The record-union., 1892-06-21
THE SILVER STATES.
Delegates Hold a Caucus at the Colo
RADIO Headquarters.

RADIO Headquarters.
CHICAGO, June 20.-The silver States
held a meeting in the Colorado heaiquar.
ters this afternoon. Representatives
from the following States and Territories
with full power to act, were in attend
ance: Colorado, Nevada, Montana
Idaho, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah
Kansas and Nebraska were also repre-.
sented, but their delegates have no au-
thority to bind their deletiations James
d. Orman of Pueblo radical free silver
man, said that unconditional demands
would be made for a free silver plank in
| the platform.
Confusion and excitement was flung
into the conference OF the silver men al
tie outset. An aDortiVe ending OF the
whole movement seemed imminent, but
| the final success was all the greater by
the contrast. The explosion came from
premature suggestion that the caucus
proceed to talk over the matter of candi-
dates. 4 hubub ensued. It's no use. -
couldn't agree, TOO close TO the CON
vention," and dozens of similar COM
ments met the proposal.
The understanding among the leading
spirits the conference was that an effort
should be made 10 concentrate the silver
votes under the lead of Colorado sClidly
for German. The practical refusal OF the
caucus TO even consider the matter, much
less unite upon candidate, was q is
agreeable surprise, but those who were
chiefly instrumental III getting the caucus
together adroitly avoided forcing the
issue at the beginning that threatened TO
precipitate irretrieVaDle diSsension In
stead of jamming ahead rough shod and
securing candidate, efforts were oSten-
sibly bent toward producing a silver
plank for which all present would pledge
themselves TO stand through thick and
thin.
The eloquence and quick intelligence
Of Hon, Il. NJ. Patterson of Denver were
brought into play, and under his skill
lul plIotage harmony began to loom into
view. He carefully avoided the mention
OF Presidential candidates. and urged a
1uIl expression from every man present
as to what should be done and the best
method of doing it. AS q result, the
forty-two delegates present were soon en-
gagged in an earnest but harmless discus
sion OF the phraseol0gy Of the silver
plank and the most ingenious schemes by
which the plank, when constructed. could
be pursued when the platform reached
the convention.
The roundup came in the form of a
motion TO appoint a committee OF one
from each state represented TO help force
the much discussed plank. The motion
was carried, and by this time the inclina-
ton to puguaciousueSs so prominent
early in the proceedings was thoroughly
evaporated.
Selling a favorable opportunity, Pat
terson again took the 1loor, and after
pointing out how much depended upon
united action, gradually led up to tae
statement that he had originally been a
Hill man, but of late became convinced
that the most available man from silver
standpoint, candidate favorable to silver
interests, who aroused least antaponism.
and was most most likely 10 win, was
German.
When PatterSon's remarks were rein
forced 10y L. j. O'Donnell, another Colo
RADIO delegate, who proclaimed himself as
an original t5orman man, the temper of
the caucus toward the Maryland Senator
began to show symptoms of "a decided
warming up. Clark of Nevada helped
the boom. The Montana delegates were
not slow 10 fall in line, and the represent
atlves forming the remaining conference,
after much bu5tonholing and canyassino n o
of the possibilities of balloting in The
convention, put themselves on record by
declaring one after another their prefer
ence for German, or their willingness TO
unite IN his support. When the leaders
OF the caucus had secured the reward of
their patient manipulation. an adjourn
ment was at once taken, subject to call.
The net result, il the pledges are carried
out, Will be the cofralling Of exactl V
fortytwo votes for German on the first
ballot, the votes to come from Colorado,
Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, New
Mexico, Arizona and Wyoming. Those
active in the caucus claim the action will
directly influence thirty other votes in
different delegations, making a total OF
seventy or more for German, as a result
of the days work OF the silver men