New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-06
FIRST SKIRMISH TO-DAY.
THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO VOTE
FOR TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN.


FOR TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN.
SENATOR HILL ANXIOUS FOR THE HoNon-siI-
YER MEN ALMOST SURE TO RESENT HIS Sc
LEcTIoN-PLANs OF THE SILVER LEAD
ERs STILL VAGUELY DEVELOPED
BLAND GAINING sTRENGTH-J. r.
MLEAN's AMBITION.
[BY rELEGRi PHI TO THE TRIBuNE1
Chicago, July 5.-With the opening session OF
the Democratic National Convention less than
forty-eight hours off, the programme Of the West
ern and Southern leaders who have captured
the party organization and now seek to recast
its platform Of principles Is still vaguely and
haltnsly developed. Though most Of the silver
managers have been the ground for four or
Ave days, their plans have matured with dis
appointing slowness, and every step taken tow
ard the assumption Of party power and party
responsibility has been marked by indecsion
and uncertainty. In the absence Of the great
majority Of the delegates from the silver States.
the sef-appointed tunta Of Bimetalllc Leaguers
in charge Of the free-coinage canvass here have
naturally been hampered by the consciousness
that their authority only provisional and
temporary, and that their pledges and contracts
were in no sense binding on the delegations for
whom they had volunteered to speak.
The lack of definite organization among the
silver forces which from the beginning has in,
volved their whole programme in confusion and
uncertainty is still unremedied and promises to
remain even after the Convention opens,
stumbling block in the way Of the new and un-
tried leadership now grasping for party power
AS a result. the choice Of the Convention for the
Presidential nomination remains as much OF
puzzle as ever. and even the terms Of the plat
form on which the Westernzed Democracy Is
to go before the people are still ir grave dis
pute among the motley leaders who now domi-
nate the party's National councils.
The steering committee organized by the sill
YER delegates on Friday night is however, grad
ually extending and enforcing wholesome dis
cipline on the free-conage ranks, and, though
its authority is still far from absolute or para
mount there is some chance that by Tuesday
noon 1t may have beaten the irregular and un-
wieldy free-coinage majority into fairly
compact political organization. committed to
the execution Of definite programme in the ap-
preaching Convention.
SENATOR HILLS ATTITUDE
The first skrrnish between the new Western
and Southern party leaders and their van
quished Eastern opponents will take place to-
morrow. when the Democratic National Com
mittee meets to select temporary chairman
for the opening session Of the Convention. The
National Committee is controlled by the East
ern sound-money leaders. and it is expected that
a majority Of its members will vote to give the
temporary craftsmanship to Senator Hill, of
New-York. Mr.. Hill is extremely anxious to
secure this compliment from a free-coinage Con-
vention and he has been endeavoring to per-
suade the free-conage managers to allow him
to be named for temporary chairman, a post OF
honor purely without opposition To curry
favor with the silver leaders, especially with the
Anarchistic autocrat OF the Illinois Democracy.
John p. Altgeld. the New-York Senator refused
take part last night In the sound-money rally
held at the Auditorium Theatre. on the ground
that it's main purpose was to derounce and re-
pudiate the methods by which Altgeld routed
the gold-standard faction in this State and
secured the election Of a solid free-coinage dele
CATION two weeks ago at Peoria.
The rank and Ale OF the silver men are strongly
opposed, however, to showing any quarter to the
Eastern Democracy. and will bitterly resent
any attempt to bestow of the conspicuous
honors Of the Convention on a gold-standard
man and a New-Yorker. If Mr.. Hill Is made the
choice Of the majority Of the National Commit
tee for temporary chairman Of the Convention.
there is little doubt that the silver minority will
present a rival candidate for the place and
that the Convention will show it's real temper
by quickly reversing the National Committees
unwelcOme action.
BLAND APPARENTLY GAINING STRENGTH |
II any candidate for the Presidency has gained
materially in strength during the lest twenty
four hours It Is Mr.. Bland. The managers OF
"Sver Dicks boom have made the most Of the !
apparent decision Of Governor Altgeld to cast |
his fortunes with the Missourian. at least for |
the present Probably two-thirds OF the Illi- !
nois delegates have been for Bland from the !
beginning and the enforcement Of the unit rule |
with Altgeld's sanction and approval. will give !
the author Of the Bland act the States forty |
eight votes Bland has now Illinois. Missouri. |
Arkansas and Texas behind him. with ap- |
preciable following from the Southern, South |
western and Rocky Mountain States. The Mis- |
souri, mathematicians give out this table as a |
modest estimate OF Silver Dicks strength in |
the various State and Territorial delegations
Alabama .......... IL Montana ............ 6 J
Arizona ......... q New Mexico ....... 6 .
Cal'fornla 10 NeoraSkd .,......'.. 10 .
Colorado ............ = North Dakota ....... q 4