New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-29
FREE SILVER AT CHICAGO.
ruE MONEY PLANKs OF THE VARIOUS
STATE AND TERRITORIAL PLATFORMS.

ESTIMATES OF THE STRENGTH OF THE RIVAL
FACTIONS AT THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC
CoNvENTIoN-slIvER MEN ABSOLUTELY
IN CoHTRO1-wITH THE CONTESTS
DECIDED IN THEIR FAVOR THEY
WOULD HAVE MORE THAN
TwO-THIRDs MAJORITY
As the day set for the gathering II the Demo
cratic National Convention In Chicago ap-
proaches two features Of the situation which
have been marked throughout the preliminary
canvass become hourly more striking The hrs'
Is the bitterness and intensity OF the night over
free-sver coinage: the second the absolute lack
of pronounced preference on the part OF any con-
adorable number OF delegates for any particular
candidate for the Preside ncy. In both respects
.he contrast with the Republican situation Just
before the ST. Louis Convention is not only in-
teresting but instructive and cheering The Re-
publican delegates went to St Louis with both
questions settled as far they could he settled
before the formal ballots. They had only TO reg
.s,er the popular will. which had already picked
ont Major Mckinley standard bearer or the
party and declared with Ngor ana clearners In
the various State platforms for the maintenance
Of the present gold standard and against the 1ree
coinage Of silver al any ratio without interna-
agreement.
tered the verdict which had already been reached
b. the party at large.
IN the case Of the Democracy, nothing is set
He'd a week ahead OF the Convention except the
fact that the advocates Of the free and unlimited
coinage OF silver Will be In majority IN mat
body That fact however, while II undoubtedly
foreshadows the insertion Of free-silver plank
in the platform by no means assures the selec-
late IN
element Of the party. owing to the requirement
NJ a tvo-thirds vote to make nomination. IT ls
m the existence Of this two-thrd5 rule that the
s,sound-monev" element is basng its hopes oI
bringing about a stradde In the platforms FOR all
hope OF a gold declaration has long since van
ished In spite OF Mr. Cleveland's most strenuous
efforts and the relentless putting on OF screws
through the medium OF Federal otiice-holders
RELATIVE STRENGTH BY STATES.
Conventions have now been held and platforms
edopted IN all the States and Territories to he
represented in Chicago except Alaska. The
Tribune herewith presents the declaratory planks
CT those platforms 10 the free-coirage ques-
ton. In most cases they are accompanied IN the
full platforms by long arguments setting 'orth
the reasons for the views entertained. whlch'
however are not essential FOR the purpose OF
getting at the attitude of the various delegations
and have, therefore, been omitted. II VIII De
seen that Of the fifty States and Territories rep
resented ALASKA not included) thirty-three nave
declared specifically for the free and unlln''eu
coinage Of both gold and silver by the Unned
States regardless OF the action OF otAer ratl'ilS
fifteen have declared in terms more or less posi-
tive against such coinage. ard two Fforlda ana
the District Of Columbia) have taken neither siue
IN the controversy Including Alaska, ana al
lowing two votes each 70 the Territories ana the
District Of Columbia, the total roll OF Delegates
IN the Convention vii number 9O6. Of which va
Is tvo-thirds The thrty-three States ana Ter
ritories which have declared for free silver rep
resent 562 votes; the fifteen against silver nave
334 votes. and the two dodgers have Ten Vo'es'
as follows: