The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-09-02
STATE CAMPAIGNS.
ASSUME MORE THAN ORDINA-
RY IMPORTANCE.
Free Silver Men Of Ohio Are Making
"A Fight for ~Life-They Have En-
dorsed Free Coinage to the Exclusion
of All Else.
Washington Corresponuence.)

washington Corresponuonce.)
A chief subject of discussion in
Washington just now is the political
campaigns which are in progress in
various states. These are considered
specially important because of their
bearing upon the political complexion
of the United States senate. In several
states, legislatures which are to choose
a United States senator are to be elect
ed in part or in full at the approaching
state elections. and interest Centers in
each Of these states, particularly those
which are close and in which each par
ty has hopes Of gaining control of the
legislature by the vote cast at the
approaching election.
The states which are just now espe-
cially attracting attention are Ohio,
Iowa and Maryland. Ohio and Iowa are
the subjects OF special attention at the
present m because of the fact
that in those states tine Democrats have
pinned their faith to the single PROPOSE
ton of the free and unlimited coinage
Of silver, coupled with the general cal
amity cry which has been an unceasing
feature of their political ]utterances in
season and out of season in the past
decade. The platforms in these two
tateS having been adopted early went
to the fullest length in their advocacy
Of the Is to / NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ot%her-nation proposition, while the
Maryland platform, framed by the eau
tious and cunning German. who saw
the approaching storm, straddled along
on the silver question in the most APP
proved G~ormanesque 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, that the free
silver clement of the Democracy is put
again clearly and conspicuously upon
record in advocacy of the free silver
proposition as the sole sentiment Of its
national ambition. Advices from those
states show that the Democrats already
are seeing that they mad a great mis-
take in not only again eGpousing the
silver cause, but in making it the chief
and only expression of their views
upon national subjects. Since the con-
v~entions in those adopted the 16 TO l
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 conditions,
manufactures increasing their forces
and now running full time and over
time, thousands OF men being put at
work at living wages. farmers getting
increased prices for their wheat. wool,
and other farm products, and the gen.
eral reputation of the calamity cry
and the theory that only the free COIN
age of silver can bring prosperity to
the people of this country.
Coupled with this came advices from
Mexico indicating that the fall in the
price of silver has produced a business
paralysis there, that merchants and
business men generally are compelled
TO suspend business operations or are
at least greatly crippled, and the
amount of money which the Mexican
government and the great business I'M
dertakings of that country must have
in order TO meet their interest charges
which are payable in gold is bringing
the Mexican government to consider
seriously adopting the gold standard.
1t Is perfectly clear to the average
observer. 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 Republican pledges OF prosperity
under protection, that it only remains
to the members of that party in the
states where elections are to be held
this year to get their voters to the polls
and thus insure sweeping Republican
victories.
G. III. WILLIAMS.