Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-27
SILVER SIREN 9Th.
PROBABLY SIX HUNDRED VOTES
on PLATFORM AT CHICAGO.
what the Threatened Bolt of
Wisconsin Delegates to the Con-
vention Might Eject ff Carried
Cwashlneton star-IndenendentO

mary OF how the vote is likely 10 stand
at Chicago. since ali the Democratic
conventions have acted, the silver
strength was placed az $50 votes and the
god-standard strength at 35. This is alb
solutely accurate. taking the action OF
the various State conventions on the
election OF delegates-at-large as a basis.
but the probability IL that the total Of
the silver forces viii be considerably
larger than the one given. and the white
metal men will control close TO 600 votes
when the platform is up to be voted on.
In Minnesota and Maryland. for instance,
the entire vote OF each State Is placed
in the gold column because the delegates
at-large from each were elected as gold
men. In Minnesota, at least three con-
ventions elected silver delegates 70 en-
cago. The unit rule was not ADOPTED
there. 1t Is probably sale estimate
that seven votes from Minnesota VIII
act with the silver men In everything
I'm fact. the gold men of that State ac-
knowledge that there is division OF the
delegation 1t is probable that four men
from Maryland will vote the silver ticket
as no instructions for a unit rule were
adopted there The addition Of eleven
practically sure silver votes TO the white
metal column viii make the silver
strength at Chicago 594. and reduce the
eoId-standard vote TO 33i. a majority OF
2GO In addition to the stray silver votes
mentioned. the silver men claim that TWO
Of the four districts Of Maine will vote
with the silver men instead OF one. as is
credited in the summary Of States.
TO BOLT THE UNIT RULE.
The threat of the Wisconsin silver dele
gates TO bolt the unit rule imposed upon
them by the State Convention may or may
not amount to anything. IL has long beeh
q custom OF the Democratic conventions
10 recognize the power OF state Demo
cratic convention TO impose the unit RUE
and a change from the custom Is not like
~ at this time. II IL hard TO estimate
which side would get the best OF the deal
IL the bars are let down on the rule. ONO
would cast six more gold votes than she
has under the rule: Indiana would cast
from four to six more; Kentucky would
put in two or four more; virginia WOuld
deposit from two 10 four more ana mere
might be a dangerous breaking away on
every hand. on the other side the SILVER
men would get eight votes out OF Michi-
gan: eighteen alleged out Of Pennsylva-
MIA: n large slice out OF Wisconsin. Ihus
il will be seen that the failure 10 recog-
nize the rule would make changes, ana
probably important ones.
IT'S A SILVER WEAPON.
In all probability the silver men will see
that the unit rule Is enforced. II may
be the weapon which will prevent the goa
men from making any headway IN the
convention. Should some three or -FOUR
silver men in each silver delegation come
10 the conclusion that they liked the pro
positions Of the gold men they would pc
DOwerless TO voice their sentiments Inc
likelihood. of course. Is that IN every dele
cation the majority Will remain stuDboln-
" for silver and no compromise. rms IS
one Of the features which mas an alohB
made Mr. Whitney's task more hopeless.
The unit rule I'm every silver state stares
him in the face. II Is interesting that tne
gold men set the example or the unit rue
i'm the first State conventions held. ana
later failed 10 enforce H. lleI eAdliLle
was followed by the silver States IN the
first instances but not later. Delaware
Maine. Minnesota, Maryland, and Otner
gold States did not adopt the unit rule.
4 CONTEST FROM MICHIGAN.
In all the tables which have been mace
up so far the twenty-eght votes OF Mlch-
igan have been put in the gcld-slahdaru
column because the State convention
passtd gold resolutions and instructed the
delegates TO vote as 81 unit. ms calcium
ton may be disturbed. 1t is said that
George r. Hummer, the silver lealef ot
Nfichfpau has written a letter 10 a 1Ilehl
here saving that the silver men wouid
contest the seats of the Michigan deiesa-
ton He claims that twelve or the lWcH-
ty-eight delegates from the state are
aVOwed silver men. ~
Mr. Hummer does not say in his letter
what the plan Of the contest VIII be. nut
il is intimated from other sources mat NJ
Hummer and the other Michigan SILVER
leaders have a unique scheme, ana believe
that IL will prove successful Ihey VIII
contest before the national convention the
seats OF about four OF the congresslondl
deiecotes elected TO Chicago. They VIII
show that these men were elected on
uroxies which did not represent the Wlshes
of the delegates Of the respective con-
gressional districts They Will take 10
Chicago several hundred OF the delegates
who allowed themselves 10 be represented,
or "misrepregeuted" as they claim, Dy
other delegates. The unseaung or about
four Of the delegates would make the
delegation from Michigan stand sixteen
for silver and twelve for gold. The silver
majority would then apply the unit RUE,
as the state convention instructed, ana
the solid twenty-eight votes or the STATE
would be added to the already large ma
jority Of the silver men; ne to13i Sii 80
vote would be increased 10 622 while the
gold-standard vote would go BACK 10 90
less than one-third of the convention.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS.
The Importance OF this plan II II should
he carried out at Chicago. can readily be
seen The gold men would be put I'm an
absolutely helpless position In every way.
They would not and could not stand IN
the way of platform or a candidate.
The ancient and historic two-thlrds rue
would get in its work, as usual. ana there
would be no necessity 10 repeal IL 10
nominate a candidate over the opposi''oH
OF the gold men.
The national convention Will uncouDted-
IL he called upon to consider contest OF
some kind from Michigan and the plan,
as now outlined may be the one.
~