The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-15
Western Men Say They Desire
to Be Free From Wall
Street Influence.
FIGHT OF FREE sILvERITEs
Representative of the Metropolis,
However, Are Confident of
Capturing the Prize.

on capturing the National Democratic
Convention are nearly all in Washington
and the fight for the big event is on in
earnest. The situation thirty-six bours
before the National Committee meets is
environed with uncertainties, although
the contest has narrowed down to st.
Louis, Chicago and New York, with the
question of free silver as potent factor in
the fight.
The Western men-thoseSfrom the trans
Mississippi country especially-are bit
terly opposed to New York and some OF
the number assert that they would not
dare return home should they vote to
locate the convention on Manhattan
Island.
If any single circumstance developed
to-day it was the hostility shown by some
of the representatives of the competing
cities against New York, and in marked
distinction was the absence of hostility
among the New Workers against the other
cities with whom they are brought into
rivalry.
w. II. Woodward, one of the st. Louis
delegates, speaking strictly IN his indi-
vidual capacity, says the principal OBJ
lection to New York is Wall street. ANY
thing but Wall street with gold-bug infu-
ences, is the slogan of the extreme free
silver men. 1t is possible, however, if
this policy continues to be pursued by the
free silverites, it may force the sound
money men to combine against them, in
which event those who are familiar with
the financial affiliations of the National
Committee say that the latter, being in the
majority, will win.
To the assaults upon Wall street the
New Workers turn smiling front. They
are not here, they say, to disparage the
merits OF their rivals or to promote
schism IN the Democratic ranks on the
money question or any other question.
They have, they declare, the best conven-
ton city in America.
1t has more hotels, a better summer
climate and larger hall in which to hold
the convention than can be found in any
other community. New York is so large,
they say, that it can afford to treat the
convention with the utmost fairness. If
it be located in New York there will be no
uncertain bowling claque in the galleries
in the interest of any one candidate.
The town, they say, is too big for that
and the press too great to COMFORT itself
other than with strict impartiality. John
A. Mason, one of the advance guard of the
New Workers, says tonight that New
York now has fifteen votes, and that it is
unlikely that when the halloting begins
she may lead off with twenty. He frankly
adds that these assurances have not been
in all cases by members of the committee,
but by others who assume to speak for
them.
William G. Whitney did not arrive this
evening and circumstances may prevent
him reaching Washington before the COM
mittee meets. 1t is said tonight that his
daughter will sail for Europe tomorrow
and he cannot for that reason put in an
appearance before Wednesday evening.
Ex-Governor Sheehan, New York, a
member Of the National Committee, is also
detained, and telegraphs that he hopes to
secure the postponement of law suit in
Brooklyn in which he is interested and
which would permit him to arrive to-
morrow night.
A few additions were made to the ranks
of the New Workers tonight by the pres
ence of John D. Crimmins, F. B. Thurber.
]. ". O'Brien, Simeon Ford, John f.
Dillon, E. T. Merryfeld and ex-Mayor
Gilroy. Crimmins brought message
from Mr.. Whitney, in which he regretted
his detention in New York, adding that in
his judgment the convention ought to be
located there and that he hoped the COM
mittee would reach that conclusion.
Tomorrow the delegation of which ex-
Congressman Isidor Strauss is chairman
will reach the city.
If the New Workers were busy to-day
their example was fully initiated by their
st. Louis rivals. The St. Louisans held
meeting at 5 o'clock this afternoon at
which reports were received from the
various "skirmishers. These reports
were uniformly gratifying, particularly in
that they were to some extent unexpected.
When the meeting adjourned the Mis-
sourians announced that twelve votes were
pledged to them with others in sight.
The Chicago delegation, which was ex-
pected to-day, will not arrive until to-
morrow. It's delay gave rise to the report
that it was out of the race, but Chicago's
friends assert that the Lake City will be
very much in evidence when the balloting
begins, and the St. Louisans believe their
real opponent will be the Illinois metropo-
lis and not New York City.
4lIC, IL Id ottAO, LAS dlSU u OelGEd-
ton en- route, which will reach here
Wednesday. The Cincinnati contingent
will also arrive tomorrow.
The subcommittee of the National Com
mittee, consisting of Harrity of Pennsyl-
yania, German of Maryland, Cable of Illi-
nois, Smalley of Vermont and Wall of
Wisconsin, met tonight to consider the
resolution introduced at the last National
Convention by Collins of Massachusetts to
hold the convention with closed doors
1t was acknowledged that such a course
was impracticable. Some OF the best
posted politicians at the Arlington ex-
pressed the belief tonight that the fight
will marrow down to New York and st.
Louis, but this, ate all. is mere guess
work, IN which the wish is largely father
to the thought.