Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-01-02
WOLCOTT'S MISSION
It Means Much to Him and the Re-
publican Party.
HOPE OF INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT
The Probable Consequences Of
Success or Failure.
WHAT STANDS IN THE WAY

from the main question lnVOlNeu, anu HOt
the least important of these is the possible
effect of his failure and the failure of the
movement he represents upon the fortunes
of the republican party.
Would such failure mean that the junior
Colorado senator would follow the exam
pie of his colleague. Senator Teller. in leav-
ing the party?
If he should not do so, it Is altogether
probable that sorpe others would. for even
so strong a republican authority as Sena-
tor Chandler has asserted that many re-
publicans of free coinage proclivities were
held IN line for the republican candidates
in the last campaign by the hope that the
party's pledge to devote its best energies
to securing an international agreement
would lead to results far more satisfactory
to silver men than would Independent
ton by this country.
1t is not denied in any quarter that there
is large element in the party which sets
great store by the platform pledge.
This element is represented in the Senate
by Messrs. Wolcott, Chandler. Carter,
Pritchard. Cameron. Mitchell of Oregon,
Hansbrough. Clark, Warren. Shoup, Brown,
Wilson, Perkins. and possibly others in less
degree
silver Constituencies.
1t is by no means probable that the result
of the conference would influence the polit-
icaI affiliations of some Of these men, but 1t
toned represent constituencies which are
strongly inclined toward silver. This is pc
culiarly the case with Wolcott of Colorado
Carter of Montana, Shoup of Idaho and
Brown of Utah. while the campaign was
made and won for the republican cause in
North Dakota, Oregon and California
partly on the plea that the republican
partys pledge to secure movement in the
interest of silver which should be general
rather than national would prove success
full.
The loss of any considerable number of
these men would be serious blow to the
republican party. not only for the present
but for many years in the future. 1t has
been claimed by the senators from these
states that the votes of Colorado and Ne
vada IN the Senate were at any time for a
dozen years before the admission of the
Dakotas and other new states sufficient 10
have made that body free trade organiza-
ton This is no longer true. but the ascen-
dancy OF the party in the next Senate, even
without any more defections. is quite doubt
fLl and the loss of only one or two men
would De fatal for at least enc session.
Personal Consequences
The success of the mission means much
to Senator Wolcott's personal fortunes As
matters look in his own state the senator's
political future is at stake. He stood with
Lis party in the last campaign in the face
OF the almost unanimous sentiment of his
constituents. as was made evident by the
and the people before and since the election.
even outside of the issue involved III this
contest he had estranged himself from his
PEOPLE to a degree by his speech of last
session the Venezuelan question and by
his failure to vote on the question of adding
the free silver rider to the Dingley tariff
hill He antagonized Senator Teller on
these questions. as he did in the campaign.
and thus severed the political partnership
which had existed for the past ten or
twelve years Mr. Wolcott organized the
htf4k -Nlr.
st Louis convention. He had state con-
vention held which put a full ticket in the
held and had a campaign made if he
had believed there hope of winning
This ne could never nave exDected but
those who are near TO him say thai pc was
disappointed in the small percentage CT the
vote polled by his candidates.
Opportunity for MaEnetism
These facts are sufficient to put the sell
ator on his mettle in his present undertake
ing He has gone TO work with a das sh and
will which sre quite characteristic of him.
Even those of his state who are opposed
TO his views admit that he is as well cal
Culated TO make a winning contest as any
man who could have taken the matter in
bard. and they consider that the fact that
the senator's own personal fortunes are in
vOlved will add much to the zeal with
which h. viii go about his work. Mr Vol
colt has been a factor in Colorado politics
FOR the past twenty years. and both friend
anu Toe kNO" MIN as a man OF tlreieSS n
tr-y, OF wonderful Singleness Of purpose, OF
much personal magnetism and as a man
capable OF accomplishing many seemingly
Impossible things II ne wins he will re-
conquer ms own state. TO say nothing Of
the effect upon the world st large. The
Venezuelan speech and the senator's con-
dIct In the campaign will all be forgotten
and forgiven.
a Possible Alternative.
Can l afford to do that?'' asked Mr.
Wcleott day of Colorado friend,
mentioning some project he had in mind
which FROM political point of view was
decidedly risky.
You cam was the reply but no one
else could
Which illustrates that Colorado is ever
willing TO forgive much in her younger
senator
pursue In case OF the failure OF his pres
ent Project is difficult 10 conjecture COL
orado Is so evidently determined to go
Tor free coinage on a national, II an inter
national basis proves impossible of pro-
eurement. that he could hope for little from
Inc state II he should adhere to his sup
port Of the republican party after the party
had demonstrated by its effort that inter
nauC IA, action was beyond reach. The
niere TACT that an effort had been made
anc Rad failed would be taken as proof
positive that international cooperation is
nothing more than idle dream Ii would
tneh btccme n question between party 10y
'-Ats aiu state conviction with him. He
sald In his speeches during the campaign
that he would have supported the demo
cratic nCm Cminee but for the declarations OF
tfs platform on other questions than that
Of silver.
An Obdurnte square Mile.
MI Woleott is not allowing himself to be
cece!ved into the belief that he is under
taking holiday task. but he does not en-
bark on las mission without announcement
IRON nigh quarters. In his former visits
10 the European capitals he, has at all
tlrneS mad the subject of the bimetailic
movement In his mind and he has hereto
Iore sounded men who are prominent in
us administration of English and French
aiairs. he knows that many of them
hke Melne OF France, Balfour 0oschen
ana even Lord Salisbury. are very favor
aoly inclined toward bimetallism. But he
also knows that the strongest element in
E;hsis anairs. the element which controls
'he Taticn's purse strings. Is dead set