The San Francisco call., 1896-07-06
Says Altgeld's Will Is to Be
Law With the Credentials
Committee.
CONTESTED G0LDITES WILL BE
UNSEATED.
Single Standard Forces Meet in Con-
ference and Prepare for the
Conflict.
HEADQUARTERS UNITED PRESS,
HERALD BUILDING,

CHICAGO, July 5.
The gold Democrats who are supporting
William G. Whitney in the business which
has brought him to Chicago held an en-
thusiasIic meeting tonight and discussed
matters of importance bearing on the
treatment they might expect in the con-
vention from the dominant silver men.
The feature of the conference, which, like
that OF Friday night was conducted be-
hind closed doors in the Auditorium
Hotel, was a speech delivered by Mr..
Whitney at the opening. He paid his
compliments to Governor Alteeld. who
he claimed, was the dominating spirit
among the siIverites, and ended his re-
marks with this declaration, made in q
ringing voice:
Il take it for granted that no man in
this room will ever consent to the sub
ordination of the welfare of the country
and the integrity OF his party for any con-
sideration." Loud cheers followed.
There was really little business of i'm
portance at the conference. It's main pur-
pose was to discuss the various contests
before the National Committee and to
listen to a statement from Mr.. Whitney
as TO what had been accomplished since
the gold men began their active fight. 1t
is estimated that over 225 persons were in
attendance, the room being inadequate to
hold the assemblage. Among the first to
arrive were sixty Indianans wearing con-
spicuous badges bearing the inscription
Indiana sound-money Democrats. Two
sergeants-at-arms were placed at the door,
and-as each man entered he was subjected
to close scrutiny. Two followers of the
silverites had passed within the precincts
of the conference-room, but were discov-
cred in time and summarily ousted.
Among those in attendance were w. D.
Bynum, x-Attorney-Genera 4. G. Smith
of Indiana, William c. Whitney, ex-Gov-
ernor Flower, ex Lieutenant Governor
Sheehan, Senator Gray, Don Nj. Dickin-
son, ex-Mayor Thomas F. Gilroy, Judge
Funch of Iowa, Colonel Harvey, Colonel
John W. Fellows, Ex-Governor Russell of
Massachusetts, Controller Eckels, As
sistant Secretary of the Treasury HamIin,
John E. Russell, William F. Rarrity.
Chairman of the National Democratic
Committee, Ben T. Cable Smith NJ. Weed,
franklin MacVeagh, Washington Hesing,
ex-governor Bradley, Ex-Governor Francis,
Joseph Quincy, Robert F. Wright of Penn
sylvania and Ex-Governor r. w. Knox of
Kentucky.
Senator Gray of Delaware, who was
selected as permanent chairman of the
gold organization at last Fridays meet
ing, called the conference TO order and
Immediately thereafter Mr.. Whitney
arose to address those who were present.
All of those in attendance were not dele
gates to the convention. A notable abb
sentee was Senator David B. Hill, who
was present at last Fridays conference,
but did not accept the invitation to ap-
pear tonight.
Mr. Whitney prefaced his remarks by a
brief statement of what the situation had
been at the conference held immediately
after his arrival in Chicago. AT that time,
he said, the little information they had
tended to one inevitable conclusion-that
the free silver men under Altgeld had
made up their minds TO force their way
through the conven ton in every particu-
lar and had also decided to do three
thlngs-frst, to hold a caucus and select
tleir candidate outside the convention
hall; second, to abrogate the two-thirds
rule, and, third, to make the result dbso-
lutely certain by firing OUT as many
gold delegates as they could possibly find
pretext for dismissing.
They had also decided on another thing.
and that was to violate every precedent
of the party by refusing to accept as tenn
porary chairman a man selected by the
National Com mittee and to put their own
man in his place. That. he said, was the
state OF things at the last meeting.
Tonight" said Mr.. Whitney, sit was
obvious that there had been distinct set
back for the silver forces. Their plans
hod oh
had been brought about since that time
through the efforts of the sound-money
Democrats here and the Democratic nress
throughout the country was very marked
As indicative of the change in the lans
OF the silver men they had undertaken 10
hold caucus. and the attempt failed.
they had abandoned the idea of abrogat.
ing the two-thirds rule, and from the
best information that could be obtained
tonight they had decided not to carry out
their idea regarding the temporary chair
manship."
Mr.. Whitney said the reports of what
the free silver men attempted to do to-day
were to the effect that division in their
own ranks made it impossible for them to
carry out their plans before the Ma
tiona Committee tomorrow. This was
me situation Wnen tney aolourneu Inls
afternoon. "and there was little probabil-
ity." he added, "that they would come to
the conclusions urged by Altgeld when the
committee met this morning"
Mr.. Whitney said these things showed
very pronounced change of sentiment.
1t was the effect of the work through the
press, the public meeting here and al
such agencies upon the managers of the
silver campaign. That they had been
convinced of the wisdom of not following
Mr.. Altgeld was obvious. That left one
matter yet unfinished, said Mr.. Whitney.
Having failed in the attempt to reach an
agreement to abrogate the two-thirds rule