Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-21
SILVER MEN DROP HILL.

They Are Led Into tine GorInan Fold by
MelHfluous Eioquence-Seventyv Votes On
the First Ballot Corraled Tor the Mary
land Candidate.
CHICAGO June 20.-Confusion and ex-
citement were flung into the conference of
silver men to-day almost at the outset An
abortive ending of the whole movement
seemed imminent, but the final success
achieved was all the greater by contrast.
The explosion came from a premature
suggestion that the caucus proceed to talk
over the matter of candidates. Instantly
there was a huDbub ''It's no use," sCould
OF agree, ''Too close to the convention
now" and dozens of similar comments met
the proposal.
The understanding among the leading
spirits in the conference was that an effort
should be made 10 concentrate the silver
votes under the lead of Colorado solidly for
German. Practical refusal of the caucus to
even consider the matter, much less unite
upon candidate, was a disagreeable sur
prise, but those who were chiefly instru-
mental in getting the caucus together,
adroitly avoided forcing an issue at the be-
ginning that threatened, if then pressed, to
precipitate perhaps irretrievable dissention.
Instead of jammIng ahead rough shod and
securing a candidate, efforts were ostensiblv
bent toward producing a silver plank for
which all present would pledge themselves
10 stand through thick and thin.
Harmony Secured by EIcquence.
The dulcet eloquence and quick intelli-
gence Of I. NJ. Patterson, Of Denver was
brought into play, and under his skilltul
plotting harmony as big as a mountain soon
began to loom into view. In place of an
angry debate ensuing as to the fitness or
unhtness of the different candidates, the 40
delegates present as a result of Patterson's
delicate maneuvering, were soon engaged
in an earnest but harmless discussion of the
phraseology of silver plank, and the
course to be pursued when the platform
reached the convention.
The roundup" came in the form of
motion to appoint committee of one from
each State represented to help frame the
much discussed plank. The motion was
carried, and by this time the inclination to
pugnacioUsness, so prominent early in the
proceedings, had thoroughly evaporated,
the distribution of honors in the form of
places on the committee helping in mollify-
ing those who doubted that anything after
all was to come of the caucus.
How They Fell Into Line in Peace.
Selling the favorable opportunity Patter-
son again took the floor, and after pointing
out now much depended upon united action
gradually led up to a statement that he had
originally been Hill man, but of late had
become convinced that the most available
man, from a silver standpoint, the candi-
date favorable to the silver interests. who
had aroused the least antagonism, and was
most likely to win was German, of Mary
land. Patterson's remarks were reinforced
by 7. j. O'Donnell, of Colorado, and
Clark, of Nevada, helped on the
boom. The Montana delegates were not
slow to fall into line and the representatives
forming the remainder of the conference
after much button-holing and canvassipg
of the possibilities of the balloting in the
convention, put themselves on record by
declaring one after another 4 preference for
German or a willingness to unite in his
support. The net result, if the pledges
made are carried out, was the corraling of
exactly AZ votes for German on the first bal
lot. These votes are to come from Colorado,
Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, New Mex
leo, Arizona, and Wyoming. Those active
in the caucus claim that its action will di-
rectly influence 30 other votes in different
delegations, making total of 20 for Cor
man as an outcome of the days work by the
silver men.