Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-12-31
wOLcoTT VS.. GAGE.
VIII Mckinley be Forced to Choose Be-
twee-. Them.

tWee-s Them.
Washington, Dec. 27.-The politica
sensation of the holidays has been thu
reported enlargement of Senate
Wolcott and several other western sen
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 t.
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.
A Republican senator is authority
for the report that Senator Wolcott
early in January will make a 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 &C
ton 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 n 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-ffths of
that body. 1t will probably mean that
no serious effort will be made during
the present session to pass any fnan-
cial legislation through the senate.
The position in which Senator VOL
colt is placed is well understood by all
those who realize the peculiar situa-
tion which has developed with respect
to the administration and monetary
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 position of open antagonism
to Secretary Gage.
The assertion is made by Mr.. VOL
,ott's sympathizers that Secretary
Gage misrepresents the administration
md that if it were not for the political
it would cause Mr.. Gage
night retire from the cabinet. This
which is now made pri-
yately, it is likely will be made public
y before long. If this is done the is
ue will be raised and the public will
Know the facts.
The result will probably be that Mr.. '
Yolcott will find that he has !
the position of the {
PRESIDENT and will then dramatically
nnounce his Indignation at the adj
The president can hard g
Y be in sympathy with both Secretary a
iage and the Colorado senator as Gage {
lands simply fol- gold and Wolcott for t
liver. a
AS things are now tending the presi 4
emit will have to break with one OF d
he other of them, and unless he is i
by the leaders of his e
arty and persons closest to him, the r
realx will not be with the secretary
f'the treasury. ;,