Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-06

case, and he knew of others
| The free silver cranks, he said, have
| learned something in the last three wears
| 1t used to be that they wouldn't argue the
| question with at all. If we We're not
| going to support free silver, they called us
| traitors and told us to get out of the party.
| SO some of got out, but we didn't con-
| slider 1t for good. Now, the men who were
| most violent against us three years ago
| are beginning to talk sense They can be
| reasoned with. In my own town they come
are still for free silver, they admit that
| there is another side l have talked to
| half a dozen of them who quite sure
that 16 to l may not be the ratio, and they
think we democrats ought to all get to-
gether. Of course, we have got to have
free silver in our state and national plat
forms once more before it can be dropped,
but that won't do any harm. and there will
| be other live questions. II they make
good nomination for governor, l rather
| think l shall support the democratic ticket
this year. There isn't a reason on earth
why l should help the republicans out of
| their trouble"
1t is doubtful if this is the sentiment of
the majority of gold standard democrats
| in Cleveland and Columbus who opposed
Bryan in 1896 but l am inclined to think
| that the feeling does exist, as this country
| banker told me, throughout the state And
| it gives encouragement to the democratic
politicians who want to get control of the
state offices and who want a state admin
| istration for the benefit it will be in cap
| turing the legislature two years from now.
1t is too significant to be overlooked.
Col. kiIbOurne's Strong Points.
| Coming back to the nomination of gov
ernor, the movement in behalf of Colonel
I<ilbourne is undoubtedly a good one from
| the democratic standpoint. The democrats
once nominated Thomas f. Bishop, a Gin
cinnau grocer, and won with him.
They James w. BoOkwalter, a
Springfield manufacturer, to their own sat
| isfaction. and generally they are more sue
cesSful with men of this class than with
public men, such as Campbell was, though
he did win one term. Col. Kilbourne can
| make speech, but it is of the concliatory
| sort which does not arouse the antagonism
| OF the other party. l was told at Column
bus that he ideal employer of labor,
and that his employees would be the best
kind of political missionaries among the
workingmen. Col kilbourne was speak
er at Il meeting addressed by Jones, the
golden rule mayor of Toledo, and gave his
adhesion to municipal ownership and
some of the other half-socialistic ideas
which are part of the Jones platform.
Mayor Jones has also indicated what Is
supposed to be a Willingness to support
I<ilbourne even to becoming himself a can
didate for lieutenant governor.
The strength of the golden rule mayor
is one of the puzzing things in Ohio
Toledo democrat told me that the wonder
ful showing he made when he ran as an
independent candidate after the republican
city convention ldlleu TO NOMINATE IlH anu
was overwhelmingly elected, was a pass
ing phenomenon entirely due to local con-
ditions. Conversely Toledo republican
said that Jones was n man of conspicuous
abilty. and that he was liable to disrupt
the party IN northwestern Ohio This
publican said that they all became alarmed
when JoEes was suggested as a candidate
for governor. and that it took heroic efforts
to divert that movement. I judge that
Mayor Jones and his golden rule are going
to be heard of a great deal more in Ohio
politics before he is forgotten. The I'M
easiness about the trusts may be one cause
of his popularity a champion of the
| workingmen and opponent of the combina-
tons of capital. Nobody is paying much
| attention to what the political platforms
say.
Prosperity in the State.
Ohio seems to be enjoying good degree
of farm prosperity, and there is no gain
saying the evidences in the industrial
towns. One of the leading experts in iron
and steel matters here in Cleveland told
me he could not the slightest danger
of this industrial activity ceasing for at
least eighteen months to come, and he did
not believe there would be an idle working
man in the state next November. The
Cleveland ore men, he said, who own Lake
Superior mines, were not prosperous, be-
cause they made their contracts at low
rates and the furnace owners We're the
ones who were getting the benefit. because
/ they had their cheap and the orders
for the manufactured products were taken
at high prices. This same expert told me
that the advance of wages had been almost
universal, and he was not talking for politi-
cal effect. Yet he was fearful about the
trusts in politics and in spite of prosperity
he thought that they might injure the re-
publican prospects.
Back of the democratic nomination for
governor is the senatorship, which Will be
decided in 1901, but which may be deter
mined this year l have heard a dozen
! times that John r. Mclean was getting a
| stronger grip than ever on the democratic
i party in the state, and that if democratic
| legislature should be chosen he would be in
undisputed control George B. Cox, tbs
republican boss of Cincinnati told me that
| Mclean was becoming stronger every day,
| and Mr.. Cox is a Judge of democratic con-
ditfons as well as of his own party. / was
also assured that Mclean had not the re-
hottest notion of antagonizing Bryan in the
state or Trying to divert the party from
irce SILVER platform this year His aim is
to be with the mass of democrats in what
| ever they think they want and to strength
| en- the organization that it may have
| Sho" or success for the state ticket. If
! Calvin s. Brice had lived there would have
! been a struggle between him and Mclean
| Tor the control of the party machinery. His
t te were preparing for it. Now
they are drifting, and some of them have
attached themselves to Mclean
Interesting to Senator Foraker.
These things are of Interest to Senator
Foraker. Two years is not so long to lool,
ahead when a reelection is at stake and
when the first and essential step to a re-
election Is d republican legislature. Sena-
TOR forakers influence has undoubtedly
"ahed since the republican state cOnven-
I!oH. he mas not SO much to fear from the
tz.Sushnell faction. which is in process
o. characterization, as from the appearance
| Of George B. Cox as state and national
reader Heretofore Cox has been content
Win the municipal ownership of Cincinnati.
NOW ne appears as taking hand in the
| speakershp of the House of Representa-
tlVes ana in national politics as an ally of
senator Hanna. Formerly he was Senator
forakers mainstay. 1t is possible that For
;iker will regain his influence by the part
he Will take in the campaign, which will
necessarily be prominent one for the re-
pubiicans will require a good deal of wax
ing up They are not thoroughly united
thouSh the usual promises of harmony are
made The factional feeling is deeper than
the surface, and that is why something
more than surface harmony will have to be
developed.
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