New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-22
TEACHERS STRADDLE ACT
HOW HE CAME TO SIT ON BOTH SIDES
OF THE FENCE.

WITH HIrIl-HE FATS HE is NOT FOR GOLD.
AND HE'S so GLAD HE'S RIGHT
Albany Sept 81 (SpeciaD.-John Boyd Thacher
was attending to his duties as Mayor OF Albany
this morning. and there were some further DIS
closures concerning his letter to the Democratic
state Committee. published this morning. III
which he expresses willingness to accept the
Dorocratic nomination for Governor Mr.. Thacher
added postscript to his letter in the shape OF an
interview with the newspaper men, in which nc
further defined his position concerning the imam
cial plank of the Democratic party
Mr. Thatcher seems to have received telephone
message from David b. Hill yesterday afternoon
at Altamont fifteen miles distant In which ne
WAS advised to rush his letter to the state Com
mittea into print Probably Mr.. Hi had learned
from Elliot Danforth, chairman Of the state Com
mittee. who had visited him in the course or the
dav. that the Gold Democrats were disclosing an
intense hostility to Thacher and II they were 10
be lured into supporting him for Governor the let
for must he printed at once. Both Hill and
Thatcher apparently thought that 1t would De
possible for Thacher to declare his support or
BRYAN and Sewall and yet, by saying that the
June platform Of the Democrats Of this state was
still his platform to induce the Gold Democrats
to support him for Governor. This union OF Cold
Democrats and Silver Democrats on the Demo-
cratic candidate for Governor has for a month
been David b. HIS chief aim.
Mr. Thacher, upon receiving this advice from
Mr. HILL came to this city. but did not call on
Mr. Hill at once. He visited the house OF Judge
ID. Cady Herrick Of the Supreme Court, one OF
his chief political advisers. whether ne sa"
Judge Herrick not is not known, but Judge
Herrick advised him by telephone late last night
to postpone publishing his letter for twenty
four hours.
Mr. Thacher next visited Wolfert's Roost ana
had a chat with Mr.. HILL who apparently ad-
vsed him to hurry the letter into print. Mr.
Thacher took this advice and near midnight gave
the letter to the press
He SAYS HE is NOT FOR GOLD"
Mr.. Thatcher had a cloud on his brow to-day
when he discovered that the only silver morn
ing newspaper in New-YOrk had printed MS
letter under the caption, John BOYD Ihacher
for Gold" 1t apparently exceedingly an
moving to him to be advertised as an upholder OF
the gold standard Pointing at this newspaper,
he exclaimed to several correspondents VINO nao
called on him at the Mayors office:
THAT Is not so. The paper makes mistake
in the heading. There is great difference pc
tween the statement gave out to the press this
morning and coming out unqualihedIy Tor golu'
| am not for gold. The Democrats who went 10
INDIANAPOLIS
cratic Convention are for gold. They are the
men who have Topped. The Democrats VINO at
tended the State Convention held In Saratoga In
June and myself declared that we favored BIZ
metallism."
'International?' ,, :,
yes" replied Mr. Thacher. international b.
rnetalIism There are three positions taken by
three different bodies OF Democrats. One Is for
gold one. is for silver and one is FOR D-
metallism I stand for bimetallism. | stand by
every sentence Of my letter. am willing 10
take the responsibility for every sentence II
contains. " 80,
Then Mr. Thacher beamed with ecstacy. II
am as happy az a lark this morning. he said.
"because | know I am right in the position
taken in that letter. do not care four cents
about being elected Governor. but do about
being right and there is no happiness ike unto
that Of being right
The Silver Democrats of Albany are com
plajring. however that Mr.. Thacher. while de,
claring his intention TO vote for Bryan ana
SewalI yet says he stands by the Democratic
platform of last June. -
Mr. Carlisle a delegate from Jenerson
County at the Democratic State convention
asked from the stage "Will John Boyd
Thatcher accept the Chicago PLATFORM
He will" replied Lewis w. Pratt, OF TINS
CITY. a representative OF Mr. Thacher But MT
Thacher does not keep that pledge
Harry Peckham, Chairman or the Albany
County Gold Democratic organization, sald To-
dav that the twelve delegates from Albany 10
the BROOKLYN Convention. on Thursday night,
would oppose an Endorsement OF Mr. Inacher
for Governor and would favor the placing Oh
a second Democratic ticket in the field