The evening times., 1898-10-03
SILVER THE RULING ISSUE.
FIXTURE of the White Metal Discussed
Inv Enrmer GnNernor Stone


by Former Governor stone.
St Louis. Oct. 3-Former Gov William
Joel Stone returned to St Louis yester-
day from Hale and Brookfield, Mo. where
on Saturday he made speeches TO large
crowds on the issues of the fall cam
paign. During his absence from St. Louis
the action of the New York, New Jersey
VenIions in ignoring the Chicago platform
in their recent declarations had become
a subject of general discussion among
Missouri Democrats. Mr.. Stone was at
first disinciined to express any views on
the subject, but finally gave a guarded
interview.
Il think the action of the States named
will not affect the action of the national
Democratic State convention in 19e0,'' he
said
Il presume that the controlling senti-
ment in Connecticut and New Jersey, at
least, is still, as il was in 1896, in favor
of the gold standard policy. l do not
know what is the popular sentiment in
the Democratic party In New York on
that subject now. l have some doubt
as TO the party at large in New York be-
ing against the Tree silver policy.
In fact, / think the Democrats of New
York have put national questions aside
with a view to fighting out this cam
paign on State issues. / suppose they
think they can make fight with bet
ter chances in that way by getting votes
which they probably would lose were the
fight on national issues
Eastern sentiment is not pronounced
in favor of silver and never has been.
On the contrary. in some of those States
sentiment Is very hostile to the free coin
age OF silver. as every one knows The
New York delegation to the Chicago con-
vention in 1896 voted against silver. Some
of these delegates afterward participated
IN the indianapolis convention, which
nominated Palmer and Buckner"
do you believe from this and the re-
cent action in New York that the attf-
tude of that State will be the same in
1902
Il am not prepared to say whether it
means that an anti-siiver delegation will
be sent from New York to the next
Democratic National convention. The
silver sentiment has undoubtedly grown
in New York since the convention Of
1896. but whether that sentiment is strong
enough or so organized as to control the
convention selecting the next delegation
from New York I do not know. IL 1t is.
then New York viii be in line with Mis-
souri,. Illinois, and the Western and
Southern States generally If il is not.
il is to be expected that the New York
delegation will go to the national con-
yention opposed to repeating the decla-
ration on the money question in the form
made at Chicago in 1885,
Are you surprised at the action taken
in New York;
Il would not have been surprised par
ucularly at either course AS for New
Jersey and Connecticut, the controlIig
forces of the Democratic party there al
ways have been In favor of the gold
standard policy. so that / am not sur
prised at all at the action taken, and
would have been most agreeably disap-
pointed had the convention indorsed the
Chicago platform
do you regard the course of the three
conventions as a discouraging blow at
the silver party?"
II do not consider ii even a blow at
silver any more than it has been made
by these same people at every opportun-
ity on every occasion
At Brookfield, Mo-, Saturday night, Mr..
Stone had this to say to a correspondent
concerning the action of Democrats in
the East, going somewhat further in the
views expressed above:
IF New York had indorsed the Chi
cago platform, as / had hoped would be
done, 1t would have removed all pros
pect of future discord. But 1t will not
change the result of the next national
convention. New York cannot direct nor
materially influence the next convention
The party again wifi declare for free sill
yer coinage, and the New York Democ-
racy will support the platform and tick
et''
II do not doubt that. and If the Demo-
Gratis are then in control of both the
State and city governments, they will
keep Hanna busy. and compel him to