St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-06-21
Silver Men Caucus and Practi-
cally Agree to Supportthe
Marylander.
Ex-senator Patterson Leads
the Way With Consum-
mate Tact.
Seemingly Hopeless Division
Develops Into Complete
Harmony.
Forto-TWo and Possibly Sew
enty Votes for German
Assured.

CHICAGO, June 20.-ConfuslOn and
excitement were flung into the confer
ence of silver men today 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 premature
suggestion that the caucus proceed to
talk over the matter of candidates.
Instantly there was hubbub. Its no
use" 1--WE couldn't 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 all
effort should be made to concentrate
the silver votes under the lead of Col
orado solidly for German. Practical
refusal of the caucus to even consider
the matter. much less unite upon can
didate, was disagreeable surprise, but
those who were chiefly instrumental in
getting the caucus together adr0itly
avoided forcing an issue at the begin
ming that threatened, il then pressed,
to precipitate perhaps irretrie vable dis
sension. Instead of
Jamming Ahead ROugh-Shod
and securing candidate, efforts were
ostensibly bent toward producing a
silver plank for which all present would
pledge themselves to stand through
thick and thin.
The dulcet eioquence and quick iu-
telligence OF L. NJ. Patterson, of Den
yer, were brought into play, and under
his skillful plotting harmony as big as a
mountain soon began to loom into view.
He carefully avoided any mention OF
presidential candidates and urged full
expression from every man present as
to what should be done and the best
method of going about it.
In place of angry debate ensuing as
to the fitness or untitpess of the differ
ent candidates. the forty-twO delegates
present, as result of Patterson's deli
cate maneuvering, we're soon engaged
in an earnest but harmless discussion
of the phraseology Of a silver plank.
the most ingenious schemes by which
the plank, when constructed, could be
pushed through the platform COM
mittee and the course to be pursued
when the platform reached the con-
Yention.
Easing Their Minds.
All the ntrieacies of silver legislation
were apparently sounded in the three
mortal hours of speechmaking that fol-
lowed, but every man from the Rocky
mountains who came to Chicago loaded
with an address On the silver question
was given full swing to unburden HIM
self.
1.-The roundup" came in the form OF
a motion to appoint a 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 prom
inent early in the proceedings. had
thoroughly evaporated, the distribution
of honOrs III the form of places Oh the
committee helping in modifying th05e
who doubted that anything after all
was to come OF the caucus.
Selling the. favorable opportunity,
Patterson again took the floor, and, after
pointing out how much depended upon
united action, gradually led up to
statement that he had originally been a
Hill man, but of late had become con-
WINGED that the most available man,
from a silver standpoint, the candidate
favorable to the silver interests who
had aroused the least antagoniSm and
was most likely to win, was
German of Maryland.
When Patterson's remarks were rein
forced by I. j. O'Donnell, another Col
orado delegate of marked ability, who
proclaimed himself an original German
man, the temper of the caucus toward
the Maryland senator began to show
symptoms of decided warming up.
Clark. of Nevada, helped on the boom.
The Montana delegates were lot slow
to fall in line, and the representatives
forming the remainder of the confer
ence after much buttonholing and can
wasting of the possibilities of the
balioting in the convention, put
themselves on record by declaring
one after another a preference for Cor
man OF a willingness to unite in his sup
port. When the patient manipulation
and infinite tact of the leaders of the
caucus had been finally crowned with
due reward, an adjournment was taken,
subject to call.
The net result. If the pledges made
are carried out, was the corralling OF eX-
ectly forty-two votes for German on the
first ballot. These votes are TO come
from Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Ne
vada, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and
Wyoming. Those active in the caucus
claim that its action will directly ihflu-
ence thirty other votes in different del
egati0nS, making total of seventy for
German as the outcome of the days
work by the silver men.