The morning call., 1892-06-09
THE PLATFORM.
The Silver Men Succeed in Obtaining
RecoqnitioH

Recognition
MINNEAPOLIS, June S-The chief diff
eulties confronting the convention in the
matter of the platform were solved this
afternoon, although a lively time preceded
the solution. Silver was the rock upon
which the committee nearly split, with tho
result that discord ensued and majority and
minority reports will be made to the con-
ventiOn. When the platform committee
assembled this afternoon no reconciliation
had been effected in the subcommittee ap-
pointed by Chairman Foraker to consider
the silver problem. The first matter coming
before the full committee was the tariff. and
the silver advocates dOggedly set out to
contest every inch OF ground and embarrass
their opponents at every stage of the con-
sideratlOn Of the platform. Their bold tac-
ties proved successful, for at 4:30 o'clock,
when the platform committee took a recess,
the victory was won. Instead of a free
coinage platform, separate and distinct,
they so shaped the tariff paragraph in ac-
cOrdapce with what Is supposed to be the
hearts desire OF the so-called silver States.
Free coinage was let to go by the board
and instead the silver men gleefully ac-
cepted the clause pledging the Republican
party to a policy of a protective tariff on
lead. After this decision the reports of the
subcommittee on miscellaneous subjects
were received. This committee dealt with
the Nicaragua canal and reported a plank
recognizing the Nicaragua canal as Of tran
scendant Importance to the United States in
view Of its necessity in time of war and its
great utility in forwarding the interests Of
American productions and commerce, and
recommending that all proper steps be
II Ken to procure its completion by Ameri-
can capital. The two planks already COM
pleted were placed in the hands of a re-
vision committee, composed OF Gore Of
Nebraska. Platt of Connecticut, Teller OF
Colorado, Bracket of Massachusetts and
Thompson of Minnesota. A recess was
then taken till o'clock.
Upon reassembling, the silver men were
apparently satisfied. and stuck to their pre-
vious declaration that with lead taken care
Of the silver States could be carried by the
Republicans, but as soon as the committee
was fairly under way discussing what
should be the second plank of the platform,
the silver men trotted out free silver as
fresh as ever. Another hot fight ensued,
and a second victory resulted for the silver
men, though as before not what they aimed
at The New York and New England COM
mitteemen proved far too strong to get any
thing like a fat-footed declaration for un-
limited coinage or anything similarly radical.
The upshot was an agreement that the sec
ond plank should deal with the silver
question. A compromise as to the language
was that the declaration should be substan-
italy as follows: "The American people by
tradition and interest are in favor Of the
bimetalic coinage of gold and silver; ore
dollar should be as good as another dollar;
that silver should be coined at a ratio to be
fixed by legislation, and the Forthcoming
international conference was indorsed rs
probably furnishing a satisfactory solution
to the vexed financial questions"
There was considerable opposition to the
Endorsement of The Nicaragua Canal pre-
iect but its approval was finally pushed
into the platform by substantial majority
A pension resolution in keeping with the
previous declarations of the party was
adopted, but the service pensions project
was wholly left out.
One of the matters taken up that caused
loud speeches, particularly from colored
men, was the topic of lynchingS in the
South. Nothing of a radical nature was
adopted on the subject, and in fact even the
tariff sections and other planks contained
no startlingly new departures. After the
consideration of minor matters the commit
tee adjourned till morning.
The following is the silver plank Of the
platform to be submitted to the convention
tomorrow:
The American people through Interest and
tradition are in favor OF blmetalltsm, and i
mand that both metals shall be used as standard
money under such regulations and provisions
may be established by the legislative department.
OF the Government; TO establish and maintain
The parity of metals and make each dollar,
whether of gold, silver or paper, equal OF auy
other dollar.
We commend the wise and patriotic policy in-
augurated of calling an International conference
10 establish the concurrent use OF gold and
silver throughout the commercial world.