The San Francisco call., 1897-12-25
Ex-Governor Altgeld Says
the Silverite Was
Defrauded.
Declares That States He Carried
Were Filched From Him
in the Count.
McKinley's Victory, He Says, Was
Gained by the Theft OF Thousands
OF Votes.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SACRAMENTO, Dec. 24.-Ex-Gover-
nor John P. Altgeld of Illinois stopped
over in Sacramento last night en- route
to Los Angeles, leaving for the latter
place on this mornings train. He is
accompanied by his wife, who is in i'll
health, and it is this that has caused
him to take the trip to California.
This morning, just as he was about
to get into a carriage to drive to the
train, Governor Altgeld was seen by a
Bee reporter. He refused at first to
say anything, declaring his aversion to
interviews, and stating that he had
nothing whatever to say that could in
terest the public.
/ am out for my wife's health" he
said, and have made up my mind to
leave politics alone"
1t was suggested to Mr.. Altgeld that
the people would like to know whether
the sentiment in favor of silver in
Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and bordering
States was growing stronger or weaker.
I have but a minutes time" re-
marked Altgeld, ''but I can assure you
that the sentiment in favor of silver
is not only stronger than it was in 1896.
but it is very much stronger There is
no question whatever about this, and
it is steadily growing. / will predict
that in 1900 there will be a much
stronger sentiment than there was at
the last Presidential election, strong as
the sentiment then was"
DO you think" was asked, ''that
the Republican party at the next cleo
ton will stand on its old platform or
whether it will declare uncompromis-
fnglY for the gold standard 3f'
The Republican party has not the
courage to do what you suggest in
the last half OF your question" Mr..
Altgeld answered. For the past
twenty years the Republican party
has been snealling along with it's gold
standard policy. 1t has been trying to
saddle 1t upon the nation while pre-
tending to be favorable to interna-
tional bimetallism. Ii hopes in time
to get its policy firmly fastened upon
the people, but as the time is not yet
ripe for 1t to throw off the mask it
win continue with its sneaking, insin-
uating pretensions of. friendliness to
an international bimetallic standard.
'I must go now" exclaimed Altgeld,
"for 1 have already broken the rule laid
down for myself this trip by allowing
you to interview me-"
"Just one more question:" suggested
the reporter. will you tell me wheth-
er you DelleVe Bryan was Ialrly defeat
ed at the last election?"
ST am on record regarding that" Alt
geld said. as he placed his foot on the
carriage step. "I do not think he was
fairly beaten. I think he was elected
Thousands of votes were counted for
Mckinley that were never cast. Go
look it up and you will see that 1 am
right. Kentucky gave Cleveland a ma
jority of $4,000 in 1892. Bryan got more
votes in Kentucky than Cleveland did,
and yet Kentucky was counted for Nc
Kinley.
Look that up and then decide for
yourself whether there was any fraud.
What applies to Kentucky applies with
equal force to my State, Illinois. There
is no shadow of a doubt that States
which were carried for Bryan were
counted for Mckinley.
Il can't say any more now" contin-
ued Governor Altgeld, stepping into
his carriage.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, Dec. PA
large oil painting OF john P Altgeld
was hung to-day in the reception-room
at the State House among the por-
traits Of other former Governors of
Illinois. The picture is in a frame
of black walnut. The other pictures
have gold frames.