The record-union., 1896-07-08
RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE.
4 Sub-COmm ittee Appointed to
Formulate a Platform.

CHICAGO, July 7.-Although there
was some objection to the hour fixed for
the assembling of the Committee on
Resolutions, 8 O'Clock, at the Palmer
House, it was some time after that
hour before the committee was called
to order. A crowd gathered about the
cOmmittee-room and made life a bur
den to Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms
Noise of Kansas by their persistent de-
nand to see members of the National
Committee whom they imagined to be
occupying the apartment, as they had
done yesterday He was successful
however, in maintaining the privacy of
the body.
When the Committee on Resolutions
met Senator Stephen M. White of Cali
fornia was chosen Chairman by accla-
nation. He was called to the door an
instant after and met a committee rep
resenting the Committee on Permanent
Organization, who notified him as to his
selection as permanent Chairman of the
Convention.
He went back into the committee
room and announced the necessity of
their making a change in the Chair
rnanship. Thereupon Senator j. K.
Jones of Arkansas, Chairman of the
Silver Steering Committee, and the man
most generally spoken as the Chairman
of the next National Committee, was
chosen to succeed Mr.. White.
The committee began work through a
motion by Mr.. Thomas of Colorado that
a sub committee of nine be appointed
with Senator Jones of Arkansas as its
Chairman, to construct platform and
report to the full committee tomorrow
morning at 9 O'Clock.
Mr.. McDermott of New Jersey offered
an amendment, which provided that this
subcommittee be instructed to prepare
the entire platform with the exception
Of the financial plank, and that that
be disposed of by the full committee
McDermott is a sound money man,
and in a short but aggressive speech de-
clared that he did not want the financial
plank construed by any sub-commit-
tee, for the reason that existing cOndi-
tions demanded as much publicity as
possible in the discussion of financial
questions. He was vigorous in his pro-
test against what he knew would be
the action of the committee, and inti-
mated that the Democrats of New Jer-
sey would not support a free coinage
plank
McDermott's speech was construed by
the silver men of the committee as a
threat that he would bolt the ticket
and Senator White of California re-
piled to the threat in his accustomed
energetic fashion. Among other things
White said that he for one would never
dare to go into a National Convention
whose final edict he intended to repudi-
ate.
HAS he,' said Senator White, refer
ring to McDermott, never learned that
the Constitution of this country made
silver equal with gold and the money of
the land? Is he astonfshed now that the
Constitution shall be upheld? If he be-
lieves it is necessary to the perpetual
ton of Democracy that he must lie
down to the tyrannical power of gold
let him go"
In some portions of his argument SEN
ator White was especially severe in his
condemnation of what was construed to
be McDermott's threat, and his high
pitched voice was at times plainly heard
echoing through the halls above the
noise and confusion of the crowd
Further remarks We're made by Har-
rison of Connecticut in favor of the
amendment, and by Jones of New
Mexico on the other side
The debate gave promise of continuing
indefinitely, and of causing some feeling.
Reagan of Texas effectually put a
stop to this discussion by moving the
previous question on the motion to ap-
point a subcommittee.
Does the previous question extend
to the committees of the convention ?''
asked Senator Villas of the Chairman.
with ill-disguised astonishment
yes" said Senator Jones, and as he
made this reply smile stole over the
face of every member of the commit
lCQntin1lad on, Eisrht