Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 March 1896 — FACING FREE SILVER. [ARTICLE]

FACING FREE SILVER.

THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION, JUNE 24, TO BE A TEST. EfftVrt* in Committee to Postpone Date Meet Failure-Matthews Expected top Declare* fqr tho White Metal— Voorhces and Tnrple Urge It. ’ - Aht’d-Con4-entfon Talk, j, Indiana Bygij ootj-wpcndeiwe., (J<r The Democratic State Central Committee Thursday determined to hold the State nominating convention June 24. Cbairniau Holt was instructed to issue the for The basis of representation 1n the convenHhiiVrfif fiSeil at one delegate for every 150 vote* cast for Matthews in 1802, or fractional part of 150 over seventy-five. Chairman Clark, of the Indiana Silver League, preceded the members of the committee to the city and worked earnestly against a postponement, saying the fris' silver wing of the party would call a State convention if the holding of the regular convention was postponed till after the national Democratic convention, as that elemeut was determined to give expression to its views iu advance of the mealing of the national body. There are a number of gentlemen on the State committee who are iu favor of the gold standard, but they voted aguiiist iHistponing on tin' ground that it would be cowardly to change the date, ami if the free silver sentiment had to be met and a contest arisedt was better for the party that the question be disposes! of before the national convention meet*. When a vote was taken on the matter of postponement the unaninious voice of the committee was in favor of adhering to the dHte originally fixed by the committee. A resolution was adopted indoraing the action of Gov. Matthews in refusing to call a special tu*ssion of the Legislature and insisting that lie adhere to bis pur|M>So.

Matthews’ Expected Utterance. There have been intimations from the friends of Gov. Matthews that he will shortly give public utterance to hia views on the currency question, und it is not denied that he will express himself unequivocally iu favor of free silver. It is known that lie has hail a number of consultations with Senator* Voonhees and Turple during their visits to Indianapolis, and thut he has also communicated with them by letter und bus freely indorsed their supiHirt In tho Senate of the free coinage measure. There lias never been a time since liis friends begun to work for him for the presidential nomination Unit he bus felt that he could go'before the convention without his imsitiou being fully understood, nnd his friends now say that the declaration will be made within a few weeks at furthest.und certainly before tho national convention meets.' They do'not? deny that he is in favor of free coinugJT but just how far in' will go in his proposed utterance is not certainly known, but these who are suiqHised to lie in his confidence say that he will not mince his words when he feels called upon to speak. It lias lii'cii proposed In some quarters tlwit lie In* askisl to preside over the State convention and that iu his speech to that body lie outline his sentiments. The free silver men feel that this would insure a free silver platform for die Indiana Democracy, und they have urged this goursc.

Senators Vooriiees and Tui'iiie, both of whom want their records indorsed by the State convention, arc understood to favor this plan, but. others of the Governor's friend* think It would he too lute then to utilise Matthews' utterances iu the South, and West, and they ure anxious that he Should speak before the convention meet*. Those who urge this course say that tho free silver sentiment is dominant iu the South and West, where Democratic votes must come front to elect tile next President, und that the Governor has the opportunity to kNltjil before the country as an holiest and courageous politician nnd at the sumo time enhance his chances for the nomination by meeting the subject squarely and 1 letting ttbo country know on what platform he would be willing to accept tho Democratic nomination. ' The effect of auch a declaration upon the single standard men iM uncertain. Many ure his frieud* and are working earnestly iu his behalf. They realiee that the party might win in this State on such an. issue and they would not jeopardize State interests by getting up a factional fight against the Governor simply on account of differences regarding national finances. These friends, however, do not think that he will strengthen .himself by such a declaration, though they 'admit that the uncertainty regarding his position militates against his nomination quite as much as if he gave utterance to his views.

A friend of the Governor said that there is another and a potent reason why he felt called upon to make public his views. He said the Governor would net accept even a naitknial nomination on n platform that pledged the party to the single standard theory and he believed thut he ought to make his position known und not have his friends place hhn before the convention in any manner that could he misconstrued. He also felt that it was due to Senators Voortiees and Turpie, whose course in the Senate he has commended, that (t should be known from his public utterances that ho indorses them fully.

Minor State Matters. The tobacco factory in Rockport owned by A. C. Tompkins & Co. burned. The building contained 700,000 pounds of tobacco. Loss, $50,000; insurance, $30,000. The new M. E. Church at Williamsport, built entirely of stone, has been dedicated. The edifice is said to be the first stone structure built by the Northwest Indiana conference. At Greensburg, Mrs. Maggie Kuhn, charged with murdering her husband and tried with a hung jury a year ago, was dismissed bemuse the case had not been tried for three terms of court since the first trial. A South 'Bend paper says information was received from what -was considered an authentic source that Eugene V. Defoe, president of the American Railway Union, will accept the Populist nomination for Governor of Indiana on a platform favoring free coinage of silver and in opposition to corporations. At Terre Haute Mr. Debs, asked as to his alleged gubernatorial aspirations, said that under no circumstances -would he accept a nomination for a political ofliee. He said laboring men would rightly suspect anyone who had been a spokesman for them if he ran for office. Deputy County Prosecutor Charles S. Xazworthy, 25. committed suicide at Indianapolis by shooting himself. He hud been given until noon Tuesday to file his report in court as receive? for the American Lounge Company, He was an embezzler for about SI,OW, "and wheh he left court went dh-d&tly to his rtMin it the residence of Dr. T. M. Rowe and took his life.' Naiworthy was born in 'Sullivan, 111., gnwhilted at De Pauw University, and afterwards at the Chicago Law •School. Hie came from Chicago in. 1893. He left a note to notify Kitty Eggier, ot Sullivan, 111., of his death.