Birmingham age-herald., 1895-06-20
A PRETTY FIGHT PROMISED
When the Republican Leagues
Convention Gets to Work,
NEARLY 5000 DELEGATES
Assemble in clevelands Music Hall at the
Opening Session.
HOW THE STATES ARE REPRESENTED
Free Silver Delegates Hold an All Night
Conference H. Clay Evans Starts
the Ball of Trouble
Rolling.
HOW THE STATES ARE REPRESENTED

Cleveland O., June 19.--Whether there
will be dscord or harmony in the ma
| tiunal convention of Republican League
clubs depends altogether on which of the
| two factions wins the fight that is now
being quietly but none the less earnestly
waged outside the convention hall. That
| the main battle will not be made while
the delegates are assembled for business
| now seems to be assured. The two par
ties into which the convention is divided
are each determined and each anxious
| to carry it's point One of the parties
| consists. of the conservative members of
| the republican ranks, who do not be-
| lieve it would be wise for any declara-
ton of principles in the shape of a plat
| form to be made This faction depre-
| Gates any action which might be con-
| strued as a dctation to the republican
| national convention of 1896, and declares
| it would be in the worst possible TASTE
| if not demagogic. to attempt to lay out
| a course for the party, whether finan-
| cial, tariff or other kind. The other ele-
ment is warmly urging it's adoption, or
| of some sort of q platform. Those COM
| posing 1t argue that should the conven-
| ton go on record before the country as
| having apparently avoided any issue of
| Importance, but more especially the
money question, it would be accused of
| cowardice and of being afraid to let the
| people know whether it stood on the side
of the white or the yellow metal. Mean
| time the leaders are puzzled and tonight
are in quandary. There is no middle
! course and to adopt either Of the ones
| proposed would call forth "a certain
amount of censure. 1t is believed, how
ever, that the conservatives are gaining
| ground and that they will dominate be-
| fore an adjournment is taken.
| OF those who want a platform adopted
| all are not silver men, but all the silver
| men are in their ranks. The committee
| on resolutions is the place where the bat
| tie is to be fought. The committee organ
| lied tbs afternoon by electing Congress-
man John b. Robinson of Pennsylvania
| chairman and Horace G. Knowles of
| Delaware secretary. 1t was very close
! fight for Congressman Robinson, and it
is a significant fact that the man who
came near beating him for the chairman
| ship was a silver man, Congressman
! Tawney of Minnesota. On the first bal
| lot the vote was tie and on the second
| the keystone statesman won by three
| votes, the ballot standing II to a.
| motion, which was finally adopted,
| to appoint a subcommittee of nine who
should formulate a platform to be SUBJ
| mitted to the full committee was pre-
| scented and debated at length 1t was
| the facts already stated as to a division
| of sentiments on the platform question
| became apparent. Senator Thurston of
| Nebraska offered the following resolu-
ton, which is needless to say providing
| as it does for a suppression of all senti-
| ment of whatever kind on the part of
the convention, created a profound sem
sation:
I'VE approve the declaration of the re-
publican national convention.
THAT the American people by tradi-
| tfon and interest favor bimetallism, and
the republican party demands the use of
| both gold and silver as a standard money
with such restrictions and under such
| provisions to be determined by legisla-
! ton as will secure the maintenance of a
| parity of value of the two metals, SO
| that the purchasing and debt-paying
| power of the dollar, whether of silver,
| gold or paper, shall be at all times equal
| And we refer the matter of more
specific declarations to the next national
| republican convention, which alone has
| the power to bind the party or make a
| platform and declare principles"
| This resolution was declared out of
| order, because the motion to appoint
! subcommittee of nine was already be-
| fore the committee. Tt was, therefore,
not acted upon. In presenting the reso-
| luton Senator Thurston said:
| I'VE cannot be too careful what we do
| in this convention. We must not stand
| IN the role OF ulcldUOfS TO the national
| convention, nor on the other hand must
| we let it be said of us that we were afraid
| to assert ourselves before the country.
| Yet on the whole l do not think it would
| be we'll for us at this time to commit our
selves to any policy which would be
| better conserved by the national repub-
| lican convention"
| Today's convention was carried out en-
| tirely according to programme. The
| speakers were ID. ID. Woodmansee, chair
Il
| address of welcome; Mayor McKiSson,
| who presented to the delegates the free
| dom of the city, and President W. w.
| Tracy of the league. Over 1000 delegates,
| from every state in the union but Maine.
| New Hampshire and North Carolina
| were in their seats when the gavel
| dropped for order, besides a number of
| visitors of both sexes who came with
| the delegates and heaped up the full
| measure of enthusiasm Music, flowers
| flags and streamers were abundantly
| provided, and the arrangements were
| perfect. Each delegate and press repre-
sentative was furnished with a pro-
| gramme, which served also as ticket
! of admission to the various places of
| amusement. In addition, an excursion
! banquet and street car tickets were pro-
| vded.
| The surface lines were free to every
| visitor. In the afternoon the delegates
| went to Forest City park and listened
~ :" Nsot''f~. ~ N4iN ipNa otdie pdHu
| Tomorrow two lake excursions are to be
| given, and the day will wind up with
| banquet.
The first delegation to enter the hall
| caused great applause from the specta-
| tors who had already assembled At
| its head was pretty brunette, bearing
| a silk United States flag in her hand
| 1t was Miss Fronnie Know!ton Of Van
| Buren,. Ark. daughter of the head of the
| delegation. This delegation was quickly
| followed by others, and when the con-