The San Francisco call., 1896-07-22
BUILDING PLATFORMS.
Silver Men Stand for Free Coinage
Alone, While Populists Are
Yet Undecided.

ST. LOUIS, Mo-, July 2f.-It is probable
that the platform of the Silver Convention
will consist of a declaration of principles
demanding q restoration of the former
metallic money-gold and silver. Unless
the present programme is changed this
declaration will be worded as follows:
Be it ResoEred, That over and above all other
questions of policy we are in favor of restoring
TO the people of the United States the time
honored money of the constitution-gold and
silver-not one, but both-the money of Wash
ington and Hamilton and Jefferson and Mon
roe and Jackson and Lincoln, to the end that
the American people may receive honest pay
for an honest product; the American oebtor
pays his just obligations in an honest standard
and not in a standard that is appreciated 100
per cent above all the great staples of our
country; and to the end, further, that silver
standard countries may be deprived of the
unjust advantage they now enjoy in the differ
ence in exchange between gold and silver-an
advantage which tariff legislation alone can
not overcome.
We therefore confidently appeal to the peo-
pie of the United States to leave in allowance
for the moment all other questions, however
important and momentous they may appear.
to sunder. if needs be, all former party ties
and affiliations ana unite in one supreme
effort TO free themselves and their children
from the domination of the money power-a
power more destructive than any which has
ever been fastened upon the civilized nen of
any race or in any age. And upon the con-
summation of our desires and efforts we invoke
the gracious favor of Divine Providence.
The present intention is to supplement
this by an address to the American people
which is now being prepared. Senator
Jones of Nevada is the guiding spirit in it's
construction, and it will set out in sue
cinct and terse terms the aims and desires
OF those who seek the reopening of the
American mints to the coinage of silver.
at late hour tonight it looks as if the
PopuIsts will adopt the Chicago platform
with certain notifications intended to
make it conform more nearly to the views
of the delegates. AT least that is the
opinion of the Bryan men, who claim to
be in control OF the convention and in a
position to dictate the platform.
1t is pointed out in this connection that
inasmuch as Mr.. Bryan has signified his
willingness to accept the nomination at
the hands OF the Populists il would be
unwise for the friends of free silver to en-
barrass him by making the platform so
radical as to offend any element of the
Democratic party. Believing that this
is the logical conclusion to be reached,
the Bryan men feel that the convention
will not run the chance of losing free sill
yer by too stubborn insistence upon
other matters, which they hold are
not at this particular time essential.
On the other hand it may be said that a
vigorous fight will be made for an indie
pendent platform and the nomination of
Bryan upon it. 1t remains to be deter
mined Just how much of following this
element will have.
Tonight, however, men high in the
councils of the Democratic party who are
here for the purpose of watching the stu
alton and molding public sentiment, ex-
press their entire satisfaction with the re.
suits as they seem to have heen deter
mined up to this hour and this is con-
strued to mean that very thorough un-
derstanding has been reached respecting
the lines upon which the Populist plat
form will be drawn.
The claim of the middle-of-the-road
Populists that they have developed suf-
icient strength to defeat Bryan is ridi-
culed by the latter's friends Fred Bailey
of Kansas, secretary of the Bryan steer
ing committee, says that reports received
from their sub committee indicate that
Bryan will have at least 500 of the 1858
votes in the convention and that appear
ances now indicate his practically unani-
nous nomination. Bailey is not SO GER
tain of the Vice-Presidency. The orposi-
tion to Sewall among the Southern dele
gates, who are friendly to Bryan, he says,
is very strong.
The platform as outlined by Mr.. Bailey
will cover the following points: Govern
ment control OF railroads and telegraphs;
fiat-tooted declaration against National
banks of issue; sufficient amount of cur
rency to conduct the business of the coun-
try on cash basis; the free coinage OF
silver at ratio of 16 to /; free homes for
the Territories; tariff plank recommend
ing still further reduction of tariff duties
and reaffirmation of the plank in former
platforms with reference to public lands.
Neither woman suffrage nor prohibition
has been mentioned.
If1n