Evening star., 1896-01-11
IN NEW YORK CITY
Effort to Hold the Democratic Ma
tional Convention There.
THE PLATFORM THE MLIN QUESTION
South and West tor Silver and the
East for Gold.
A CONF MISE SURE

When it was first proposed to hold the
democratic national convention in New
York city smile passed over the faces of
southern ami western men. They were not
prepared to consider the suggestion seri-
ously. They could see nothing else in 1t
but a proposition that the republican
strongholds be permitted by the use of
local influences 10 name the democratic
| ticket ard write the democratic platform,
and a smile was the only notice they would
bestow upon il. They are now looking at
the matter in another light. and New York
being advised Of this is exerting herself to
the utmost to carry the day.
The Platform the Main Question.
The main question involved is the plat
form. The democratic leaders seem to be
thinking almost exclusively of that The
southern and western men, as usual, have
no candidate for the presidency. that is to
say, they are rot insisting upon the nom-
inat;on of any particular man. That mat
ter, usual, Will be eft to the east II
the east proposes good western man he
will be accepted; if the east proposes a
good man of her own he will be accepted.
The question of overs ladowing cons.dera-
ton is the platform, and especially the
financial plark of the instrument.
<south and West for Silver.
The south and the west are still holi:ng
out against Mr.. C.eveland's policy. The fact
appears oonspicuously in The Senate toiay.
where the response TO the Presidents re-
quest for low rate gold bond is bill for
the free coinage of silver. The bill has been
brought in on the strength of democratic
votes, and the majority OF the votes that
will pass it when the vote is called will
come from the same side of the chamber.
Mr.. Jones of Arkansas. who has reported it
and will di,ect the debate in its favor, is
candidate fo- reelection, and thus bases
his campaign on silver. All of this is ac-
cepted as showing that the silver men in
the democratic party are still full of fight.
and that wherever the national convention
may be held, they VIII be on hand IN bel
hgerent mood in support OF their cohvic-
tions
Must BE Compromise.
But there are some unweicome things
that these men are now forced to concede.
One of these things is that the adoption Of
a free silver Platform by the democratic
party this year is most unlikely, no nat-
ter where the national convention nay be
held. Each faction may exert itself never
valiantly in that body, but a compromise
Will be the result compromise will be
absolutely essential to mold the party to-
gether. An unequivoe1l deliverance in favor
of free silver would cause the eastern demo-
Gratis to bolt. and a gold deliyerance
straightout would have the same effect on
the southern and western men. A compro-
mise being necessary. therefore, where
should it be written? In the east, where the
gold men are in control. or in the west, or
middle states. where the silver men are
strong?
The Easfs Position.
The eastern men who are urging that the
convention be held in New York put the
case in this way: Regardless of all protests
from the south and west, the record of the
adj mi inic ctr inn h,
in whatever shall be done. 1t is part Of
the party's record. For the party to go
into national convention and repudiate
openly and outright everything that Mr..
Cleveland has done Of a financial nature
would be to surrender the whole case in
advance. Why make a domination after a
performance like that? The east would
either bolt, or stay at home on elec-
tion day. In either event the republicans
would have a waikove-. As the record OF
the administration, ,therefore,is to be protect
ed in the drafting of the platform, why not
consent that the work be executed in that
section when that feature of the party's
necessity is best unde .stood? II disaster
follows; if, the me1 of the south and
west contend, too material recognition OF
Mr.. Cleveland's performances must cost
the party the election, the responsibility
will not be theirs.
New Workers I'm Earnest.
The strength of no city asking for the
convention yet be stated. Cincin-
rati, Chicago and St Louis are all well
considered New York is both strongly
urged and strongly opposed. 1t has un-
doubtedly grown in popular speculation in
the past fortnight, and upon the lines men
toned. The New Yorkecs are,ao much en-
couraged they are coming 80 In large
rumbers next week. They 51Ee fair
field to all candidates. No m&Z<H perponsl
interests will be permitted to 6e pressed
to any other mans disadvantage. Not q
whisper is uttered as to the third term
project. The whole talk is Of harmony, and
of writing a platform upon which all DEM
ocratS may stand under circumstances far
from comforting even when taken at the
best.
a UDd Dre0m.