The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1897-08-27
From the National Capitol.
special Correspondence.

The chief subject of attention in Wash
ington just now is the political campaigns
which are in progress in the various states
These are considered specially important
because of their bearing upon the politi-
cal complexion of the l.. 5. Senate. In
several states legislatures which are to
choose u. 5. Senator are to be elected In
part or in full at the approaching state
elections, and interest centers i'll each of
these states, particularly those which are
close and in which each party has hopes
of gaining control of the legislature by
the vote cast at the approaching election,
The states which are just now especial
ly attracting attention are Ohio, Iowa
and Maryland. Ohio and Iowa are the
! subjects of special attention at the pres
ent moment because of the fact that III
those states the Democrats have pinned
their faith to the single proposition of the
| free and unlimited coinage of silver, coup
! led with the general calamity cry which
! has been an unceaSing feature OF their
political utterances in season and out of
season during the past decade. The
platforms in these two states having been
adopted early, went to the fullest length
in their advocacy of the 16.to-1-without-
waiting for-any- other nation proposition,
while the Maryland platform, framed by
the cautious and cunning German, who
saw the approaching storm, Straddled
along on the silver question in the most
approved GOrmanesque style, its wording
being such that anybody can assume that
it means anything he may choose upon
the money question.
1t is in Ohio and Iowa, however, that
the free-silver element of the Democracy
is again clearly and conspicuously upon
record in advocacy of the free-silver prop
OSitiOn as the sole sentiment of its nation
al ambition. Advices from those states
show that the Democrats already are see
ing that they made great mistake in not
only again eSpOuSing the silver cause but
in making it the chief and only express
sion of their views upon national sub
jectS. Since the conventions in those
states adopted the 16-tO-1 proposition as
the chief plank of their platform, silver
has fallen rapidly and farm products
have advanced with equal promptness.
At the same time business activity has
increased through each of those states.
Letters received from leading business
men, Democrats as well as Republicans.
throughout Iowa and Ohio, show there a
marked improvement in business cOndl-
lions, manufactures increasing their
forces and now running on full time and
over time, thousands of men being put at
work at living wages, farmers getting IN
creased prices for their wheat, wool and
other farm products, and the general re-
pudiation of the calamity cry and the
theory that only the free coinage of silver
CbIl DIlLlo prosperity W IlIS pSOPAS Va 'iiiD
Coupled with this come advces from
Mexico indicating that the fall in the
price of silver has produced a business
paralysis there, that merchants and bust
ness men generally are compelled to sus-
pend business operations or are at least
greatly crippled and that the amount OF
money which the Mexican Government
and the great business undertakings OF
that country must have in order to meet
their interest charges which are payable
i'll gold is bringing the Mexican Govern
ment to consider seriously adopting the
gold standard.
1t is perfectly clear to the average OBJ
server, putting aside any political views
or wishes, that the trend of events is so
pointedly in the support of Republican
theories as to currency, and the Republi-
can pledges of prosperity under prOtec-
ton, that it only remains to the members
of that party in the states where cleo
tions are to be held this year to get their
voters to the polls and thus insure sweep
ing Republican victories.
The first six months of the Mckinley
administration is in marked contrast with
the corresponding period of the Cleve- |
land administration Then banks were
tumbling, business houses were putting |
up their shutters, manufactures closing, |
farm prices falling, railroads going into
the hands of receivers, men were idle /
everywhere, and strikes and riots were
the order of the day. Now the railroads |
cannot furnish cars enough to move the |
crops, the prices are good, and the farm |
ers hunting for more help, mills and fac
tories are reOpening, banks are complain /
ing only of a plethora of ready money,
and general activity and cheerfulness are
reSuming.
To heal the broken and diseased tissues,
Cnntha tha limit ot aI S11pfanac To i'm