The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-08-21
THE FIGHT OF HIS LIFE
SENATOR BRICE WORKING FOR
AN UNCOMPROMISING GOLD
PLATFORM.
BUT SUPPORTING SILVER MEN

| The Friends of the White Metal Claim
| $40 Delegates Out of $50, or Enough
to Make Trouble Unless Concessions
are Made to Them-WhiI the Silver
Men are Trying 30 Secure Endorse
ments to Their Resolutions Brice
Men Get the Important Committees.
SPRINGFIELD, O., Aug. 20.--The dis
trict and other preliminary meetings Of
the Democratic State Convention were
held here to-day preparatory to the as
sembling of the convention at 10 a. m.
to morrow.
Senator Brice arrived here this morn
ing. He is making the fight of his life
for platform in harmony with the
views of President Cleveland, Secretary
Carlisle and himself on the financial
question. He is not taking an aggres-
sive part for the nomination for Cover
nor or other offices, but is interested in
the organization, so as to control the
committee on credentials, which will de-
termine the contests, and the committee
on resolutions, which will report the
platform.
He is believed to have majority of
the S08 delegates with him, but the free
silver men claim $40 of the delegates, or
enough to make trouble if no concessions
is made to them. The delegates are all
here to-day, and the question is as to
what concession shall be made to the
minority, which claims to be over two
fifths, and almost one half the member
ship of the convention.
The Brice men are raising no objection
to any of the free silver candidates, not
even John H. Thomas and James Kill
borne, for Governor, and they are both
pronounced advocates of the free and
unlimited coinage of silver.
John II. Thomas has been opposing
Senator Brice very strongly. But to-day
Senator Brice, ex-Gov. Campbell and
other leaders dined with Mr. Thomas,
and it is understood, that a compromise
was outlined, but it will not be known
what the leaders did until after their
plans are developed in the convention to-
morrow.
Senator Brice is the temporary chair
man of the convention, and his key note
speech is sure to be for "honest money"
Immediately after its delivery come
the reports of the committee on creden-
tials, the majority for seating the Brice
men, and the minority for seating the
free silver contestants. In considering
these reports, the Senator may have some
close ruling, and the silver men may
get mad.
1t is at this juncture of the proceed
ings that the contest between the free
silver and the Brice men is expected,
although the latter had things their way
to-day.
Just before Senator Brice arrived at
II a. m, the city was flooded with
dodgers bearing the following resolution,
adopted at the meeting of silver dele
gates:
''We favor the Immediate restoration
Of the law providing for the free coinage
of both gold and silver coins, and their
use, without discrimination, as provided
Tor in the Constitution"
The silver men met Senator Brice, and
said that they had no fight on him, and
all they wanted was this plank.
This afternoon Senator Brice, ex-Gov.
Campbell, and other leaders responded
to calls for speeches as the clubs paraded
by the Lagonda Hotel. At that time
Gen. Asa Bushnell, the Republican can
didate happened to be calling on Brice,
Campbell and others and he also re-
sponded, welcoming his political op-
pOnents to the city. The silver men
held meetings day to secure endorse
ments for their resolution but while
they were making speeches, the Brice
men secured the organization of the
convention, carrying sixteen of the
twenty one districts in the selection of
members of the various committees. The
committee on resolutions is composed of
business men like President Ingalls,, of
the Big Four, Congressman Mcmahon,
Hurd, Vance and Achauer.
The Brioe men also secured q majority
of the State Central Committee, which
hold over until after the selection of
presidential delegates next year.
When the committee on resolutions
met tonight, eX-Congressman Frank
Hurd, who is as radical for a gold stand
ard as for free trade, was made chair
man, and it was found that j. M. Lewis,
of the Eighth, A. W. Patrick, of the
and T. j. Blandin of the
Twenty first District, were the only free
silver men on that committee Of 21 mem
beIs. The other committees were also
Brice organizations. The strong
ests howing of the opposition on any Of
them would be sixteen for Brice, to FIVE
for the opposition, including the free
silver men and other elements. The com
mittee on resolutions appointed as sub
committee of five to draw up platform
on which the opposition was given a rep
resentation, and which was instructed
to re- e-affirm the National financial plat
form.