Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-05
FREE SILVER LOSING
Expressions Of Opinion in
West Virginia.
CLEVELAND UNPOPULAR
PRESIDENTIAL TIMBER DISCUSS
ED BY DEMOCRATS.
Trusts Are the Issue in the Coming
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Now
q Recollection.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

WHEELING, w. Va, June 5, 1903.
Expressions gathered from democratic
leaders in West Virginia show that this
state does not take kindly to the alleged
movement to give Grover Cleveland a
fourth nomination for the presidency. By
the same token it Is ascertained that so
far as the little mountain state Is con-
cerned William Jennings Bryan is also
eliminated from among the possibilities,
while free silver no longer finds a resting
place in the hearts of the faithful Tariff
revision. trusts and equal rights to air
seem to find most favor with West Virginia
democrats in the way Of issues. Regarding
the most available candidate to oppose
Theodore Roosevelt there Is an infinite va
riety of views, ranging from Judge Parker
and William r. Hearst of New York to
'BilT' Stone of Missouri 1t is significant
that the state democracy has quite a hope
full tone, and believes that there is fight
ing chance to place the state back in the
democratic electoral column.
Opinions Of Democrats.
The Star correspondent is able to present
the views of some Of the ablest democrats
In the state, forming a symposium which
reflects the sentiment Of the party clearly
and accurately. Ex-Representative James
Capehart is outspoken in his views against
the availability Of ex-President Cleveland.
THE appearance Of Cleveland as a cam
didate,' he says. 'is due to the efforts of
the trusts and organized monopoly general
ly to secure the nomination of candidates
on both tickets who will be when elected
entirely subservient to Wall street inf1u-
ences"
Mr. ahor ~ Pox, For %io1
nominee are Hearst, Judge Parker and
Governor Stone, in the order named. He
says free silver WIFI be eliminated and that
the issues will be tariff and the trusts. 1t
is thought that Mr.. Capehart would like to
re-enter politics. He retired from active
service when Bryan was in the ascendancy,
and has been keeping pretty close to the
Point Pleasant National Bank of which
he has been president. His return to the
field would be welcomed by the democrats.
Presidential Timber Discussed.
OF an opposite brand Of democracy from
Mr.. Capehart is William M. Kinca:d of
Cameron. He was the original Bryan and
free silver man of West Virginia, but he,
too, has forsaken the Nebraskan. He tenn
porizes on silver by saying it will not be
ignored in the platform, but will not be the
issue. For President he gives up Bryan,
naming as his first choice William J. Stone
Of Missouri, and Edwin M. Shepherd of
New York second. With Senator John j.
Cornwell Of Hampshire county as the nomi-
nee for governor Mr.. Kincaid believes the
democrats can carry the state.
The mere fact that Mr.. Kincaid is willing
to accept a New Yorker like Shepherd for
President and to let up on free silver is
proof positive that the West Virginia cemo-
Gratis are united, for he has always been
the loudest crfer in the party for the white
metal cause.
State Senator r. F. Kidd Of Gilmer, who
has sprung into prominence as guberna-
torial possibility says that he has no
presidential preferences, but that neither
Bryan nor Cleveland would receive the
support of the state. Senator Kidd, who
was the democratic leader in the last leg
islature, overiooks his own boom for gov
ernor and says Stuart w. Walker Of
Berkeley county would win out. He says
free silver will be ignored and that the
trusts will be the main issue.
Free Silver Losing.
Judge Thomas H. Harvey of Huntington
wants to battle over the trusts and forget
free silver.
"The nomination Of Cleveland would be
the deathknell of our hopes" he said, land
I should prefer man from Illinois or New
York. but one who supported the ticket in
1896 and 1900"
Ex-Attorney General Thomas 8. Riley of
Wheeling is of the opinion that German,
Olney ana Parker In the order named
should receive presidential consideration.
The issues he believes should be economy
and an antitrust sort Of tariff Neither
Bryan nor Cleveland appeal to him, and
silver will be sighted
Attorney Joseph Handlan of Wheeling IA
vors a new man. for President and in
dustrial liberty" as the issue.
with combinations Of capital on one
hand and labor unions the other" he
says. at is time for the man-in-between to
do some uniting and save himself from be-
ing crushed
Former Senator Johnson N. Camden fights
shy of the interviewer. as does also John T.
McGraw of Grafton. but others of more or
less prominence give vent to views parallel
with the foregoing.
Bryan and Cleveland will find cold COM
fort in West Virginia in 1904.