The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-10-15
SILVER IN OHIO.
A Big Split in the Demo-
cratic Party Imminent.
IMPORTANT BEARING ON TUE ELECTION

IMPORTANT BEARING ON Tue ELECTION
rlr. rlcLean's Advice May Cost
the Democracy rany 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 situa-
ton IN Ohio. There is foreshadowing of
coming events which, 1t Is said, will have
important bearing upon the fall elections
in that state.
AS stated in last Saturdays Star. Mr..
Towne denies that 1t has been intimated to
him by the democratic managers in Ohio
that his services as a free silver talker will
not be needed In the Ohio campaign. II
such course was In contemplation on the
part of Allen o. Myers and State Chairman
McCenville, 1t had not been outlined to him.
FREE SILVER LOSING INVESTMENT.
| 1t Is learned, however, from other sources,
that q 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 mildly. The real fact is that the
democrats In Ohio are on the point Of
abandoning free silver as an 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 cam
paign, has come to the conclusion that
under existing circumstances free silver as
campaign capital would be a losing invest
ment.
| This would be but passing incident In
the campaign, subject to comment, but not
worthy Of deep consideration, were 1t not
for the fact, 1t 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.
| A BIG SPLIT IN THE PARTY.
The statement Is made that the abandon
ment of the cause of free silver by the dem
ocratic managers In Ohio will bring about
a very big split In the party In the buckeye
state. Those who put forward this asser-
ton explain it by saying that large pro-
portion of the democracy In Ohio at this
time consists of men who honestly and earn
estly believe in the unlimited free coinage
of silver by the United States government
as a financial policy which will bring great
good to the people of the country. Some
of these men are former republicans, who
left their old pilitical association and who
stand by the democratic platform on ac-
count Of this free silver plank.
This being the case, 1t Is claimed that
these people will not submit to the aban-
donment of free silver just because Mr..
Mclean may happen to believe that 1t will
advance his interests or the welfare of the
democratic machine In Ohio. 1t Is pointed
out that Mr.. Towne is the head of the ele-
ment organized under the term of bimetal-
lists, with whom the advancement of the
cause of free silver is the first considera-
ton. In this aggregation are gathered
many men who were formerly prominent in
the republican party; Senator Teller and
his associates, who walked out of the re-
| puhlicop national convactto, NJ o. T o,,s
for instance. They undoubtedly have a
large following throughout the United
States, and 1t is claimed fair proportion
Of them are In Ohio.
LOSS TO THE DEMOCRACY.
The assertion Is made that II Senator
Teller, Mr.. Towne, and the rank and file of
voters whom they represent left the re-
publican party for free silver's sake, they
will not espOuse the cause of democracy IL
free silver is given up as political issue by
that party. Ii this be true, 1t Is claimed,
1t will mean that the democracy will lose
a very heavy vote in Ohio this fall. 1t Is
known that the bimetallic leaders are ex-
ceedingly indignant at the proposed inten.
ton Of the democratic managers In Ohio
with respect to the free silver plank. Eff
forts will be made 10 induce Mr.. Mclean to
reconsider the program In this respect, but
II be persists in his course, 1t Is said to
be certainty that an immediate split will
occur In the ranks of the democracy, and
the men who have been allies of the dem
ocrats will become their bitter enemies
From the Washington "Star" Qnd.), Sep
TENDER 9th.