Omaha daily bee., 1896-07-09
BUILDING Up A PLATFORM
Committee on Resolutions Puts in the Best
Part Of a Day.
FEW CHANGES OF IMPORTANCE ARE MADE
Financial Plank stand s"ubstnntinlly
rs Recommended by the Sub
committec-Gold Men Pre-
pnre n Minority Report.

>''NN6't u Nr -
sion until 2 o'clock this morning the mem
bers of the subcommittee on the platform
and resolutions did not appear very bright
when they filed into the committee room at
8 O'Clock today to make their report to the
full committee. AS the day wore on they
warmed up to their work and the tagged ap-
pearance of the members gradually disap-
peared from their faces and by the time
they closed their labors at 2;30 this after
noon they appeared without exception to be
in good form physically and ready to meet
any demands which might be made on their
energy.
The days session continued for five and a
half hours and was devoted by the majority
to the careful scrutiny of the platform as
prepared and reported by the subcommittee.
1t was first read as a whole, many of the
sections receiving applause. The document
was then taken up section by section and
the sections acted upon. There We're very
few changes made by the full committee,
though many were offered. Probably the
most important change was that suggested
by Mr.. Jones concerning the admission of
New Mexico and Arizona as states. Several
Of the sections aroused considerable discus
sion, though comparatively little animosity
was displayed. This was largely due to the
fact of the absence during the greater part
of the time of the gold members of the COM
mittee. They withdrew to an adjoining pri-
waite room early in the day and were en-
gagged during the greater part of the time
or the meeting in consultation among them
selves, and in preparation of the minority
report which they announced their intention
to present to the convention, though not to
the full committee.
In announcing this intention on behalf of
the minority, Senator Hill said the minority
did not want their absence or their failure
to present objections to the platform to be
misconstrued as a waiver, and IL that con-
struction was to be given to their action
they would come in and participate, but
they did not want to interfere with the prog
ress OF the deliberations by raising objections
which they were satisfied would not be en-
tertained, and the raising of which would
only prolong the session.
In reply the majority saio, through one of
their number, that of course they would ac-
cept the explanation. but they added that it
was desirable that the should
have the opposition report before them. To
this Mr.. Hill replied that it had not yet
been prepared. The committee would be
glad to hear the objections of the minority,
but If they did not feel disposed to make
them, both before the committee and the
convention, they would be excused from at
tendance.
The most exciting portion of the proceed
ings occurred when a resolution by Senator
Hill endorsing the administration of Pres
ident Cleveland was presented. Debate on
this resolution was cut off by a motion made
by Senator Tillman, but there was great in
terest in the roll call, the members standing
and gathering about the center table with
evident concern expressed upon their coun-
tenances. The gold minority was present
during the roll call and, of course. opposed
by their votes the motion to lay on the ta-
Bile. The motion prevailed, however, by a
vote of 30 to IL. The minority also recorded
the votes against the adoption of the plat
form as a whole, the vote in this proposition
standing 33 to Is.
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
Shortly after converting the full committee
heard a delegation from the Women's Suf-
frage association who desired to have incor-
porated in the platform a strong woman suf-
frage plank. The leading argument in favor
OF the resolution was made by DR.. Julia
Holmes Smith of Chicago. Other arguments
were made by Mrs. Catherine Waugh Nc
Culloch.
The anti-suffragists were also given a
hearing and argued against the adoption of
any suffrage plank in the platform.
William p. st. John of New York made an
argument in favor of his free coinage plank
which had been submitted to the committee.
He made an argument to show that there
are many votes IN the east in favor of free
coinage, and claimed that New York and
some New England states have a majority
for free coinage.
The subcommittee then made its report to
the full committee, submitting the platform
which had been adopted last night. w. W.
Gatewood, a Texas delegate, made an a.Su-
ment in favor OF moderation in the tariff
declaration and presented the following,
which had been Incorporated:
Resolved, That we favor a tariff for reve-
nue. sufficient to defray the necessary ex-
penses of the government economically ad-
m mustered and so adjusted as not to dis
criminate against the industries of any sec
ton, especially the raw materials of the
south and west, including their wool, hides,
sheep, cattle and other live stock interests.
Allen w. Thurman of Ohio offered Mr.. st.
johns amendment to the financial plank
providing for the issuance of coin certif-
Gates in time of money stringency in eX-
change for United States bonds and spoke in
its favor. The amendment led to an ami
mated debate. Several members opposed the
amendment on the ground that II was not
polite or wise to make any suggestion of
the possibility of the free coinage of silver
causing a panic. Others, in support of Mr..
Thurman, declared that they believed that
the banks would not hesitate to precipitate
a panic In case of the adoption Of free coin
age, In order to regain the power which they
had wrongfully wrested from the people. 1t
was declared that the banks were even now
locking up their money in preparation of
such a chance.
The previous question was ordered on Mr..
Humans amendment and II was rejected.
Mr.. Humans amendment was offered as
such to the paragraph in the platform de-
claring that the decentralization OF silver has
resulted in appreciation of gold, etc. and
this paragraph was adopted after the amend
ment was rejected.
SENATOR HILLS SUGGESTION.
The secretary proceeded with the reading
OF the platform section by section, develop
ing no little discussion as he progressed,
Senator Hill of New York made a sugges-
tion when the paragraph demanding the inn
mediate restoration OF the free and unlim-
tied coinage of silver was reached to the
effect that there should be a declaration for
the preservation of the parity Of the metals.
minority report, several silver men claiming
that the minority report was being unduly
delayed and saying it should be before the
full committee to be considered together
with the majority report. Later il was
stated by the members Of the minority that
the minority report would not be presented
10 the committee, but to the convention.
The paragraph coudemning the issuance OF
bonds in time o. peace caused a discussion,
which was participated IN by Messrs. Till
man. Thomas, George, Thurman and others.
in which the possibility OF a panic was freely
discussed, Finally the paragraph was
slightly amended on a motion made by
Thomas OF Colorado,
The sections relating TO tariff and the
income tax were read co-jointly and both
adopted with comparatively few amendments
The only important amendment In the pro-
visions was one declaring for a tax that
would be sectionally impartial. These two
paragraphs are in practically the same Ian
guage as contained in the reDOrt of the Mat