New-York tribune., 1891-09-16
TROUBLE OYER THE PLATEORM.
REJECTION OF A RESOLUTION EXPLICITLY
AGAINST FREE COINAGE.
A LIVELY DEBATE IN THE COMMITTEE OVER
THE SILVER PLANK-oTHER PLANKS.

, LIVELY DFBATE IN THE COMMITTEE OVER
THE SILVER PLANK-oTHER PLANKs.
Saratoga, Sept. IS (Special) The platform of
the Democratic party this year has been source
Of great tribulation to the managers Of the con-
vention. Early last winter Governor Hill had
n visit from Senator Colquitt, of Georgia, VINO
plowinglv described the advantages that would
come to David B. Hill as o candidate for Presl-
dent if he could commit the Democratic party III
New-Yorlx to the policy of demanding the free
coinage of silver. Mr.. Hill, of course, wouId ike
TO please the Democrats Of tho West and SOUTH
and therefore he set his wits to work to draw up
q plank for the Democratic platform this
fall which would squint toward 1ree
silver. But the Democratic bankers In
New-York and likewise many Democratic poll
ticians took alarm when they learned OF MI I'LL
intentions and they took steps to prevent him
from carrying out his scheme. The delegations
from New.York and Brooklyn contain more Demo
cratic business men than they have held for many
wears OF course every Cleveland Democrat who
is delegate to the convention is also keenly de-
sirous that no Free Coinage plank be adopted,
ond thus the position of ex.Presdent Cleveland
be harmed in his opposition to free coinage. There
are evidences that they exerted themselves pow
erfully before the convention met to prevent the
adoption OF a Free COlnlge plddih'
The chief act Of the convention to-day was the
naming of the Committee on Resolutions, who
draw up the platform. 1t was noticeable that
some Of the strongest men in the convention were
put upon this committee. Thus, the Kings County
Democrats named as their representatives Con-
gresham Boody, William G. De Witt, Almet +.
jerks and General Catlin. The Tammany leaders
selected Richard Croker, J. Edward Simmons,
Joseph ]. O'Donohue, Thomas F. Gilroy, Nelson
| J. Waterbury, w. Bourke Cochran, and John Q.
Sheehan. Then Senator Linson went on TO represent
! the bankers of Kingston; Congressman Tracey, of
Albany became the member for that Congress dis
| trict The Committee on Resolutions met in Rich
| ard Crolers room, upon the second floor of the
| Grand Union Hotel, at o'clock this afternoon.
Timothy J. Williams, the Governors private score
| tary was present when the committee met. This
was evidence of the fact that the Governor was
afraid his Presidential chances might be harmed
| by the action OF the committee upon the silver
question unless he could guide it in safe direc-
| ton Some one produced platform which it
| vas suspected had been drawn up in the Executive
| Mansion at Albany. 1t reafirmed the National
| platforms Of 1884 and 1888, contradictory they
are upon tariff matters and then passed TO the
consideration of State matters Mr.. Hills strad-
die" upon free silver having been rejected by
|
fcrred that all reference to National matters should
be avoided But this did not please those Demo-
Gratis present who wished to commit the State OF
New-York against free coinage. Almet f. jerks,
Of Brooklyn, offered a silver plank making a
plain. straightforward statement in opposition to
the experiment of free and unlimited
coinage of silver" and also against the coinage
of any silver dollar that is not of the intrinsic
| value of the gold dollar" The adoption Of this
| plank was earnestly favored by Congressman
Body and Tracey, and by Mr.. jerks, Mr.. Dewitt
and Mr. Simmons But opposition to il was made
by the Hill Democrats present. They argued that
as their ''stTaddle" upon the silver question had
been rejected the Democratic party Of New
York should abstain from speaking upon the sub
! iect There was hot discussion, which finally led
| to the appointment of a subcommittee TO consider
| il apart. This subcommittee has as its members
| Daniel g. Griffin, the personal representative OF
Roswell P. Flower; w. Bourke Cochran, William
| Purcell, j. Edward SimmonG &. s. Rogers and
Congressman Tracey and BOody. The committee
thea took recess for four hours. But before il
adjourned the committee was thrown into con-
siderable CONSERVATION by one of the Brooklyn
delegation Offering resolutions plainly aimed al
Roswell Z. Flower. They denOunce nonOpOligt.
and milhoraifes like Mr. Flower and men con-
|
for political parties TO beware Of These resolutions
and indeed the entire proposed platform was SEN
TO the subcommittee The whole committee ad
iourned at p. III. under an agreement 10 re
assemble at p. IN. and hear the reports o
the subcommittee upon the platform which they
would suggest
But at o p. m, when the committee reassembled
the subcommittee was still wrestling with thi
subieet The main committee was called K
order at 80 p M, and went into secret session
upon tine silver plank. An exciting debate fol
Owed upon the policy of not touching Nationa
issues and OF opposing liatly the free coinage o
silver Both these policies had tleir supporters
Richard Croker and the other TammGny Hal
magnates betrayed intense interest in the pro
ceedings OF the committee on the subject, fre
uuently visiting the committee room and then
after prolonged stay. leaving it to hold
council OF war with Daniel @. Griffin and Edwar
Murphy. jr.. elsewhere.
The New-York business men protested agains
| the policy Of silence upon tha subject of silve