The record-union., 1897-12-23
Placsd in a Peculiar Position Re-
garding the Currency Question.
Upholds the President, but Antdgonllss
Secretary Of The Treasury Gage.
Report That the Colorado Serator
Threatens TO Resign Unless the
President Is Less Pronounced
in His Approval of Cages Plan
Creates Il Sensations in Wash
ingtcn Political Circles.

NEW YORK, Dec 22.--The World,
to-day prints the following special dis
patch from Washington:
The exclusive publication in the
World" of Senator Wolcott's threat
to resign from the Senate created L
sensation here in political circles. While
many believe that his Indignation may
sufficiently cool to prevent the actual
REIMBURSEMENT of his seat, all agree
that his return to the advocacy of free
and unlimited silver coinage is certain.
The position in which Mr.. Wolcott
is placed is well understood by all
those who realize the peculiar situation
which has developed with respect TO
the administration and the Monetary
Commission, of which the ColoradOan
is Chairman. Either President McKin-
ley and Secretary Gage are at vari-
ance, or Senator Wolcott and his SYM
pathizers are utterly deceived as TO the
Presidents attitude.
Mr.. Wolcott has, since his return from
Europe, talked long and earnestly with
the President, and he defends the Pres
ident, while taking a position of open
antagonism to Secretary Gage. The
assertion is made by Mr.. Wolcotts
sympathiZers that Secretary Gage mis-
represents the administration, and that
if it We're not for the political dis
turbance it would cause Mr. Gage
might retire from the Cabinet This
statement, which is now made private
ly, is likely to be made public before
long. If this is done the issue will be
raised, and the public will know the
facts
The result will probably be that Mr..
Wolcott viii find that he has misun-
derstood the position of the President,
and Will then dramatically announce
his indignation at the administration.
The President can hardly be in SYM
pathy with Gage and Wolcott, as the
former stands simply for gold and VOL
colt for silver alone. AS things are
tending, the President will probably
have to break with one or the other
of them, and unless he is misunderstood
by the leaders of his party and per-
sons closest to him, the break will not
be with the Secretary of the Treasury.
The committee-rOom of Senator VOL
colt was to-day besieged by those de-
string a confirmation or denial of the
authenticity of the statement that he
contemplated forwarding his resigna-
tion to the Governor of his State. un-
i0So thC L AOolOCLl approval Ol o0C-
retary Cages plan should be less pro-
nounced. No satisfactory information
was given to these inquiries Withour
making a definite statement, Senator
Wolcott left the city, and will not re-
turn until Thursday.
The other silver Republicans are also
absent Senator Carter is in New York.
Senator Pettigrew is on the way to his
home in South Dakota, Senator Chand-
Ter, who first predicted a split in the
Republican party on the silver ques-
ton and limited at the detection of
Senator Wolcott, has gone to New
Hampshire.
Senator Teller did not discuss the
question affecting his colleague. He
foresaw the inevitable break. Presi-
dent Mckinley he thinks. cannot long
ride two horses going in opposite direc-
tionS
Senator Wolcott was entertaining q
party of friends at dinner when a
World" reporter entered with the spe-
cial dispatch from Washington. He
would not consent to an interview. but
in answer to a note of inquiry asked
him to affirm or deny his reported in
tention of resigning, wrote out the fol-
lowing:
''You give me the first information OF
the fact"