The herald., 1898-01-25
The Coming Campaign Is
Outlined
THE FREE COINAGE OF SILVER
BATTLE WILL BE FOUGHT ON THE
CHICAGO PLATFORM
Fusion in the Cause of Silver-The
Wolcott-Gage War in the Re-
publican Camp

| WASHINGTON, Jan. 20.-(Special
Correspondence to The Herald) For
some time there have been ripples of a
contest in the Democratic ranks be-
tween those who believe unreservedly
in the Chicago platform and those who
take what is generally described as a
more conservative view. This contest
has been accentuated by the struggle
incidental to the organization of the
congressional campaign committee. 1t
may now be taken as assured that those
who favor indorsing the Chicago plank
in toto and making free silver the car
dinal plank are in such controlling ma
jority that their opponents need hardly
be considered in the further discussion
of the party's policy.
An absolute out-and-out advocate of
the free and unlimited coinage of silver
at 16 to l, to be begun Immediately and
without the aid and consent of any
other nation on earth, is the new chair
man of the congressional compaign COM
mittee. A perfect organization will be
formed, embracing all the different sill
yer factions. A wholesale fusion in the
cause of silver is to be made. All other
interests, all other questions, all other
ties of kindred or of party affiliation are
to be made subservient to this. On this
line the campaign is to be fought. so far,
at least, as the congressman are to de-
termine it.
A UNITED ADDRESS
/ am told that soon after the organiza-
ton of the congressional campaign COM
mittee is completed, an address will be
issued, setting forth in full this view. 1t
now seems probable that this will be a
joint address, representing all the differ
ent elements in the silver cause. The
silver people are now considering having
it signed by the chairman of the reg
ular congressional Democratic campaign
committee, by Senator James K. Jones,
chairman of the national Democratic
committee; by Senator Marion Butler,
chairman of the national Populist COM
mittee; by ex-Representative Charles
A. Towne, chairman of the silver wing
of the Republican party; by Gen. A. J.
Warner, chairman of the Bimetallic
silver forces.
III 'TOTE FAIR
The idea is to issue an address which
will appeal to every voter that believes
in free coinage. 1t is hoped and expect
ed that wholesale uniting of the lead
ers will bring about wholesale union
of the followers and that this will result
in victory. With this program in view
it is the expectation that each faction
will tote fair" with all other factions.
When, for instance, Populist candidate
for congress seems to have the advan-
tage in the contest, other candidates fa-
vorable to silver are to withdraw in his
favor and help him to win. When
Silver Republican has the best chance
of election, all the silver people are to
join in and help elect him. When Dem
ocrat has the innings, he is to be aided by
all the other silver forces. The same
plan is to be pursued in the case of SEN
ators as in the case of representatives.
And it is probable that the same policy
will be followed out all along the line,
except, perhaps, where the contest is
for purely local officers.
This is the plan that the leaders have
decided upon. That an effort will be
made to carry it out in good faith now
seems a surety.
THAT GUARDIANSHIP
In the contest for the chairmanship
of the Democratic campaign committee.
there has been a constant purpose but
rather varying mode of carrying il
out. The fixed purpose has been to have
the position filled by an unadulterated
silver man. The house desired the chair
manship for the reason that more of it's
members are to be elected during the
campaign and that they come freshcr
from the people and are supposed to
voice more clearly the popular views.
There was at first an idea that Rich
ardson of Tennessee, McMillin of Ten
nessee, or some other old veteran from