The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-09-08
THE CHEAP DOLLAR


Is stilI Prominent in Democratic
Piatforms-M cLean's Candidacy.
New York journal Of Commerce: Mr..
John R. Mclean Is n gentleman Of
large fortune. high ambitions and great
skill as a politician, though he hus gem
orally used this skill and his other re-
sources for the immediate beneht Of
other persons than himself. BE has
now secured the Democratic nomination
for governor OF Ohio. and 4 he can DO
elected he win probably displace MI !:
Bryan as the logical candidate OF
the Democracy for the Presidential
nomination. It is thought by some
that he does not expect 70 be elected
governor. but Is acquiring q position IN
the politics OF the state which VIII make
him the successor Of Senator Foraker.
So far this Is merely q political matter
without concern to the business OK the
country, but Mr.. Mclean has had
adopted by the convention which nom-
mated him a platform not only gener-
ally reafilrming the Chicago platform,
but specifically demanding the free and
unlimited coinage Of silver at the ratio
Of 16 to l without regard TO the action
Of any other nations. There Is no dis
guiss about the free silver issue here:
The business community cannot be
Indifferent to Mr.. McLean's present am.
bition, whether he Is looking toward
the senate or the white house. AS
stump speaker he may not be the equal
Of Mr.. Bryan, but he Is probably more
astute politician; he has proved him
self a great factor in Ohio politics, and
he has very large resources at his
command. He regards the free silver
issue as potent enough with the mass
es of the people to make It worth while
to put it forward as the foremost feat
ure Of political programme.
News comes from Virginia that In
spite Of the wonderful Improvement In
the condition Of business and the farm
ers since 1895. every county In the
state has declared for free silver In It's
Democratic convention. This Is not
singular. The people, we believe. care
less about free silver than they do
three years ago, but the great mass OF
them see no reason why they should
drop Il. There Is a floating vote that
goes against the existing state OF
things, whatever that may be, when
times are very bad. 1t does not al
ways reverse this proposition and sus-
tain the administration Of the day when
times are good; 1t is uncertain in good
times. But the great bulk Of the
Democratic party Is not made up OF
floating voters; It is compact party,
attached to It's name and organization,
and under the delusion that 1t Is con-
sistent in It's history and policy. Having
adopted free silver as an Issue, nothing
but long series Of defeats would lead
It to drop the issue, and It Is not certain
that anything short Of general break
up and reorganization would do that.
Among those who do not care a great
deal, free coinage Is not nearly so
strong us It was three years ago, but
the party leaders do not deem 1t time
to throw the issue over, and the great
bulk Of the party consists OF victims to
the delusion that while cheap money
will make bad times good 1t can be
equally trusted to make good times bet
ter. Consequently prosperity does
not disturb their faith. The practical
lesson for the Republican party is that
the opposition is sure to attract and
hold all the cheap money voters, and Its
best policy Is to make equally certain
OF getting the support Of every sound
money element in the country.