The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-07-05
MISS0URIANS IN IT
IHEY ARE OAUOUsING AND WORK
ING HARD FOR BLAND.

According to Instructions, Although b
He i. a GoIdbug-yest is to Place Bland
in Nomination and Dave Overmeyer of
Kansas 20 Follow Bim-Kansss Dele
gates VIII Organize Tomorrow.
Chicago, July 4.-The Kansas City
Journal correspondent at the national
convection sent the following gossip TO
his paper last night concerning the
Missouri and Kansas delegations:
There was a caucus of Missourians at
the Bland Auditorium Annex headquar-
ters this afternoon. All aIissOurians
were invited to be present, this meaning
that all Missourians favorable to Bland
were welcome. About forty were in at
tendance and they were in session over
an hour. A few Missourians who are
not friendly to Bland entered the room,
but they took no part in the proceedings.
The first matter taken up was the
predicament OF the Bland boomers as a
result Of the militant attitude of Com
mitteeman Prather. 1t happens that the
"rooterS" for other candidates and all
who are unfavorabGe TO Bland have con-
cluded that ii would be a good scheme
to impress the fact upon the delegates
that Prather is not for Bland, and that
he will pay no attention TO the instruc-
tons of the state Democracy in the mat
ter of supporting a free silver man for
temporary chairman OF the convention.
The situation is one brought about by
Prather alone and not by action Of the
delegation from the state, and hence
they insist that they should not be held
responsible for any position Prather
may take or anything he may do. But
it IS a condition and not a theory that
confrOnts the delegation and what To
do about it appeared at once TO be a
burning issue.
The caucus proceeded to business by
making Colonel Bell of st. Louis chair
man, and Bradshaw of lebanon, the
personal friend and manager of Bland,
secretary. Mr.. Bradshaw, on the ques-
ton of Colonel Prather, among other
things, said to the caucus:
Every Missourian knows that Colo
mel Prather is a Democrat. He has long
been member of the national commit
tee, and no Democrat has ever seriously
questioned his Democracy. At the Mis-
souri, state convention in April last,
which elected delegates to the Chicago
convention, a resolution was unani-
mously adopted instructing Colonel
Prather, as the national committeeman
from Missouri, to vote with the silver
men in the organization of the conven-
ton. Believing Colonel Prather TO be
a Democrat, 1 cannot believe that he will
violate the implicit instructions Of the
Missouri Democracy. I have known
him for a number of years and think
that he is a high-minded. honorable
gentleman. If Colonel Prather chooses
TO violate the instructions of his state,
he must take the consequences. He has
no right, under the instructions, TO do
anything else than to vote for free
silver man for temporary chairman. I
think it would be as dishonorable for a
delegate to violate mis- instructions as it
would be for Colonel Prather to do so at
this time"
1t was suggested that Senator Cock
reH be requested by the caucus to see
Prather and explain to him that he
might be robbing Missouri Of a presi-
dent, and if this should prove true, he
might regret his present action. 1t was
suggested to the senator by Colonel AL
len of St Louis that it might be well 20
inform Colonel Prather that all the Dem
ocrats of Missouri would disapprove his
action. and, in the face of the fact that
they had often honored him, he should
not at this time allow his personal feel
ings and temporary personal animosi-
ties to interfere with his official action.
which was of interest to the whole party
in the state.
Senator Cockre1l did not look approv-
ingly upon this, and suggested that he
could not think that he would have any
influence with Colonial Prather. He did
not like to attempt it, but as il was not
a personal matter he might surrender
his personal judgment and accept the
conclusions of the caucus. It was then
observed that Governor Stone would not
be able to accomplish anything in that
line, for he had engaged in a tilt with
Prather yesterday and hence someone
else would have TO be selected. The gov
ernor smiled and conceded that his in
fuence over the colonel, just a this time
was limited, and on this question in par
ticular he believed that he would not be
able to bring about the desired result.
1t was finally decided that Senator Cock
rell should tackle Prather and fire away
for general results, with the hope that
Prather would abide by the instructions
of the state Democratic convention 10
chairman.
Governor Stone announced that his
name had been referred to for temporary
chairman. He had come to the conclu-
sion that IL would not aid Bland If he
should accept the position. In this 9TH
ers concurred. and accordingly after the
caucus the governor announced for pub
lication that he could not accept the
place. and withdrew his name from the
list. It is generally believed that the
plan to name the governor for tempo
rary chairman originated with some OF
Boies' workers. they thinking this a
good scheme to dissipate and waste the
Bland boom.
The caucus discussed at length the
plan of campaign. The work OF visit
ing delegations was assigned 10 the
Bland boomers. Inquiry was made
about who knew members OF delegations
from other states. and in this way the
work was assigned in fairly intelligent
fashion. For purposes OF carrying on
this missionary work il was agreed that
the Bland workers from Missouri should
meet at O'Clock. night ard morning,
10 report and confer and make new ar
-angements about convincing delegates
Information was given the caucus that
the sound money men were having pre-
pared for publication q pamphlet max
ing an attack upon Bland and other sll-
Yer candidates.
A most vicious attack Is being made
on Mr.. Bland. II comes from The Clique
Of southern senators. whose motive and
part Of whose manifestations We're eN-
olained in today's JournalIt appears
that the southern gang OF aTistocrats
have concluded 10 resort 10 argument
along the line OF objecting 20 the Pc
Sonal bearing and dress OF Mr.. Buad.
The way ne treats tobacco Is seriously
objected 20. and they insist that his
clothes do not n him with the precision
that should be noticeab BE II a president