The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-07-06

and there Is also dissenSlOn over the
platform. Many OF the leaders are
strongly In favor OF single declaration
for free silver and the practical ignoring
OF all other questions. The tariff ques-
ton, especially, they desire, 10 be
handled gingerly lest It drive from them
the free silver Republicans OF the west
who are moderate prOtectiOnists. others,
on the other hand, think there should
be regular Democratic platform COW
erlng the pending issues OF the day:
Some even favor a very radical tafiu
plank. All this bodies Ill for the prophets
OF n short convention. The gold men,
led by Mr.. Whitney. profess to be en-
cOuraged by the outlook. Their plans
seem 10 be based on future contingent
Giles. Having failed TO make an impress
sion on the solid phalanXes OF silver
their purpose seems 20 be to stir up
strifeS and take advantage OF such dis
senSIons as may be developed In the op-
position.
The great advantage which they pos
sess, always the strength OF hopeless
minority. Is their cOmpactness. we are
n well organized force" said Don NJ.
Dickinson, OF Michigan. who was post
master general under Cleveland's hrst
administration. and who Is here with
tory for gold from what was admitted
to be n silver convention In Michigan.
I'VE are fighting an unorGanized mob
resolved only on one thing-a declara-
ton for the free coinage OF silver"
Such declaration they cannot hope
to prevent, but they are now using an
Ingenious argument to secure Il COM
promise on platform and candidate.
They tell the silver leaders that II
Democrat is placed on n silver platform
the silver Republicans OF the west VIII
abandon them and the eastern Demo-
cracy will be destroyed and they Will
be left high and dry with only the silver
Democratic support and without the
sinews Of war either from the east or
west. They tell them, therefore, that
they are confronted with the alternative
OF nominating a Republican to get the
support and aid OF the silver mine own
ers or. yielding TO the demand for n
compromise from the east. IN which lat
ter event they argue TO keep the Demo-
cracy intact and furnish all the cam
paign fund that Is needed.
MIn Not Compromise.
These advances are met with firm,
but courteous refusal by some OF the
silver leaders who simply reply that
there can be no compromise OF the Is
sue. The more radical, however, re-
ccive Il Sncerlngly. In some quarters
the silver men not only meet the sug-
gestlOn OF a silver bolt with indlfler-
cncc, but some OF them openly declare
that Il would strengthen their position
and they would welcome It. The fear
that the gold men with almost II not
quite one-third OF the delegates could
plump their votes about at random and
cause all sorts OF mischief, and the fur
ther difficulty OF making a nomination
without the practical unanlmous vote of
all the silver men has revived the talk
OF a silver caucus. The secret fear Of
Teller has also had It's influence In favor
OF caucus to decide the question Of Il
candidate. There will be no attempt
TO hold ouch caucus, however. until
the convention has assembled and the
difficulty OF selecting nominee In con-
ventIon has been demonstrated. Then
It will be argued that no candidate who
is for silver can refuse to submit his
claim to those who are TO make the
nomination,
There was less tnlk to-day OF bolt
by the gold men. and 1t was openly dis
couraged by Senator Hill. Mr.. Whitney
and Others. Stlll It Is plain that great
many OF the gold men will refuse to
support n silver candidate, and some
to-day quietly canvassed the advisa-
bility OF placing n gold ticket and gold
candidate in the field The advantage
to be gained from this course, they
argue. would be the same which came
to those who refused to support Gree
ley In 1872 Those who were dissatisfied
with Greeley nominated O'Connor of
New York, and after Greeley's defeat II
was by their organization that the
fRfW
n footing again. The gold men propose
TO lnaugurate the fight the moment the
gnvel is dropped by Chairman Harrity.
They are resolved upon Offering gold
man to the convention for temporary
chairman, despite the protests of silver
leaders. and Senator Hin Is the man
upon whom their choice has fallen.