 Although he remained an officer in a national bank during the campaigns of 1894–6, Stephens took up the cause of bimetallism, contributing both money and time to the support of the silver standard.For over two years he contributed to the Boonville "Advertiser" a series of weekly articles upon the subject, under the caption, "Silver Nuggets", which were republished in many of the Democratic papers of the State, and in pamphlet form, and distributed, under the direction of the State Democratic central committee.In 1896, Stephens was nominated for governor by acclamation, the first time that Missouri Democrats had done so.