The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1908-10-25


The political record OF Francis G.
Newlands is probably without par
allel in this country from whatever
standpoint considered. a Mississippi
Democrat by birth, he went to Cali
fornia in his younger days, where he
was fortunate financially. Ambitious
in politics, he sought To gain recog-
milton in the Democratic party OF
California. At the famous Stockton
convention. however, his houes were
rudely shattered. But not dismayed
by any such rebuff, he transported
himself To the eastern slope OF the
Sierra Nevadas where upon the banks
of the beautiful Truckee overlooking
the then village of Reno, he planted
his political vine and fig tree.
Promptly he announced his political
intentions. Representative in con-
gress he considered about the proper
thing for a beginning. Nevada, how
ever, was at that time strongly Re-
publican. Newlands became a Re-
publican. The Republican con-
vention was near at hand. lie re-
membered the Biblical instruction,
Seek and We shall find. knock and
the door shall be opened upto you.
He both sought and knocked, but he
Republican convention. calmly,
placidly. and with due consideration
of the Importance of the event, adj
vised him that such mementous
matter required further deliberation.
With commendable patience. Mr..
Newlands waited two years. In the
meantime he was arranging things.
Two Republican conventions at one
time seemed necessary 10 handle the
situation. From one OF these nom
nation was appropriately arranged
for. This occurred during the event
full year OF 1892. After the nomina-
ton was made. for some unaccount-
able reason, difficulty was had in To-
eating the prospective candidate in
order that he might with due for
mality indorse the platform. Friends
at last discovered him and TO them
he confided that In a short time the
Silver party was TO meet for the first
time in Winnemueea and that it
looked very much to him like the
Silver party was now going 10 be
the real thing. This did not suit
either wing of the Republican party
and is consolidated and nominated
political aeumen OF Mr. Newlands
was demonstrated by this action. He
became instantly member of the
Silver party. secured the COMPRESSION
al nomination and was gloriously
elected.
Into the Silver party at that cleo
ton went also Senators Stewart and
Jones who at that time were all pow
II In. IL 81.
popular in the state then that in the
following legislature of 1893, he re-
eeiyed it's unanimous vote for senator
During the next two elections Mr..
Newlands peacefully rode into power
on the silver issue. although some
are SO unkind as to say that these
campaigns were capitalized on the
gold standard.
In the convention of 1893 and
The election following. there was
eliminated a portion of the history
of Mr.. Newlands' political career
which that distinguished statesman
would doubtless prefer to forget.
The Silver party convention of that
year was in the control of the friends
of Senator Stewart. They wrote the
platform which referred TO Stewart
as "Nevada's Grand Old Man. etc,
and pledged the party and every cam
didate nominated at that convention
To support Stewart for senator.
This last clause was deemed under
the circumstances, a necessary pre-
caution. Mr.. Newlands was nomina-
ted for congress and Endorsed the
platform. lie stated in his speech
before the convention that he had
been approached by friends to enter
the race for the senate, but he felt
because of the prominence of Sen
ator Stewart in the silver cause, his
defeat would be regarded by the gold
men of the east as weakening of
the forces for the white metal.
The election came on. The Silver
party was triumphant and of course
Newlands. who had no opposition to
speak of, was elected. A few days
after the election. Mr.. Newlands
started for Washington to resume his
arduous duties for the people of Ne
yada that the campaign had inter
rupted. In his inside pocket was his
commission as congressman elect.
At Winnemueca he was interviewed
by his private secretary, c. ID. Van
Duzer In that interview he made
the astonishing announcement that
the people had repudiated Stewart
at the polls and that he would there
fore be a candidate for the Office of
United States senator.
Contemplate the situation If his
ambition could be realized. Nevada
was either to go unrepresented for
two years In the lower house of con-
gress, or the state be put TO an ex-
pense of thousands of dollars to