The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-06-20
THE REPUBLICAN LEAGUE
One Element Wants a Platform of
Some Sort, the Other Don't.
There is No Middle Course, and to
Adopt Either Of the Platforms
Proposed Would Call Forth a
Certain Amount Of Censure.
Divided on Money.
BY Southern Associa,ea Press.

the national 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 waEed outside
the convention hail. That tue main
bntiie will not be mGde while the dele
gates are assembled for business now
seems to be assured. The two parties
into which the convention Is divided
nre each determined aud each anxious
to carry its point,
One OF The parties consist of the con-
servutive members of the Republican
rGnks, who do not believe IT would be
wise Tor any declaration of principles
III the shape OF platform to be made.
This faction deprecates any action
which might be construed as diutn
tion to the Republican National Cou-
yentiun OF 1895, and declares it would
IN tho worst possible taste, II not dema
gogic, to attempt to lay out course
for the party, whether financial, tariff
or other kind. The other element Is
warmly urging the adoption Of some
sort OF platform.
Those composing it argue that should
the convention 90 on record before the
country us having apparently avoided
especially the money question 1t would
be accused of cowardice and of being
afraid to let the people know whether
1t stood On the side of the white or
the yellow metal.
Meantime the leaders are puzzled
and To night nre IN unaudury. There
Is no middle course and to adopt either
of the ones proposed would call forth
II certain amount of censure, 1t is
beIieved, however, that the conserva-
tlyes are gaining ground and that they
Will dominate before on ADJOURNMENT
is taken.
Oi those who want platform adop-
ted, oil are not silver men. but all he
silver men are III their ranks.
lhe committee Oh resolutions is the
place where the battle is TO be fought.
Ihe committee organized this utter.
noon by electug Congrcssmen ,onu
Il. RoOlnsou. OF Pennsylvania, chair
man, and Horace Ii. Knowles, of Della.
ware, secretary. IT was very close
fight for Congressman Robi nson, and
1t Is significant fact that the man who
came near beating him for the chulr-
manshlp was u silver man-Congross
man Tawney, of Minnesota.
On the first ballot, the vote was n
tie, and on the second tho keystone
statesman won by three votes, the bal.
lot being II tc II.
y motion. which was finally adopted,
to appoint sub committee OF nine who
should formulate pintform to be sub.
mitted to the full committee, was pre-
sented and debated ut length. 1t was.
during the debate on this resolution,
that incts already stated as to dIyi
sion OF sentiment Oh the platform uucs.
uon became apparent.
Senator ThurstUn, of Nebraska,
offered the following resolution, which
needless TO say, providing rs 1t does.
tor suppression OF ail sentiment Of
whatever Kind on the part of the con.
vontlon, created n profound sensation:
NV approve the declaration OF the
Republican National Convention that;
"Ihe American people by tradition
md interest favor bimetallism and the
RepublIcan party demands the use of
both gold and silver as standard
money with such Restrictions and under
such PROVISIONS to be determined by
Legislation, US Will secure the mainten.
ance OF parity OF value of the two
metals. SO that tho purchasing and debt
paving power OF the dollar whether of
silver, gold or paper, shall be, at sll
times, equal,
"And we refer tho matter of more
specific declarations to the next Na.
tional Republican Convention, which
alone has the power to bind the party
or make a platform or declare primer.
pies"
This resolution was declared out of
order because tho motion to appoint "A
sub. committee OF nine was already be.
fore the committee. 1t was therefore
not acted upon. Ia presenting the res
olutlon Senator Ihurston said:
1--WE cannot be too careful what we
do in this convention. We must not
stand III the role of dIciators To the
national convention, nor on the ether
hand must we let it be said of lis that
we were AFRAID to assert ourselves be
fore the country. Yet, on the whole.
/ do not think 1t would be we'll for us
Mt this time to commit ourselves 10 any
policy which would be better convcrsei
by the National Republican Couyen.
ton.
To.day's convention was carried ont
according to programme. The
speakers were ID. ID. Woddman, who
made the address of welcome; Mayor
Mckisson, who presented to the deie.
gates the freedom OF the city, and the
president, W. w. Tracey. of the league.
Over 1000 delegates from every State
In the Union but Maine, New Hamp.