Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-14
Free Silver Democrats Considering a
Plan Of Campaign.
THE MEETING At THE METROPOLITAN
Delegates Are in Attendance From
All Sections.
AIMING AT PARTY ACTION

democrats from all portions of the country
was called to order at - O'Clock today in
the parlors of the Metropolitan Hotel The
meeting was in the nature of a party
caucus, called to consider the ways and
means of promoting the interests of free
silver within the lines of the democracy.
1t was the purpose of the leaders to keep
the general proceedings of the conference
from the public. For the reason" as Sem
ator Jones expressed 1t, that We don't
think it wise to have the public know
wherein our opinions may differ. or to be-
come familiar with all the plans which we
may intend to pursue"
1t was evident from the start that the
meeting was an important one in respect
to the prominence and political standing
of the men engaged in it. Among some of
the democrats of national prominence TAX
ing part in the conference were Gen. Stone
OF Missouri, Senator John w. Daniel of
Virginia, Senator Walsh of Georgia Sena-
tor Call of Florida, Mr.. W. H. Hinrichsen,
secretary of state Of Illinois; Col. Casey
!ouns OF Tennessee, Senator Jones of
arkansas, Senator Harris of Tennessee,
Representative Otey of Virginia, Repre-
sentative Cox of Tennessee, Representative
Livingston of Georgia, State Treasurer Ste
vens OF Missouri, ex-Representatives Fifth
IAN OF Illinois ard Brookshire of Indiana
Party workers of standing and influence
from every state of the south and west,
better known locally than nationally, were
In attendance in goodly number.
All Dyed-in-the-Wool Democrats.
There were no populists and no silver
leaguers. but all sturdy. dyed-in-the-wool
! democrats. with one object In view-the
welfare of the democratic party through
| the advocacy of the free coinage of silver
and gold at the ratio of 16 to / by the
United States government. independently Of
the action of other nations
The men at the head Of the movement
which took shape today regard the confer
ence as being in the nature of a meeting of
the national committee of free silver demo-
crats. Ihey are, in fact, steering COM
Hfttee of free silver men, as the point most
positively emphasized in the case of each
delegate was that he should be acceptable
% the silver democrats of his state as a
national cOmmitte teenan
Before the meeting assembled Senators
Harris. Jones and Daniel and Col Casey
Young were in conference over the rre-
l1minary details Of the caucus and later
talked with the leading men of the different
delegations.
sugEestfons Regarding Secrecy.
1t was the general impression that the
caucus might deal with matters of consid-
cradle Importance to the party and II was
the suggestion of the Senators that sena-
tor1al executive session methods should
control the proceedings Some of the west
erners, who are accustomed to wide-open
political conventions. with untrammeled
cope or expression and opinion, were averse
TO clothing the proceedings with too much
secrecy, and were in favor of taking the
public into the confidence of the confer
ence.
Probable Outline of Work.
My idea Of the proceedings today" said
Senator Jones. before the caucus went into
session. lis that We Will have general dis
cussion of the adyisability of establishing
national committee. If 1t is decided to
form one, suppose the state delegations
will take some time to select the man they
want to represent them on the committee.
Then it is possible we may take up the
preston of inaugurating and carrying on
campaign for free silver and with the OBJ
ject of securing free silver delegates to the
democratic national convention next year."
Questioning tue Delegates.
Promptly at Il o'clock the delegates filed
into the parlors set apart for their use
Capt. Barnes of the Senate force, thorough
ly imbued with executive session propriety
and senatorial dignity, was placed at the
door, and, acting under instructions. ques-
toned each man as to his credentials. and
whether he was newspaper man. One or
two delegates who are also newspaper men
were made to abandon their professional
capacity for the occasion, and promised to
TIE Conference Organized.
The conference was called to order by
Senator Harris of Tennessee. and Senator
James K. Jones Of Arkansas was elected
permanent chairman. Mr.. Geo. NJ. LIE
Crone Of Illinois was elected secretary and
a roll call of states showed the following
delegates to be present:
Aiabama-James F. Johnston Jos. Hodg-
son. John w. Tomlinson. H. N. Wilson, g.
Ohio-S S. Yoder.
Georgia-Patrick Walsh. L. F. Livingston.
Indiana-Allen w. Clark
Delaware-J. F. salisbury.
Maryland-W. NJ. Coleman, w. E. Man.
nakee. Charles r. Darby.
Kentucky-Urey Woodson-
Mississippi-W. S. Stockdale.
North Dakota-Willis r. Bierly-
Missouri-Governor VIM. j. Stone. Lon v.
Stephens, Harry NJ. HILL w. M. Rubey, Geo.
w. Allen. Joseph K. Hickey. Louis Houck'
scott Miller, r. w. Bodine, Geo. E: Sim
n1ons, Thomas .. ToWles, Juuge Lee Hooo-
sides, E. J. Bean.
West Virginia--John J. Ccrnwell
Tennessee-Senator lsham G. Harris, Col.
Casey Young, Gen. N. N. Cox' Col. 4. W.
Arkansas-senator James K. Jones. Robt.
Neill, W. P. Stone.
North Carolina-Ex-Senator Thomas J.
Jarvis Representative Lockhart' MT. 'ose-
phus Daniels.
Jcbn S. Beard, j. l.. Alexander, II. H. NC
KeEn.
TeAas-Judge Silas Hare.
Virginia-Senator Daniel, VIM. A. Jones.
p j. Otey, L. @. Washington, J. S. Du1iie,
j. r. Wingfield, Page McCarty, ]. b. Mo-
Cate, d. Randolph Meade, T. N. Conrad.
jr., Frank Hume, P. r. Nuckalls, J. d.
Perpybaker, Hon. John w. Daniel, John A.
Jones' T. c. Ramsdell, r. H. Lee, Marshall
Mccormick, John f. Sewers.
Ifiinois-W. III. Hinrichsen, Geo. w. Filth
ian, o. p. Thompson, w. e. Nelson, NJ F.
Dunlap, Geo. NJ. LIE Crone, Geo. B. PARSONS,
Geo e. Doying, Geo. E. Brennan. T. W.
McNeely, A NJ. Rose, Jno. II. Barnes, Jno.
w Yartis c. r. Tuttle.
South Carolna-Col. John f. Trentlen.
Colorado-M. B. Gerry, S. ID. Trimble.
Olney Newell.
A resolution was adopted directing the
chairman to appoint a committee On reso-
lutions and order of proceedings to be COM
posed of one delegate from each state and
to report at O'Clock this afternoon, the
conference taking recess until that hour.
Committee on Resolutions.
The chairman appointed the following
committee on resolutions and order of pro-
ceedirgs in accordance with the terms of
the resolutions: Virginia. Senator Daniel: